Tulsa metropolitan area
The Tulsa metropolitan area, officially defined as the Tulsa metropolitan statistical area is a metropolis in northeastern Oklahoma centered around the city of Tulsa and encompassing Tulsa, Rogers, Wagoner, Muskogee, Washington, Osage, Creek, Okmulgee and Pawnee counties. It had a population of 1,059,803 according to the 2024 U.S. census estimates.
Counties
The Tulsa metropolitan area consists of the following counties, listed in descending order of population :- Tulsa County
- Rogers County
- Wagoner County
- Creek County
- Osage County
- Okmulgee County
- Pawnee County
- Muskogee County
- Washington County
Cities
The Tulsa metropolitan area's anchor city, Tulsa, is surrounded by two primary rings of suburbs. Connected by suburban sprawl, the cityscapes of Tulsa and its initial outlying ring of suburbs form to make the immediate Tulsa Urban Area, an area that sits apart from a second ring of noncontiguous suburbs. Forming the first ring of suburbs are Catoosa, Bixby, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Owasso, Sand Springs, Sapulpa and Turley. Cities and towns in the second ring of suburbs include, Claremore, Okmulgee, Glenpool, Collinsville, Wagoner, Coweta, Skiatook, and Inola.Largest cities
Tulsa
Tulsa, home to 415,154 people in 2024, is the principal cultural and economic hub of the Tulsa metropolitan area. The city, once known as the Oil Capital of the World, is still home to a large array of international oil-related industries, financial corporations, and manufacturing bases. The city contains the region's only public two-year college Tulsa Community College, and only private four-year universities, Oral Roberts University, and the University of Tulsa. The Tulsa International Airport and Tulsa Port of Catoosa serve as the region's primary international travel and shipping hubs.Broken Arrow
Broken Arrow is the metropolitan area's second largest city. According to the 2020 US Census, Broken Arrow has a 2024 population of 122,756 residents and is the fourth largest city in the state. It is the 267th-largest city in the United States. Once a bedroom community for nearby Tulsa, Broken Arrow has emerged in recent decades as an economic center in its own right. In 2007, the city was rated the safest city in Oklahoma and 20th safest in the nation, as well as one of the nation's 100 best places to live.Owasso
Owasso, a bedroom community of 42,831 people in 2024, is the third largest city in the Tulsa metropolitan area and one of the fastest-growing in the state. Situated just north of the Tulsa International Airport and the Tulsa Zoo in Tulsa and Rogers counties, the city is connected to Tulsa by Highway 169 and contains a large base of upscale retail.Bartlesville
Bartlesville is an exurb of the city of Tulsa. With 38,355 people in 2024, the city is the fourth largest in the Tulsa-Bartlesville Combined Statistical Area, though it is not considered part of the immediate Tulsa Statistical Area by the Census Bureau. It is the county seat of Washington County, and contains the only skyscraper built by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Price Tower. Oklahoma Wesleyan University,a private four-year university and a branch of Rogers State University are Bartlesville's primary institutions of higher education.Muskogee
Muskogee is another exurb of the city of Tulsa. With 36,849 people in 2024, the city is the fifth largest in the Tulsa-Bartlesville Combined Statistical Area. It is the county seat of Muskogee County. Bacone College, a private four-year university, and branches of Connors State College and Northeastern State University are Muskogee's primary institutions of higher education.Bixby
Bixby is a rapidly growing city to the south of Tulsa. It had a population of 31,728 at the 2024 census estimate and has the largest per capita income in the TMA. Originally an agricultural community known as "The Garden Spot of Oklahoma", it has largely become a bedroom community in the Tulsa area.Jenks
Jenks, the sixth largest city in the TMA, is another rapidly growing suburb of Tulsa, located southwest of Tulsa largely between the Arkansas River and U.S. Route 75. A portion of the Jenks Public School District extends east of the Arkansas River encompassing a part of the city of Tulsa south of 91st street. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in Oklahoma. As of the 2024 census estimate the city has a population 27,869. Jenks is known as the "Antiques Capitol of Oklahoma" and is home to the Oklahoma Aquarium.Sapulpa
Sapulpa is a city in Creek and Tulsa counties, with its town center located approximately 14 miles southwest of downtown Tulsa. The population was 23,297 as of the 2024 United States census estimate, making it the seventh largest city in the TMC. It is the county seat of Creek County.Sand Springs
Sand Springs, a diverse urban community is one of the oldest suburbs of Tulsa, and eighth largest city in the TMA. The population is 20,330 as of the 2024 U.S. Census estimate. It is located along the Arkansas River, just five miles west of downtown Tulsa. It has a fast-growing residential population and is recognized as a hub of industrial activity. Attractions in Sand Springs include the Keystone Ancient Forest, Sand Springs Pogue Airport, the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge Golf Course and easy access to Keystone State Park. The city is connected to Tulsa by Highway 412/64, 41st Street and Avery Drive.Claremore
Claremore, the ninth largest city in the TMA, is an outer suburb of Tulsa and the county seat of Rogers County. The population is 20,602 as of the 2024 US Census estimate. It is home to Rogers State University, a public four-year university located on the city's west side. The city is home to many historical figures such as Will Rogers, a famous actor, Lynn Riggs, author of the novel that inspired the musical Oklahoma. Claremore is also the setting of Oklahoma the musical. Country singer Garth Brooks also lives just outside Claremore. The Will Rogers Memorial is located in Claremore.Other communities
North – Skiatook, Collinsville, Oologah, Pawhuska, Dewey, Barnsdall.West – Cleveland, Bristow, Mannford, Hominy.
East – Catoosa, Wagoner, Coweta, Porter, Inola, Verdigris, Pryor Creek.
South – Glenpool, Mounds, Beggs, Okmulgee, Henryetta and Haskell.
Metropolitan statistics
As of the census of 2010, there were 937,478 people, 367,091 households, and 246,290 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA were as follows:- White: 70.9%
- Black or African American: 8.4%
- American Indian and Alaskan Native: 8.3%
- Asian: 1.8%
- Pacific Islander: 0.1%
- Two or more races: 6.4%
- Some other race: 4.2%
- Hispanic or Latino : 8.4%
Combined Statistical Area
Based on commuting patterns, the Federal Census Bureau defines the adjacent micropolitan areas of Muskogee and Bartlesville into a region known as the Tulsa–Muskogee–Bartlesville Combined Statistical Area, commonly known as the Green Country region. The population of this wider region is 1,180,615 as of 2024. The Tulsa CSA is the 48th largest CSA, and the 54th largest primary census statistical area in the country.Transportation
Interstate Highways and turnpikes
The Tulsa metropolitan area is heavily reliant on automobiles as a means of transportation. Interstate 44, U.S. Highway 75 and U.S. Highway 412 serve as the major thoroughfares of the region. Turnpikes play a vital role in the region's transportation system. The Will Rogers I-44, Turner I-44, Muskogee OK-351, Gilcrease OK-344, Cimarron, and Creek OK-364 turnpikes aide travel in the area.US Highway 412 is scheduled to be upgraded as Interstate-42. The planned interstate route includes the Cimarron and Cherokee Turnpikes and US-412 and will extend from Interstate 49 in Fayetteville, Arkansas to Interstate 35 near Perry, Oklahoma.
The state has approved the Creek OK-364 being renamed Interstate-644 and Muskogee OK-351 being renamed Interstate-343.
Transit
provides local transit services within the urbanized area. Intercity transit services are available through Greyhound Lines and Jefferson Lines.Rail, seaport, and airport facilities
The area is home to the nation's farthest inland port, the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. This port, along with the Port of Muskogee, is situated along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, which helps in the shipment of goods to international trade routes. Several major rail lines are located throughout the region, although the Tulsa metropolitan area is one of the largest urban areas in the nation not served by Amtrak. The region's principal airport is the Tulsa International Airport, which offers domestic passenger service. Other minor airports serving general aviation are located throughout the region.Education
Common education
The Tulsa metropolitan area, like much of the state of Oklahoma, is served by independent school districts. Each county contains several school districts and each school district is governed by a local school board. The region's largest school district is Tulsa Public Schools.Higher education
See also List of colleges and universities in Tulsa, Oklahoma.The Tulsa metro is home to several colleges and universities. The Tulsa area's largest private schools are University of Tulsa and Oral Roberts University. Rogers State University is located in Claremore with branch campuses in Bartlesville and Pryor. Also, there are branch campuses of major state colleges, such as Oklahoma State University–Tulsa, University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, and Northeastern State University in Broken Arrow. Langston University, Oklahoma's only Historically Black College has a satellite branch in Tulsa. Tulsa Community College serves thousands of students as the region's primary junior college.
Two medical schools are also located in the region: Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, where students can attend all four years of medical school since 2017.
The only law school in northeastern Oklahoma is the University of Tulsa College of Law.
In 2021, seven higher education institutions and seven community organizations in the Tulsa MSA founded the . THE Consortium is a higher education collaborative designed to support cross-institutional and cross-sector work. In December 2022, an eighth institutional member joined THE Consortium, which now comprises , Northeastern State University, Oklahoma State University–Tulsa, University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, Rogers State University, Tulsa Community College, University of Tulsa, and . Affiliate members include the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the , the , the , , , and . THE Consortium is the only consortium of its kind in the state of Oklahoma.
As of 2011, 30% of adults in the City of Tulsa held a bachelor's degree or higher. In Broken Arrow 32% of adults held degrees, in Owasso 31% held degrees, in Bixby 38% held degrees, in Jenks 46% held degrees, and in Bartlesville 31% held degrees. This compares to 23.0% for all of Oklahoma and 28.2% for the entire U.S. In 2009, Businessweek ranked Tulsa as one of the best cities for new college grads.