EDMOND, Okla. - Edmond, Okla. was recently announced one of America's Top-Rated Smaller Cities for 2004-2005 by Universal Reference Publications, an imprint of Grey House Publishing in New York.
This is the second time Edmond has received this honor, the last being for 2002-2003.
Universal Reference Publications published a statistical profile of each of the top 100 cities in America with populations between 25,000 and 99,000 in its fifth edition "America's Top-Rated Smaller Cities."
The data collected came from a number of reliable resources including the U.S. Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Claritas Inc., one of the nation's leading data providers.
Four key criteria were used to identify these top-rated cities: Population Growth, Crime Rate, Income and Unemployment Rate. These four measurements were selected based on two assumptions: (1) most people want to live in a community with low crime, low unemployment and high income, and (2) if a city's population is growing rapidly, it is an appealing place to live or work.
"Edmond's profile both meets and exceeds the four criteria set by this ranking. Our numbers are impressive, but the strength and energy behind those numbers lie in the Edmond residents, businesses and community leaders who set the tone for how our city stacks up in this publication and others like it," said Janet Yowell, executive director of the Edmond Economic Development Authority.
According to data presented in "America's Top-Rated Smaller Cities", the city of Edmond's population grew more than 30% during the 1990s.
The population estimate for 2003 is 71,899 and is expected to grow more than 8% by 2008.
With 47.8% of Edmond residents possessing at least a bachelor's degree, Edmond has one of the most educated workforces in the Southwest.
Edmond's crimes-per-thousand ratio, 25.5, is the lowest in the state among the 20 largest cities according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
"America's Top-Rated Smaller Cities" reports that Edmond's average household income for 2003 was $79,874, which is 26% higher than the rest of the country.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Edmond's civilian labor force as of December 2003 to be 32,505 with a total of 31,590 workers employed. This results in a 2.8% unemployment rate for the city of Edmond.
"Edmond is a great place to grow. Not only are those words posted on the gates to our city, but they are also recognized nationwide as a result of the high quality of life and strong economy we enjoy," said Tracey Osborne, president of the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce.
Edmond is the only Oklahoma city listed in this year's ranking of "America's Top-Rated Smaller Cities."
Other cities ranked include Laguna Niguel, Calif.; Greenwich, Conn.; Chesterfield, Mo.; Bridgewater, NJ; Rio Rancho, NM; Hilton Head Island, S.C.; Germantown, Tenn.; and Reston, Va.
Each city profile in "America's Top-Rated Smaller Cities" includes: city background, a narrative combining the city's history and current events; recent rankings, a compilation of the city's rankings on a wide range of topics, such as World Class Communities, Best Sports Climate, Best Cities for Entrepreneurship, etc.; and Business and Living Environment, more than 50 tables containing information on Finances, Population, Income, Employment, Taxes, Transportation, Cost of Living, Housing, Health Care, Education Public Safety, Climate, Hotels, In-Demand Occupations, Radio & Television Stations and more.
"The City of Edmond has always been held to a high standard by the people and businesses who call it home. This ranking exhibits the commitment of our citizens in building an exceptional city," said Mayor Saundra Naifeh.
Edmond's demographic profile can be obtained by calling the Edmond Economic Development Authority at 405-340-0116 or visiting their Web site at www.eeda.com.
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