Inexpensive, good music, conservative, has Tulsa U
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11/28/2009
Traffic problems are practically non-existent and it is fairly inexpensive to live well in Tulsa. If you have conservative family values, enjoy golf or actively following sports like college football, it's a great place with a strong football tradition and many fans. There's more music than you would expect, and of very good quality and variety, especially for a town of its size in a State that is relatively poor. The once-wealthy Oil Capital was badly hurt by the industry woes and the exodus of many oil firms to Houston some years back. The city's neighborhoods are beautiful with many fine homes, some distinguished architecture, lovely smaller homes and large, mature trees and parks. The city's neighborhoods are beautiful with many fine homes, some distinguished architecture, lovely smaller homes and large, mature trees and parks. Streets and roads are in bad shape and the suburban sprawl is like most suburban sprawl. One cultural drawback is that there are no serious art museums or galleries showing serious contemporary work. But there are distinguished collections of native Indian art. The local galleries tend to show only local art. Movie choice (mostly first-run at the mall) is very limited for a town of this size. Plusses are the low cost of living and the fast developing organic foods and local foods movements. Negatives are the poor condition of streets and roads, lack of public transit and a heavy emphasis on religion, particularly the preponderance of fundamentalism and the lack of variety of political views. A predominantely right-wing and Republican perspective reigns restricted by entrenched opinion and local influence. However, for people seeking a conservative and religion-based environment, Tulsa is a good place to raise a family. Schools are improving. Healthcare is average, though none of the Tulsa hospitals yet participate in the Leapfrog Group project for the reduction of fatal errors (which all major and many minor US hospitals have now joined). To date, only one hospital in the state participates. Overall though, the town has much to offer, is working to re-invent and re-build its downtown, and will probably succeed at the pace of the recession recovery now underway in the country. And with that success will come improvements across the board.
Kay | Tulsa, OK