Sensory Strides #63 Boomtown Sam Anderson Oklahoma City history

<p>Quote “Cities are not microwave popcorn. Unless you are talking, as we are, about Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City is microwave popcorn.” Sam Anderson</p> <p>Welcome to the Sensory Strides podcast.  Observations of the world through activity, reading, listening, and everything else.</p> <p>52 Hike Challenge – Join us!  There are free challenges and lots of swag you can buy. <a href= "https://www.52hikechallenge.com/?rfsn=3543491.754f73&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=3543491.754f73"> https://www.52hikechallenge.com/?rfsn=3543491.754f73&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=3543491.754f73</a>  #52hikechallenge2020</p> <p>I recently read Boomtown by Sam Anderson.  This book gives both the originating – land rush and more recent histories of Oklahoma City.  There were a lot of things I never knew.</p> <p><a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Boom-Town-Fantastical-Basketball-World-class/dp/0804137315"> https://www.amazon.com/Boom-Town-Fantastical-Basketball-World-class/dp/0804137315</a></p> <p>Some interesting facts:</p> <p>In the 60’s, Oklahoma City was the largest city in the WORLD by land.  This was intentional by the original city planners.</p> <p>In 1964 they flew multiple sonic flights over OKC to test how it would impact the population.  As a result of those tests, commercial sonic flights over US land is prohibited.</p> <p>The land rush occurred in 1889.  That means OKC is only 131 years old.</p> <p>A big focus of the book is the passion the city had to bring a professional sports team to OKC.  The arena was built without a team to use it.  The city was looking towards an NHL team, but that never came to fruition.</p> <p>When Katrina caused the New Orleans Hornets to play for two seasons from Oklahoma City, the fan support raised interest from the NBA to possibly help find a team.  The stadium was sold out for a team that wasn’t even truly housed there.  When a team couldn’t be found to permanently locate in OKC, OKC went shopping.</p> <p>Seattle agreed to let the OKC busines