Tulsa Works to Attract Young People

By Caitlin Pond

Attracting young people to Tulsa is a priority among city leaders and recent data shows that Tulsa is on par with other cities in Oklahoma, and not far off from other large cities in the area.

Census figures show that the median age in Tulsa is 35, which is also the average age in neighboring capital Oklahoma City. Austin has a median age is 31, slighly lower than the two Oklahoma cities. 

One of the groups working to attract young to Tulsa is Tulsa's Young Professionals, a group founded in 2005 to fight the city "brain drain." The 1,400-member group works with the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce "to attract and retain young talent," according to the group's website.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett expressed his confidence in the growth of Tulsa in the Tulsa World earlier this month. 

“I’ve got a clear vision of Tulsa as I look into the future,” Bartlett said. The mayor emphasized Tulsa’s economic development as the most important thing for the future of the city.

“That entrepreneurial spirit has been the catalyst for prosperity and visionary leadership. It has served us well and, with God’s blessings, will continue doing so for the remainder of the century.”