"Rite of Passage" a Norman Travel Page by mrclay2000

Like Oklahoma City, Norman grew up as a direct result of the 1889 Land Run that opened 2 million acres for settlement for homesteaders. The following year in 1890, seventeen years ahead of statehood, the University of Oklahoma was formed, at the time a tuition-free institution. Norman began to expand. Elegant houses from the period still stand near campus or throughout the city limits, and certain areas have been listed on the national register for historic site or districts. With a normal enrollment of over 20,000 students, the options around town are often based on campus life, but while the downtown area is still a somber reminder of more carefree days, much of Norman is still developing. New hotels, new businesses, and new resources commit to the community every year, making Norman one of the most ideal neighborhoods in the entire state.