Community engagement in Tulsa’s most populous suburb
Founded in 1902, Broken Arrow has evolved to become Tulsa’s largest suburb. With a population of 120,000, it’s also the fourth-most populous city in Oklahoma. Plus, the suburb is seeing a steady uptick in growth thanks to ongoing development. "You still have that small community feel, but it’s really big,” says Adriana Fout, broker and owner of Elevate Realty. “The Chamber of Commerce does an outstanding job with community outreach. The school system’s amazing, and they’re building up a lot of restaurants and shops." Sprawled across 60 square miles, Broken Arrow connects to Tulsa through a network of expressways, but access to nature and a thriving downtown help the suburban city cultivate a personality all its own. “We’re family-friendly, safe and community-oriented,” says Erin Hofener, marketing and communications coordinator for Visit Broken Arrow. “Those are our main pillars, what draw people here.”
The President of the chamber is the MC of the The Gathering on Main event.
The rooster joins the TTCU float in the Rooster Days Parade.
The Women's War Memorial in Broken Arrow celebrates local women who served our country.
Downtown Broken Arrow is the heart of Broken Arrow with restaurants, shops and community events.
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Local businesses flourish in the Rose District
The Rose District — the primary shopping and dining destination in Broken Arrow — blossoms in the heart of the city. Vibrant murals welcome visitors to a downtown area that stands as a tribute to the city’s history and commitment to growth. “When settlers first came in, they chose this place because we have natural water springs,” Hofener says. “Once people were settled, a club of wives decided to start planting as many roses as possible to beautify the town. For a while, Broken Arrow was called the ‘city of sparkling water and roses,’ so when the Rose District was being formed, they took that name.” Planters line the roadsides, and gardeners maintain the rose blooms throughout the year. Conversation spills out from cafés and wine bars onto the brick-lined sidewalks, while specialty shops sell handmade soaps, chocolates and quirky gifts. For more options, residents head out toward the highways to find grocery stores, shopping centers and multiplexes, including an IMAX theater.
While the Rose District has been around since the city’s inception, a $4 million project in 2013 gave downtown a major face-lift. The makeover was so successful that the city sought to infuse nearby New Orleans Square with similar energy. “The city has poured a lot of effort and funding into revitalizing that square,” Hofener says. “It’s gone from a 50-something-percent vacancy to 90-something-percent full, so it’s just become a vibrant place once again.” The district features more than 140 businesses, including restaurants and unique shops.
Meet a friend for coffee at at Laurannae Baking Co in Broken Arrow.
Society Burger in Broken Arrow has a large covered patio and lots of bar space.
Stop in for delicious chocolate at Nouveau Chocolate in Broken Arrow.
Grab a local pint at Broken Arrow Brewing Co in Downtown Broken Arrow.
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Craftsman-style and contemporary builds
Broken Arrow’s popularity keeps the housing market competitive. Homes in desirable areas like Wolf Creek Estates tend to sell about 30 days after arriving on the market, compared to the national average of 44 days. Prices trend high for the Tulsa metro area but low by national standards, with the average home valued at just over $300,000. Contemporary and Craftsman-style homes represent the bulk of available housing stock. Modest-sized builds in neighborhoods close to the highways can sell for $350,000 to $450,000, while sprawling custom homes within walking distance of the Rose District range from $500,000 to $800,000. Older ranch-style homes from the 1960s and ’70s might sell for $150,000 to $225,000, but luxury homes on multiacre properties or in gated communities like Rabbit Run can fetch $1 to $2 million.
Lower-than-average crime risk is a top draw for buyers, especially families. “One of our proudest accomplishments is that we have all sorts of accolades around safety,” Hofener says. FBI crime data displays fewer than 150 violent offenses per year in Broken Arrow, a per capita average well below Tulsa's 1,000 mark over the same five-year period. “Being just across the street from Tulsa, I think it’s huge that we’re able to have that safety aspect,” Hofener says.
A quintessential suburban environment prevails in Wolf Creek Estates.
Wolf Creek Estates has several green spaces.
Rabbit Run has well maintained gardens for their entrances.
Rabbit Run offers many patio homes available to residents.
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Broken Arrow Public Schools gets an A-minus from Niche
The Broken Arrow school system is a top draw for families in the Tulsa area. The public school district earns a Niche grade of A-minus and serves over 20,000 students. Tulsa Tech’s Broken Arrow campus is home to most of the school’s automotive programs, and budding cosmetologists can prepare for their board licensing exams at Broken Arrow Beauty College on South Elm Place.
Broken Arrow High School is the largest school in Oklahoma.
Wolf Creek Elementary received a B+ from Niche and serves kids in Rabbit Run.
Oliver Middle School recieved a B+ from Niche and has a student teacher ratio of 20 to 1.
Rabbit run offers quick access to the Broken Arrow Library.
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Rooster Days, Oklahoma’s longest-running festival
Broken Arrow offers a hefty roster of events throughout the year, most with a cross-generational appeal. “We love to gather as a community and celebrate who we are,” Hofener says. Rooster Days, an annual celebration in June, has been crowing for over 90 years, making it Oklahoma’s longest running festival. The four-day event features live entertainment, a carnival, a wine garden and a marketplace. Hops, Bops & Bites is billed as a small-scale Oktoberfest with live music, food trucks, and sips from local breweries and wineries. The Rose Festival, a three-day September event celebrating the city’s prized blooms, arrives in tandem with the Chalk It Up art festival, which invites kids to adorn the streets with chalk drawings. “Many of the events we do are family-focused,” Hofener says. “Even if there’s alcohol involved, it doesn’t ever really turn into a rager.”
Broken Arrow’s Parks and Recreation Department oversees 43 parks and over 1000 acres of public land throughout the city. Abundant nature trails allow walkers, runners and cyclists to log plenty of miles, and the skate park and rec room at Nienhuis Park Community Center appeal to the younger generation. In winter, the city creates an ice-skating rink in the Rose District, lending the area a festive vibe.
Dog celebrates a moment of rest after successfully completing the Rooster Days Parade.
Rooster Days features live music, pageants, carnival rides and so much more.
Step into the petting zoo and feed the animals at Rooster Days.
Akdar Shrine of Tulsa brings the fun and thrill with their mini cars at the Rooster Days Parade.
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The Broken Arrow Expressway to Tulsa
Several of Tulsa’s major highways form a ring around Broken Arrow, boosting the suburban convenience. The Broken Arrow Expressway is a straight shot to downtown Tulsa, 13 miles away. The quickest option for the 12-mile drive to Tulsa International Airport is the Mingo Valley Expressway, which runs along the western edge of town. MetroLink Tulsa operates a micro-transit public transportation service to aid the 27 percent of the population who have limited access to vehicles, and the system’s 900 bus route — known as the Union Express — shuttles passengers to and from downtown Tulsa. The Liberty Parkway Trail, a 9.5-mile bicycle route, runs throughout the city and connects to the Creek Turnpike’s South Loop in Tulsa. Construction is underway on a 1.5-mile bike route from New Orleans Street to West Miami Street, with improvements to crosswalks and other investments in pedestrian infrastructure.
Area hospitals, manufacturing and employment
Ascension St. John Broken Arrow is a 62-bed facility with a level IV trauma center and a 24-hour emergency department. Hillcrest Hospital South, another major medical care center employing over 1000 people, is 6 miles away near the Mingo Valley Expressway. Broken Arrow has one of the highest concentrations of manufacturers in Oklahoma, with facilities like PACCAR Winch, A G Equipment Company and CamGlass serving as major employers in the area. The Broken Arrow Public Schools district is another significant employer.
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A woman enjoying a conversation on her phone while at Rose West Dog Park in Rabbit Run.
Broken Arrow Tigers are multiple time state champions in football.
Children love recess on the playground at Broken Arrow.
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Concerns about the water supply
Natural springs drew settlers to the area, but modern-day Broken Arrow residents contend with a flood of water-related issues. Levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are higher than national averages, possibly due to agricultural runoff and industrial discharge. Hard water, which can shorten the lifespans of water heaters and raise homeowners’ monthly costs, is also a concern. The city works with the EPA and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) to monitor and treat the water supply, ensuring it’s safe to drink. Broken Arrow also lies within Tornado Alley, a swath of the central U.S. prone to frequent tornado activity, particularly in spring, which can lead to high homeowners insurance in the area.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
