Thoughts on a Sister City of OKC?

[ErnieBall]

Sister cities shouldn't necessarily be limited to within the U.S. Internationally, two cities that are similar in size to OKC or Tulsa and that have similar economies based on oil and ranching are Edmonton (pop. 940,000) and Calgary (pop. 950,000), Alberta, Canada.

[OMA Luv]

Omaha's actually getting Calgary's AHL team this year. Who are the Major League Affiliates for OKC's teams?

[okcpulse]

Oklahoma City's CHL Blazers (AA Hockey) are not affiliates of any major league teams. Our only major league affiliate team is the Oklahoma (City) RedHawks (AAA Baseball), farm team for the Texas Rangers. Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz af2 arena football team is not really an affiliate of any AFL team.

[NewPlains]

As far as US cities go, I would suggest Albuquirque-it's a similar size, we share some of the same western culture and an increasing amount of mexamerican culture, and we're both major cities on I-40 and before that, Route 66. (In the interest of full disclosure, I grew up in ABQ, so I have a certain fondness for it still. ) Another good candidate on pure demographic grounds is Portland, OR, which is almost a demographic twin of OKC. Memphis and Nashville are similar some ways, as is Richmond VA (although I lived in Richmond for a while, and I think it's more similar to Tulsa: image problems, a troubled downtown, racial tension, similar size, good architecture, and a scenic river...Richmond is more lively and interesting than Tulsa, though; it's maybe a better guide for them than OKC to emulate, since Tulsa and OKC are so different).

Anyway, here's my list of similar cities:

Albuquirque, NM
Portland, OR
Louisville, KY
Kansas City, MO

[HOT ROD]

As far as US cities go, I would suggest Albuquirque-it's a similar size, we share some of the same western culture and an increasing amount of mexamerican culture, and we're both major cities on I-40 and before that, Route 66. (In the interest of full disclosure, I grew up in ABQ, so I have a certain fondness for it still. ) Another good candidate on pure demographic grounds is Portland, OR, which is almost a demographic twin of OKC. Memphis and Nashville are similar some ways, as is Richmond VA (although I lived in Richmond for a while, and I think it's more similar to Tulsa: image problems, a troubled downtown, racial tension, similar size, good architecture, and a scenic river...Richmond is more lively and interesting than Tulsa, though; it's maybe a better guide for them than OKC to emulate, since Tulsa and OKC are so different).

Anyway, here's my list of similar cities:

Albuquirque, NM
Portland, OR
Louisville, KY
Kansas City, MO

OKC is more than twice as big as Albuquerque, city and metro - either comparison. I dont think ABQ is a good candidate BUT I do think Portland OR is probably the closest in comparison to OKC demo wise - as you indicated. This is sort of funny, since PDX is more or less a west coast/coastal city and OKC is in the southern great plains. But when you look at the demographics, VERY VERY SIMILAR.

Actually, city pop is also very similar as well as True MSA. Portland's CMSA is around 2mil, but includes much of the state (as Oregon's pop is only 3mil). Portland's CMSA goes up to Kelso WA and down past Salem OR, over to Astoria OR and to The Dalles OR; a very large geographical area that is in fact quite controversial. Give OKC an area that size, and you would have a Metro area of close to 3 mil people (OKC and Tulsa plus surroundings).

Thats why I say, the TRUE Portland METRO is around 1.5 mil or so, much closer to OKC. City pop, they are neck and neck, but Portland is much smaller land wise.

Other than that, I think Portland or Denver really are OKCs closest American sister cities. I totally agree with Edmonton or Calgary for International, but OKC is bigger than either. But the cities are very very similar, indeed!