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COMMENTARY
(Mike Allen)

What will it take? If the news of Oklahoma City’s larger-than-expected population gain on the latest U.S. census can’t bring an In-N-Out Burger franchise here, what do we need to do? OKC is already a haven for just about every other fast food restaurant, and now it appears we have many more mouths (read: customers) than market analysts previously thought.

Speaking of “in and out,” it’s interesting to look at the county maps of population change over the past decade. Rural areas are rapidly shrinking in population, which is not shocking. But it is fascinating to look at the major cities and how they are changing — or aren’t changing. Population numbers are stagnant at best in the largest cities, while many mid-size metros (OKC included) seem to be capturing most of the movers.

Anecdotally, I have noticed over the past 10 to 15 years that the amount of patrons at OKC bars has increased greatly. The bar patron population has spiked so much so that I don’t frequent many of the places I used to. I came to the conclusion that either there was a local baby boom in the 1990s or that our metro area has seen a sizable in-migration of families and young people. The census data tells me it’s likely the latter. Cheers to a growing city and, overall, state.

Past Sundaze comics

The delta variant is getting a little too trendy
Git along little dogies: It’s SEC or bust
California fires bring the hazy days of summer to OKC
Western lows: The unclear motivations of Western Heights board members
Despite housing prices, more mosquitoes moving in
Pizza and other strange things are afoot at the Circle K
Canoo tax incentives more elusive than great blue whale
Where is the beef? Where is the receipt?
‘The COVID 19’ lingers around the waistband
The complex puzzle of OU’s Cross Village dorms
Sonic seltzer: The Oklahoma collaboration we didn’t know we needed
Gov. Meathead should bring back Onion Burger Day at the State Capitol
Budget match: The audience wants to go home
As mask mandate ends, remember not to litter
Everyone getting pegged with a charter school audit
Real ID: Thank you so much for playing my game
Gold Dome renovation could involve taxpayer subsidy
OU basketball says goodbye to Lon Kruger, Sherri Coale
Keanu Reeves in OKC? Excellent!
New depths of boredom after a year with COVID
Demolishing OU housing towers should be a breeze
Happy tastes good: Oklahoma wants to be Texas?
Rolling blackouts: Storm saga so confusing
You’re on your own: It’s too cold for Cupid this year
COVID vaccine: Never doubt what nobody is sure about
Oklahoma Legislature: A mask for thee, but not for me
Quite the quandary: Q followers feel let down
Pop quiz: What is jeopardizing the state of Oklahoma?
Imagine the day-to-day life of the Q Shaman
The year that was: 2020 blew up the bathroom