Derby, Oklahoma, USA - the All-American Capitol of Cowboy Country!

[tomdapom 79]

Welcome to Derby, Oklahoma! Over the past few weeks, Marshall has annoyed me (lack of realism in downtown). While I could have re-done the intire downtown core, I have decided instead to get a clean slate, and start anew. Lets get into it!

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History

The city of Derby was founded in 1893, after the Cherokee Outlet was opened for settlement in the Cherokee Strip Land Run, the largest in the US' history. The location was chosen because of it's proximity to the North Arkansas River(fictional), and a freshwater stream close by.

The city grew in importance after the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway opened a major trainyard in the city, as two main railroads meet in the city. However, the city exploded with growth in the early 1900s, as several large oil fields were found just miles from the city center. The population as of 1900 was 5,176, by 1910 it was 21,089, by 1920 it was 89,678 and by 1930, it had grown to over 180,000 people. 

In 1926, Greendale, a large African-American community, was hit by one of the largest race riots in the country's history. Over 20 city blocks were burnt to the ground, destroying many homes and businesses. Over 600 people, mostly blacks, died. 

The national recession of 1982 hit the city's oil industry hard, as the worldwide freefall in gas prices saw many oil-based industries leave. Large amounts of abandonement can still be seen today in eastern Derby, where many of the refineries once were. 

In 1992, after the state's economy had recovered, Derby's government had planned to expand into other sectors, unrelated to oil. The completion of the Derby Convention Center and the NOk Arena in 1996 saw the city turn into a convention hub. The recently completed Warehouse and Entertainment Districts have also added to the city's growth. 

Geography

The city is located in Kay County, in northern Oklahoma, alongside the Northern Arkansas River. The city is relatively flat, excluding areas to the north-east, and the North Arkansas River valley. Alongside the river, there are 3 other substantial bodies of water: Lake Jackson and Lake Osage in the northwestern area of the city, and Lake Ponca in the southwest.

Climate

Derby has a temperate, sub-humid climate with hot, humid summers, and reasonably cold, dry winters. The climate can change at the drop of a hat, with extremes occuring all-year round, excluding the consistently hot summer months. The all-time high was 115F, recorded on July 23rd, 1987, and the all-time low was -12F, recorded on December 28th, 1921.

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1.0 - Welcome to Derby!

Welcome to Derby! The city center, located to the south of the North Arkansas River, is the regions main business, economic and cultural hub. 

The center of the city. The AT&T Tower, completed in 1971, stands as the tallest building in the city, at 47 stories. The DOC Building (black one) is home of the Derby Oil Company, one of the largest oil companies in America today.

The Gulf War Memorial, to commemorate those who had fought and lost their lives in the war.

The Derby Convention Center and Convention Tower. Both were completed, along with the NOk Arena in 1996, and the Tower serves as a hotel to many who come to Derby on conventions.

The NOk Arena, home to Derby's basketball and Arena Football franchises.

Many of the buildings on Eagle St were built in the boom years of the early-mid 1900s, when the city's population exploded with growth. Many of the buildings are now historically protected, preserving their architectural value for generations to come.

The City Hall Plaza, with the City Hall (black building) and the Kay County Courthouse (building to right of right of plaza).

The city's recently completed Warehouse District. Once a number of large, mostly empty warehouses sitting on the central city line, the citywide projects in the 90's helped change these dusty old buildings into ones of pure class and style. Today, a number of cafes and clubs are located here to cater for the active Derby population. 

Some new apartments and recreational centers line Ascott Drive, one of the main throughways for the northern side of downtown. 

The Midtown District, where a number of midrises, both old and new, can be seen. 

The impressive Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, completed in the late 90's to help with the city's redevelopment.

Centennial Park, completed in 2007 as part of state-wide celebrations for the 100th anniversay of Oklahoma becoming a state. Centennial Hall, to the west of the park (north on the image) is home of the Derby Orchestra, and many plays and other cultural wing-dings can be seen here. 

Derby's impressive art-deco Union Station, completed in the late 20's to help support the amount of people coming to the city. 

A picture of the city core at night. 

And to finish off, an overview of downtown and the surrounding areas. 

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All comments/constructive critisism accepted!

[sEAhAwk fAn121 0]

Wow! awesome city tom! It reminds me a lot of Kansas City! Can't wait to see more!

[Godzillaman 21]

Certainly has a lighter feeling than marshal...

The parking lots you're using, I can tell they're custom...and that's what makes me want them...

And where'd you get those parking garages? Never seen them before...

[hamsterTK 93]

Cool. The city's history really sounds accurate, a mix of OKC and Tulsa.

You do such an awesome job on these. I looked at your user profile, lets just say If I tried to recreate a NZ city with my limited knowledge of that part of the world as an American it would be really embarrasing

[dfnva 34]

Well, I'm disappointed about Marshall, because it was a great CJ ... but you have definitely NOT dissapointed with these pics. I love the downtown area with the variety of modern-looking skyscrapers nestled with older buildings. Like Marshall, I really like your use of all the parking lots. It's something I've been trying to emulate as I've been working on downtown Winchester. It's funny how, while a big city like DC or New York, has tons of parking garages, but medium cities like Roanoke, VA have lots of surface parking lots.

As for the climate, I find it interesting that the record high temp occurred more recently than the record low. That seems to be true a lot nowadays as record high temperatures, with climate change and all, happen more regularily than record low temperatures.

At any rate, I'll be eager to see more of this, and good luck!

-Dan

[ky72x 13]

Looks like another fantastic city! As always, nice mix of W2W's, mid-rises, and taller skyscrapers. Placing parking lots all around the smaller buildings comes very naturally for you. Your showcasing of Derby's landmarks was good, I liked the train station and park the most.

- Kyle

[GreekMan 246]

WHOOOOO WHOOOOO! New CJ!!!!!!

looking awesome as usual tom! Your Cjs get better and better as time goes by! I wish I had your city planning skills! Is the whole downtown plopped?

Honestly your first update of your new cjs are my favs! You start will downtown and I am like

 then   then

You astound me tom!

[NMUSpidey 3,956]

Well, is there a city you build that isn't awesome? This one is just as great as your earlier efforts, but one thing: YOU MAY CHANGE THE NAME OF THE JOE, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE IT! GO WINGS! WOO!

Ok, now that that's out of my system, great stuff once again. The train station is a fitting choice also. I'm looking forward to more!

[un1 40]

This is amazing. I wan't to see more... NOW!! I can't wait untill then... Oh yeah, great start and good luck with this great CJ!!

PS: Press G to turn off the grid in the last pic.

-un1

[hunkske 53]

This looks really realistic, fantastic! Question, those avenues with the middle lane, where did you get that from?

I love the museum building especially! And the park looks nice too.. I'll be back for more!

[fabsies55 5]

your city is great all my cities have are like 20-70 or 80 floor buildings everywhere but i like it how u have small buildings which makes it look good.. if you could

tell us what some of them called it would be kool.

but i think you could use a few houses.... but still great city.

[Za 164]

Amazing. Looks exactly like a stereotypical (I suppose) American small-city downtown. Keep up the great work.

[Riuchando 0]

Nice I hope the sprawl stays promising as in your last several Cj's this one will bring a crowd of loyal fans before you know it.

[seemurray2 21]

This is awesome!  Everything from the history, to the name of the buildings and places, and the overall look of downtown come across as a mix of OKC and Tulsa.  It makes it really interesting that way, to me at least!  Just little things like how the arena is called NOk Arena, which is like the name of the BOk Arena in Tulsa - yet it looks like the Ford Center in OKC, which I think was built in 1996 just like your NOk Arena.  You really nailed it on the head with the Art -deco and all of the surface parking lots! 

The downtown overview is sweet too, great cj!

[RushHourFreak 1]

Wow, this is impressive. The buildings are incredible and the monuments are great. Planning is great he roads are well dragged and I loved the CBD.

[psander5 195]

These are very impressive beginnings! The background info you've provided is especially great. The downtown is perfectly scaled. I look forward to more.

[SirUnger 13]

Your CJ looks very good. The downtown is very nice. I

[Almighty Nienaber 3]

I looked at the banner, and i was like "Woah thats like Marshall", then i saw it was by you and was like "Woah it is like Marshall".

Nice to see your making a new CJ,

Good Luck.

[crazyarchitect 7]

Awesome job so far on Derby. Downtown looks great as usual, you do such a great job on these mid-western type cities, can't wait to see what you do next.

[rct3twins 14]

Yay! New CJ by tomdapom!

[Mother of Invention 23]

Wee-Haw

(sorry just had to do that)

Like the city though. Very open feeling

[asturianu 4]

Oh yea! now that really looks amazing! :-O!!! I loved Marshall, MN but I know the feeling that those big cities usually give. Like you can't get much more inspiration or you don't really like some areas and you don't feel like rediong them. Anyways downtown marshall was pretty great!

Anyways Derby (whata nice name ) look promising and lovely. Great work there! Can't wait to see what that area by the church turns like and I wanna see some more shots soon!

Cristian

[Schulmanator 5,787]

An ambition and auspicious start. You rock!

[chasespncr 4]

looks very american. Cant wait for more, =)

[nihonkaranws 88]

It looks just AMAZING! I love this CJ, it is beautiful. I am writing this with a big smile across my face, because I am always happy to see another great CJ in ST!

[mayorbk 66]

Great downtown!! Keep up the good work!!

[panthersimcity4 162]

What a charming downtown! Brings back memories of Indianapolis

[Simtastico 0]

what can I say... it's great!! You ahve captured that american feeling in your city, hope to see more of that.. some oklahoma farmland pictures would be cool!

[jacqulina 162]

wonderfull looking city great job with planning and details

[packersfan 666]

What parking lots do you use, they look a lot more realistic than the ones I use, able to piece them together to make an actually functionally correct parking lot, could you post them on here???