Original Townsite Apartments for Rent

The Original Townsite of Norman, Oklahoma is located in the area surrounding the Santa Fe train tracks as they cross Main Street. Norman was founded on April 22, 1889 as part of the Oklahoma Land Run, when about 50,000 people moved into central Oklahoma in a single day. As Norman grew, the Original Townsite’s access to the railroad and its prominence on Main Street made it the premier commercial neighborhood in the town.

Today this area retains much of its historic charm. In the blocks surrounding Main Street, there are many beautifully preserved commercial buildings from the early 1900s. Norman’s effort to revitalize its downtown has made the Original Townsite into a fledgling art district, with many galleries, restaurants, and bars. Some urban residences have also started to come to the area, and historic residential neighborhoods consisting of many uniquely styled homes and apartment buildings are on the rebound. Main Street has also become the home of the free annual Norman Music Festival, which is growing rapidly each year and has currently expanded to a three-day event drawing more than 50,000 people.

Rentals throughout this area are reasonably priced. Because it is a traditional historic neighborhood, it is very walkable and bikeable with sidewalks, shaded streets, and many shops and destinations within a short distance of residential areas. For accessing the rest of Norman, the Cleveland Area Rapid Transit, or CART system has routes that go throughout the city, including destinations like the I-35 shopping centers, Sooner Fashion Mall, and the University of Oklahoma. Original Townsite is also the home of Norman’s only Amtrak station, located on the Heartland Flyer route between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth.

The University of Oklahoma, with about 25,000 students, is a 15-minute walk from the Original Townsite area. Original Townsite is a beautiful, historic neighborhood that is positioned right at the heart of Norman’s urban renaissance.