New to OKC looking for a nice area in metro for middle class black family?

[braunstation]

Just recently made the move here to okc metro from Baltimore area, and we are looking for a nice area to move into in the okc metro area. Now we have visited multiple times and of course have been told there are area in the city that are so good for blacks, but that comes from baltimore folks who only hear rumors, they have never lived in OKC. In our few visits so far th city seems very cultured and very mixed, which i know is a far cry from what outsiders think of when hearing about OKC. Like one of our old neighbors in baltimore cliams he heard theres ku klux klan all over Oklahoma!!!! Please, but any ideas "okies", so far we are very impressed with the Yukon and Edmond areas.

[dcsooner]

African American native Oklahoman currently living in Northern Virginia. Welcome to OKC, just left there last week after visiting family. OKC not like Baltimore/Washington DC, but a great place to raise a family and the entertainment and other options are getting much better. When I retire I plan to return to OKC area and I recommend Edmond, or NW OKC outside of the kilpatrick turnpike. These areas are a little more upscale with more and more shopping and other ammenities becoming available all the time. Will not find a large African American presence in those areas as most are located in NE OKC, but, you wont find African Americans in the numbers of DC and Baltimore anyway. Hope you enjoy OKC, it is getting better.

[Spartan]

If you're looking for a suburb, Yukon and Edmond are alright. Personally I think Yukon is incredibly ugly, all this new cookie cutter development with virtually no trees and brown grass everywhere. I wouldn't rule out anything in OKC proper, although I would not recommend NE OKC. I don't know how things were for you in Baltimore, but there's no reason for race to be a factor when considering a neighborhood in OKC. The NE side of the city is mostly black, but with the exception of a handful of neighborhoods, it's really not the greatest overall side of town.

You might like some of the older neighborhoods in the inner nw side, but price per square foot for homes in the inner nw side, which is the best area of the city, are more on par with Edmond. In Yukon or Mustang, that general area, your dollar will go further if you're looking for the largest most sterile-looking ranch-style home your money can buy.

[Steve]

Having been an east coaster myself at one point, and having made trips back from time to time, I can tell you that metro OKC has far less racial tension than what you likely see back in Baltimore. Your old neighbor is totally wrong about the Klan. If you're from Baltimore, you'll likely find Edmond/NW OKC has more of the accommodations you are used to in terms of shopping, restaurants, theaters, schools, proximity to downtown Oklahoma City, etc.
The Oklahoma City metro is like many areas in "fly-over country" - it is grossly misrepresented in the media and the chamber, etc., are working overtime to reverse such impressions.
What racism exists here is more passive, if you know what I mean (a ridiculous problem to still have in 2010, but no unique to OKC), and is limited to a small minority.
To understand just how wrong your neighbors were, do the following:
- Visit Super Cao Market at NW 23 and Classen, eat at one of the Vietnamese restaurants in our Asian district (OKC was one of the few major cities to embrace Vietnamese immigrants in the wake of the Vietnam War when others, notably Houston, were openly hostile).
- Discover OKC's creative class - visit Paseo at Walker Avenue and Paseo Drive or the Plaza District at NW 16 between Classen and Penn.
- When you go to the Plaza District, be sure to stop in at Coffey's Cafe and tell the owner, Janice, that I sent you. http://www.coffyscafe.org/
- If you're in the mood for Oklahoma City soul food, be sure to check out Mama E's - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71Sk1lrfQqU (old-school OKC bbq can be had across the street at Leo's)
- Oklahoma City has a large Hispanic community based in and around Capitol Hill, and it's there you can find some great gift shops, restaurants and a couple of food markets.
I really hope this helps. For what it's worth OKC has had both a Hispanic and black police chiefs this past decade, and minorities can be found throughout the leadership of our community. OKC isn't perfect - but the idea that it's some racist Klan town is absolutely false and libelous.

[OSUMom]

If you are looking for a more urban setting there are a lot of new condos and brownstone type housing east of downtown. More expensive then I personally can afford but I don't know your price range. If you will be working downtown, it could be a good option.

I think that you will find your housing dollar will go a lot further here then in Baltimore.

Welcome to OKC!!!!!!!

[dwellsokc]

Yukon and Edmond have some very nice neighborhoods, as does just about every area of the metro area. If you're moving from Baltimore you're probably moving here because of work. I'd recommend that you select a nice area that is relatively close to work. Maybe rent for a while, so you can learn about the different areas before you commit to buying?

I'm not familiar with the racial-friction quotient in any of the areas; I hope to think that most are color blind. Welcome to OKC, and good luck with your move!

[lasomeday]

If you are looking at putting your kids in sports and looking on the west side. I would recommend Mustang over Yukon. Yukon is known for having racist coaches.

[Doug Loudenback]

Just recently made the move here to okc metro from Baltimore area, and we are looking for a nice area to move into in the okc metro area. Now we have visited multiple times and of course have been told there are area in the city that are so good for blacks, but that comes from baltimore folks who only hear rumors, they have never lived in OKC. In our few visits so far th city seems very cultured and very mixed, which i know is a far cry from what outsiders think of when hearing about OKC. Like one of our old neighbors in baltimore cliams he heard theres ku klux klan all over Oklahoma!!!! Please, but any ideas "okies", so far we are very impressed with the Yukon and Edmond areas.

Welcome to Oklahoma City & this forum, braunstation. A lot of the information needed to reply is not stated in your post, though, presence of children in the family, etc. And a lot depends on what you like. I, for example, like the "old stuff," homes built in the early 1900's and you'll find places like that immediately north of downtown in Heritage Hills and Mesta Park. But that may not be what you're looking for. We can give better answers if you help with some information.

[Rover]

It is more a choice of where you want to live. OKC doesn't have nearly the racial barriers existing in most larger cities.

The issue is what you want to spend. There are a number of very good neighborhoods in far north OKC that are part of OKC but in the Edmond school system ... a very good system. And, homes are far less expensive than the Baltimore WDC area.

You might try Brasswood or areas around it up by Quail Springs.

[MustangGT]

Agreed the price you are willing to pay for a home and the proximity to your work will be big determiners of where you would like the best. May I suggest an upscale apartment for say 3-6 months. That would allow you to actually spend an extended period of time here and experience the city for yourself rather than relying on others interpretations.

[kwash]

Yea agreed, if you are looking towards yukon, you might want to consider mustang. Yukon has been known to still have some old school racism in that town, and mustang is getting more of a mixed bag now. Not to say Yukon will always be like that but ive had some white friends still to this day tell me to be careful in Yukon. NW OKC is really good, id say west memorial area for sure and edmond is great. Moore and Norman are pretty good suburbs as well, although there is not quite as much culture is those suburbs as you get on the north side. As far as OKC being racists, lol its better than a lot of places, the only places ive ever heard of to stay way from is Yukon, Harrah, and Tuttle. Hope that helps you

[Spartan]

(OKC was one of the few major cities to embrace Vietnamese immigrants in the wake of the Vietnam War when others, notably Houston, were openly hostile).

This is somewhat true. Houston is one of those locales these days where the pervasive social current has made a complete 180 during the 90s--where all of these people that moved to Houston for a high-paying job didn't care for the old ways of Houston back when it was just a city in East Texas. Today it's led the way for a tolerant atmosphere because the city is mostly comprised of professionals and minorities who share very libertine views when it comes to immigration and social issues. In SW Houston some of the street signs are actually in Vietnamese, but there was a time that the old school Houstonians were openly unimpressed with their new residents and today you probably see some resentment toward the Katrina evacuees that ended up in Houston. There's always a clash when a new group that's different just shows up.

Oklahoma is different because we all showed up at once. This place is incredibly welcoming of everyone as long as you have a positive attitude. You don't have to agree with the people here on everything, but at least humor the locals. The newcomers that come here with their minds already made up, determined to disagree with the politics, and counting down the days till their next move aren't going to have a good experience anywhere. And really, this is not an oppressive political climate, it's actually one of the more upbeat, optimistic political climates--if for no other reason than the fact that we are still economically prosperous right now. This is not a backward political climate, either. There's a dose of populism, which is what I can't stand, but there are also some really progressive leaders, which is why OKC is doing so well. Keep in mind that this is the city in a state that is still mostly dominated by rural interests.

But I think you'll enjoy OKC if you've got a positive attitude. There's something here for everyone.

[Spartan]

Moore and Norman are pretty good suburbs as well, although there is not quite as much culture is those suburbs as you get on the north side.

"There is not quite as much culture in [Norman] as you get on the north side." ?

[soonerguru]

"There is not quite as much culture in [Norman] as you get on the north side." ?

I know, WTF? Norman has tons of culture and is possibly the most desirable place to live in the state. It's a beeotch of a commute in the morning though for OKC standards; for suburban Baltimore I cannot say.

[soonerguru]

You know, I'm not sure what the original poster is looking for, but Yukon and Mustang seem like very backward places for someone who has been living on the East Coast. Edmond is a little less so, but it has its issues as well. I've spent time in both places and while there are some good folks there the atmosphere is not very progressive.

[PennyQuilts]

Welcome to the city!! I just moved back from Northern Virginia and live in SW Oklahoma City, near Mustang. This is my home so of course I'm thrilled to be back but I think you will love it here. I tell people back east that it is where the living is easy. Traffic low, your money goes far, there are tons of things to do if you just look for them. A lot of people think Mustang and Yukon are "backward" if they are young and looking for excitement but for the more settled among us, it is heaven on earth - just mainly depends on where you are in your life. It is absolutely wonderful to be able to get pretty much whatever you want either in the malls or online - and plenty of things are available that you just can't get in an urban area without a lot of hassle (stuff like getting your chainsaw repaired or pet medicine - that sort of thing). And the people are so nice with a great attitude. It will be a culture shock but try to keep your sense of humor. Again, welcome!

[Spartan]

You know, I'm not sure what the original poster is looking for, but Yukon and Mustang seem like very backward places for someone who has been living on the East Coast. Edmond is a little less so, but it has its issues as well. I've spent time in both places and while there are some good folks there the atmosphere is not very progressive.

Even though the burbs like Mustang and Choctaw/Harrah have seen a lot of growth in recent years it still feels like it's the middle of nowhere. And there is absolutely no shopping anywhere near Mustang. Choctaw/Harrah at least have nice scenery and topography and the MWC Town Center.

There is virtually NO reason to live in Mustang unless you work at the FAA or the airport. There are some nice additions in far SW OKC just south of Mustang though, but they probably have those folks on septic.

[Patrick]

I agree with steering clear of Yukon. Being pretty familiar with Yukon schools, I will tell you there is some degree of racism still present in Yukon, and black folks aren't treated the best in their public school system. Edmond might be a consideration, but I will warn you that it is a a white flight community itself, and Edmond has historic roots of bragging about it being a "town with no negroes." Seriously, they used to put that in their chamber of commerce brochures in the day. It's getting better, but you'll still feel pretty isolated there as it is probably over 95% white.

I'd really consider an older middle or inner city area......most of the older (1970's or older) parts of town aren't products of white flight, and are actually pretty diverse. If you want a mostly African American community, Wildwood over on the east side of town is a very nice, mostly African American middle to upper class neighborhood. There are some white folks there, but I'd say it's definitely more than 50% black.

[PennyQuilts]

I live right outside of Mustang - love it. Close enough to drive "to the city" if I want but I can go to the grocery store in Mustang and get pretty much anything I need. It all comes down to what you want and what is important to you. I like my acerage and the peace and quiet. Given the option of doing something "exciting" and sitting on my patio to enjoy the gorgeous sunrises/sunsets, there is no contest. After living on the East coast with all that traffic and stress, this is pure heaven. And the schools aren't bad, either. If that is your thing, there are a number of areas in town you can live. If you want something different, we have that, too. One of the best things about Oklahoma is that notwithstanding its reputation as being "boring," there is a ton of variety. And you guys are going to love the weather, too.

[Camacho]

Welcome to Oklahoma City. Although OKC is not segregated in the sense that you don't need to worry about feeling unwelcome in any neighborhood due to your race, there is a definite clustering of different minority groups in different areas of the city. Based on my experience, NW OKC is predominantly white, there is a high density of Asians in what is now aptly dubbed "The Asian District," and the largest black population is in NE OKC.

There are tons of solid, middle-class neighborhoods throughout OKC and the surrounding areas. Others on this board may know better than me, but I would not consider many neighborhoods in OKC to be true melting pots. If the demographic make-up of a neighborhood is a non-factor for you, then you have a dizzying array of neighborhoods to choose from. If you do put some priority in living in a predominantly black neighborhood, then you should check out a few areas in NE OKC. As someone noted above, more neighborhoods than not in NE OKC are marginal, but there are a few wonderful areas.

As a fair disclaimer, I am a bit of a lobbyist for the Northeast area of town as I live there. I grew up in the Northwest side of the city but after spending several years away for school I moved back to a Northeast Oklahoma City neighborhood I didn't even know existed as I grew up but is beautiful. Oklahoma City straddles two geographic regions, with eastern Oklahoma City being in the "cross-timbers", which is characterized by rolling hills with interspersed dense woods, savannah and prarie land. In my opinion the natural beauty of Northeast Oklahoma City is unmatched in the area.

Two very attractive neighborhoods with reasonable home prices in the area are Thompson's Woodlands and Cashion's Wildewood. The two neighborhoods sit caddy corner to each other with NE 50th and Kelley Ave as the boundary between the two. I live in Wildewood and as such know more about it. The neighborhood started to be developed in the late 1950's and most of the homes were built in the 60's. There are a good number of homes built in the 70's, 80's, 90's, and some built in the past few years, so it's a good mix of home styles and sizes. Lot sizes are significantly larger than in most areas of the city, and though the overall feel is neighborhood-y, there are plenty of trees. Home prices typically range from $150K to $300K with a few outliers in either direction.

As far as demographics, I'd estimate the neighborhood is ~90% black and 10% white. There are a few young couples and families but the neighborhood is largely older, and most residents have lived here for decades. Many of the families here moved to the neighborhood after coming to OKC from the East Coast. It's a fairly quiet and slow neighborhood with lots of elbow room, and tends to attract people looking for those qualities.

It is bounded to the east by Park Estates North, another cute and well-kept neighborhood with smaller homes and lots, and to the south by Park Estate South, which is more blue-collar and starts to get a little sketchy. There are a few residential streets to the north but no true neighborhood, and to the West is a densely-wooded square mile with fewer than 10 residences scattered throughout. To the southwest is Thompson's Woodlands, the other nice neighborhood I mentioned. Many of the lots there are huge and much of the area feels more like living in the woods than in a neighborhood.

Oklahoma City has a wickedly good highway system and both Cashion's Wildewood and Thompson's Woodlands offer easy access to anywhere in town, as they're less than a mile from I-44, which can then get you to I-35 or I-235 within another 1-2 minutes. Wildewood is less than a mile from the Zoo, Science Museum, Remington Park and Lincoln Park Golf course, an excellent public course. There's a running/biking trail that starts just east of Wildewood and goes past all of those attractions, through the golf course and then runs south for several miles parallel to I-35. It takes about 10 minutes to get from the neighborhood to a parking spot in Downtown or Bricktown.

All in all I have an obviously biased opinion that Cashion's Wildewood is a forgotten gem in Northeast OKC, as it has fallen off of many people's radar, in large part because the home turnover in the neighborhood is so low. I'm sure this was a much longer answer than you were looking for, but I hope it was somewhat informative.

[Steve]

I agree with steering clear of Yukon. Being pretty familiar with Yukon schools, I will tell you there is some degree of racism still present in Yukon, and black folks aren't treated the best in their public school system. Edmond might be a consideration, but I will warn you that it is a a white flight community itself, and Edmond has historic roots of bragging about it being a "town with no negroes." Seriously, they used to put that in their chamber of commerce brochures in the day. It's getting better, but you'll still feel pretty isolated there as it is probably over 95% white.

I'd really consider an older middle or inner city area......most of the older (1970's or older) parts of town aren't products of white flight, and are actually pretty diverse. If you want a mostly African American community, Wildwood over on the east side of town is a very nice, mostly African American middle to upper class neighborhood. There are some white folks there, but I'd say it's definitely more than 50% black.

Sourcing sir.

[old okie]

Welcome to Oklahoma and to Oklahoma City, braunstation.

As for a good location, the others have raised some good points. I would add that one of the main issues is whether or not you have children and their ages and their interests. School districts do vary considerably in the metro area.

Another consideration is the type of home you want--vintage? new? fixer? close to neighbors? pool? golf? price?

We live in the SW part of OKC; are very close to groceries, golf courses, walking trails, and traffic is actually fairly light. We love it. Our neighborhood is new, reasonably priced, and quite racially mixed, no reported problems.

The advice to rent for 3 to 6 months is good. That would let you and your family explore before making a commitment.

Oklahoma City is a good place to live--and I would also recommend Norman, Mustang, Choctaw, or Edmond [although the traffic there is much worse IMO].

Again, welcome to Oklahoma!

[PennyQuilts]

I agree with steering clear of Yukon. Being pretty familiar with Yukon schools, I will tell you there is some degree of racism still present in Yukon, and black folks aren't treated the best in their public school system. Edmond might be a consideration, but I will warn you that it is a a white flight community itself, and Edmond has historic roots of bragging about it being a "town with no negroes." Seriously, they used to put that in their chamber of commerce brochures in the day. It's getting better, but you'll still feel pretty isolated there as it is probably over 95% white.

I'd really consider an older middle or inner city area......most of the older (1970's or older) parts of town aren't products of white flight, and are actually pretty diverse. If you want a mostly African American community, Wildwood over on the east side of town is a very nice, mostly African American middle to upper class neighborhood. There are some white folks there, but I'd say it's definitely more than 50% black.

"White flight" as a result of busing took place nearly fifty years ago. Most of the people who started Edmond are dead or so elderly you won't run into them. It is a college town with an educated population that is pretty progressive. Some people confuse the snobbiness that comes with being firmly middle class/law and order with being racist (somewhat of an iffy underlying premise, if you think about it). Kids from the "wrong side of the track" (i.e., the south side) also claim Edmondites are snots. It doesn't amount to a hill of beans for those people who happen to be law abiding and middle class. They fit right in.

Moreover, some people don't realize just how much time has passed and how attitudes have changed since the days of busing and "white flight." I am embarassed that someone would try to paint this town and its school systems as racist. There are bigoted individuals, of course, but the allegations of systemic racism as implied come from someone not old enough to understand what it is like to live in a pervasively racist society. As has been mentioned, OKC is a racially tolerant city with very little tension to speak of in that regard. It isn't perfect but I honestly believe you will feel welcome, here.

Wildwood is a very nice neighborhood (I grew up near there) but there is absolutely no reason why you should feel you need to live in a predominately African American neighborhood unless that is your personal preference. If you have school aged kids, before buying there, I would absolutely check out the schools or consider private schools. Wildwood is lovely but there are a lot of deprived areas nearby resulting in rough schools.

I don't know much about Yukon but those comments sound suspect absent something significant to back it up.

[Patrick]

Sourcing sir.

Younger brother recently graduated from Yukon HS. I'd say the amount of racism present in that school is unbelievable.

No source needed for evidence of white flight. That's a phenomon that's well known to us that grew up in this city and experienced it. I think the racial mix of your public schools is a good source though. You look at the racial make up of OKC Public Schools and it's pretty well mixed. In contrast, Edmond North is 96% white per review of No Child Left Behind data.

[PennyQuilts]

Younger brother recently graduated from Yukon HS. I'd say the amount of racism present in that school is unbelievable.

No source needed for evidence of white flight. That's a phenomon that's well known to us that grew up in this city and experienced it. I think the racial mix of your public schools is a good source though. You look at the racial make up of OKC Public Schools and it's pretty well mixed. In contrast, Edmond North is 96% white per review of No Child Left Behind data.

Is your younger brother African Amercan? What sort of racism are you talking about? Are you claiming the school administration acting in a racist manner or the students or both?

Are you saying that because Edmond schools are 95% white it is racist? Is it your position that racism exists in all schools that aren't "pretty well mixed" or do you have something specific to base that on? Any instances of racial bullying going on in Edmond?

I imagine any AA family transfering him from Baltimore is going to be fine no matter where they settle. As has been pointed out, this is a very nice, friendly town with great weather, a dynamic civil spirit with an abundance of colleges and universities in the area and a strong economic climate.

Let me repeat - welcome to Oklahoma!