Norman, Oklahoma

Norman is the <a href="/facts/List_of_municipalities_in_Oklahoma/mRaheI77">3rd most populous city</a> in the U.S. state of <a href="/facts/Oklahoma/fK28L1a4">Oklahoma</a>, with a population of 128,026 as of the <a href="/facts/2020_United_States_census/dTEm5TRr">2020 census</a>. It is the most populous city and the <a href="/facts/County_seat/ItAWPoWw">county seat</a> of <a href="/facts/Cleveland_County%2c_Oklahoma/ffJN74Fl">Cleveland County</a> and the second-most populous city in the <a href="/facts/Oklahoma_City_metropolitan_area/z90G9KQE">Oklahoma City Metro Area</a> after the state capital, <a href="/facts/Oklahoma_City/o7P8l8Cd">Oklahoma City</a>, 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Norman.
The city was settled during the <a href="/facts/Land_Run_of_1889/n6YS6Jb0">Land Run of 1889</a>, which opened the former <a href="/facts/Unassigned_Lands/CoN6I6vz">Unassigned Lands</a> of <a href="/facts/Indian_Territory/9FnoEoHy">Indian Territory</a> to <a href="/facts/American_pioneer/Vlsd1Laa">American pioneer</a> settlement. It was named in honor of Abner Norman, the area's initial <a href="/facts/Land_surveyor/qchGcnRC">land surveyor</a>, and was formally incorporated on May 13, 1891. Norman has prominent higher education and related research industries, as it is home to the <a href="/facts/University_of_Oklahoma/clDb6JUu">University of Oklahoma</a>, the largest university in the state, with nearly 32,000 students. The university is well known for its sporting events by teams under the banner of the nickname "<a href="/facts/Oklahoma_Sooners/IvSNJNvU">Sooners</a>", with over 85,000 people routinely attending <a href="/facts/American_football/TGzJa1nW">football</a> games. The university is home to several museums, including the <a href="/facts/Fred_Jones_Jr._Museum_of_Art/u5QVaJtI">Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art</a>, which contains the largest collection of <a href="/facts/Impressionism/dc54l9eS">French Impressionist</a> art ever given to an American university, as well as the <a href="/facts/Sam_Noble_Oklahoma_Museum_of_Natural_History/ySDL7vlh">Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History</a>.
Norman's <a href="/facts/National_Weather_Center/cbs6YUgF">National Weather Center</a> houses a unique collection of university, state, federal, and private-sector organizations that work together to improve the understanding of events related to the <a href="/facts/Earth%2527s_atmosphere/FV97Am25">Earth's atmosphere</a>. Norman lies within <a href="/facts/Tornado_Alley/EkFhh0fm">Tornado Alley</a>, a geographic region colloquially known for frequent and intense tornadic activity. The <a href="/facts/Storm_Prediction_Center/IVs7uAyX">Storm Prediction Center</a>, a branch of the <a href="/facts/National_Oceanic_and_Atmospheric_Administration/IvcuqNJg">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> that delivers forecasts for severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and other high-impact hazardous weather in the contiguous United States, is located at the National Weather Center. Additionally, research is conducted at the co-located <a href="/facts/National_Severe_Storms_Laboratory/HxsxSu30">National Severe Storms Laboratory</a>, which operates various experimental <a href="/facts/Weather_radar/S7BlhMzF">weather radars</a> and develops innovative tools, applications, and techniques aimed at improving forecasts and warnings of severe weather.

Norman, Oklahoma open-in-new

Norman, Oklahoma