Who Put the "Central" in the University of Central Oklahoma? The Edmond Story

Ask around town and you'll hear two quick answers: the campus sits in Edmond, and that old "Central" tag comes from more than a century of name changes. If you're new to the area and wondering whether "Central Oklahoma" means the whole region or one specific place, your GPS will help settle it. Plug in 100 N. University Drive and you'll land by UCO's Old North, a sandstone landmark that tells you you're in Edmond, not downtown Oklahoma City.

Folks who move furniture like I do remember which campuses feel tied to their town. UCO is one of them. You can unload a couch on University Drive and be inside a working city in ten minutes. Edmond's main streets run right to the campus edges, and you'll notice right away how an Edmond address shapes the way people use the word "Central" in daily life here.

What does "Central" actually mean in the name?

"Central" isn't a marketing flourish tacked on last year. It's a thread that runs straight through the school's history. The institution opened in territorial days as the Territorial Normal School, authorized on December 24, 1890, with its first class of twenty-three students meeting in 1891. By 1904, the school's name incorporated "Central" as Central State Normal School, the start of a long stretch where "Central" stuck while the rest evolved.

After World War I, the State Board of Education recognized a broader mission. On December 29, 1919, it was made a four-year teachers' college and re-named Central State Teachers College. In 1939, the legislature moved the school beyond a pure teacher's mandate, creating Central State College with authority to grant degrees without teaching certificates. That change opened the door to other programs and the campus started to look more like the general university you see today.

The "university" part arrives with another clean legislative line. On April 13, 1971, the name became Central State University. You'll still meet alumni who wear that on their letterman jacket. Then, in the centennial year, state legislation on May 18, 1990 changed the official name to the University of Central Oklahoma. Folks around Edmond shorten it to "Central," because they've been using some version of that word for over a hundred years.

Here's the other detail people swap on the truck ramp: Old North, the campus's signature building, is the oldest purpose-built higher-education structure from territorial days and it reopened to the public in 2017 after a multi-year restoration. You will hear bells from its tower across University Drive when class breaks line up just right.

Edmond is the "name behind the name"

UCO didn't wind up in Edmond by accident. The town itself got its name from the railroad long before anyone put "Central" on a diploma. On March 28, 1887, the Santa Fe system named a small stop "Edmond" for Edmond Schuyler Burdick, a traveling freight agent. When the 1889 Land Run turned that stop into a platted town, settlers kept the station name. The school followed in 1890 when the territorial legislature picked Edmond for its normal school, so the city and the campus have been entangled in everyday ways since the start.

You can still trace that closeness on foot. From the Transfer Center for Edmond's buses at 16 W. 3rd Street, it's about a ten-minute walk to the Edmond Library, and most locals treat Broadway and the cross streets as an extension of the student routes. Downtown public parking is straightforward too. The City Hall parking garage offers free public parking with 216 spaces and electric vehicle charging at $0.25 per kWh, which is the type of number you remember after a few days of meter-watching in larger cities.

Edmond's version of "Central" shows up at the lake as well. On the east side of town, Arcadia Lake parks include a day-use area called Central State Park. The name nods to the language the university carried for decades, even if the park's job today is simpler: give you a place to set up a grill and slip into the water without driving two hours. Whether you pick Central State Park, Spring Creek Park, or Edmond Park, you pay Arcadia's posted entry fee and go enjoy the shoreline.

How do you get around between campus and downtown without a car?

Edmond runs a city bus called Citylink. All rides and transfers are free, and the routes converge at the downtown Transfer Center at 16 W. 3rd Street. Citylink is set up for students and commuters. It operates weekday local routes around Edmond and a commuter run to Oklahoma City on a schedule, with no Sunday service and limited Saturday service. If you've just moved into an apartment off 2nd Street and you're not ready to buy a campus parking permit, this system keeps you moving.

Try it like a local: walk from Old North to the south edge of campus, grab a Citylink ride to the Transfer Center, and you're within a five- to ten-minute walk of the public library, the city offices, or Broadway for coffee. If you're returning late, remember the bus schedule trims down on Saturdays and stops on Sundays. Plan that grocery run or library visit around it and you'll be fine.

About that library: the Edmond Library at 10 S. Boulevard keeps regular hours most new residents appreciate. It's open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. If you live closer to Mitch Park on the northwest side, there's a 24-hour return kiosk there that accepts items from across the metro library system. Citylink and the library both treat Edmond like a campus town with routines that work for students, families, and retirees.

"Central" you can touch: museums, the lake, and campus traditions

Two small museums make the name feel tangible. The Edmond History Museum at 431 S. Boulevard keeps admission free. As of this season, it's open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sunday. The displays cover the railroad years, early schools, and day-to-day life you can still see in some of the old houses south of 2nd Street.

Inside the UCO footprint, the Laboratory of History Museum preserves the university's story. Admission is free by appointment, and the office lists a direct line at 405-974-4669. If you want to see the timeline that ties Territorial Normal to Central State to present-day UCO, this is where to ask. They also host campus walking tours by arrangement, which is a tidy way to explain Old North's place in Oklahoma higher education to out-of-state family.

Feeling soaked in history but ready for sun? East Edmond's Arcadia Lake is where you take that "Central" energy outside. Day-use fees are posted at the gates. A standard vehicle day pass is $10 for up to five passengers, and walk-in or bicycle entry is $3 per person. Motorcycles are $3, horseback riders using the equestrian trail pay $5, and watercraft tags run $7 for motorized boats with a $3.50 option posted for non-motorized watercraft on off-peak days. Seniors, military and veteran visitors, and Access Passport holders receive published discounts at the gate, and card payments carry a 1.5% processing fee.

Arcadia also keeps the anglers happy when the wind cuts. The lake maintains a heated, covered fishing dock for year-round fishing, plus a pier. If your calendar runs on school years, remember the lake doesn't take Sundays off. Pick a beach or dock in winter and you'll still see life jackets, thermoses, and crappie buckets when the schools along Boulevard are dark for break.

One more hands-on "Central" spot is the UCO Boathouse at Arcadia Lake in Edmond Park, right at Midwest Boulevard and 2nd Street. The posted community rate is $15 per person for the first hour on kayaks or paddleboards and $10 per additional hour. If you just rolled into town with no gear, that's the simplest way to get on the water without an afternoon of shopping for roof straps and paddles.

Back on campus, the word "Central" gets wrapped in Broncho blue and bronze. If the spelling catches your eye, you read it right. UCO uses Bronchos with an "h," a tradition that dates to the early 1920s when that spelling was common. You'll see it engraved at the stadium, printed on student IDs, and painted on the field house floor. It's one of those local quirks that sounds odd on your first day and then shows up on your sweatshirt by your first winter.

Which "Central" are you trying to visit today?

People search for "Central Oklahoma" and wind up meaning three different things: the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, the broad Central Oklahoma region that includes Oklahoma City and its suburbs, or small local sites that still carry earlier names like Central State. If you're lining up a Saturday errand run or planning a visit, here are two very real, easy options that use the name in different ways and work with a regular weekend schedule.

If you're thinking outdoors instead of exhibits, the Arcadia side of "Central" is even simpler. Drive to any Arcadia gate, pay the posted fee, and pick your park. The vehicle day fee is $10, regardless of weekday or weekend, and it covers up to five people in the car. If you arrive on a bike or on foot, you pay $3 per person at the pedestrian rate. Add a kayak at the UCO Boathouse at $15 for the first hour and you've got a full afternoon without a truck bed full of gear.

Key things to know before you go

• UCO's name timeline: "Central" shows up as early as 1904. The school became Central State University in 1971 and took the current name via legislation on May 18, 1990.
• Transit is free: Citylink buses in Edmond are fare-free. Service is limited on Saturdays and there is no Sunday service, so check your timing if you rely on the bus.
• Downtown logistics: The City Hall parking garage provides free public parking with 216 spaces and EV charging at $0.25/kWh. Street parking and public lots are posted around downtown.
• Two easy history stops: The Edmond History Museum keeps free admission with posted weekday and Saturday hours, while UCO's Laboratory of History Museum offers free by-appointment visits for campus history.
• Lake math: Arcadia Lake entry is a flat $10 per vehicle for day use, or $3 if you walk or bike in. The UCO Boathouse rents kayaks and paddleboards at $15 for the first hour and $10 each additional hour.
• Old North is active again: The historic campus building reopened in 2017 after restoration. You'll see it on campus tours arranged through UCO's history programs.

Reader Q&A

Is the University of Central Oklahoma actually in Oklahoma City?

No. UCO's street address is 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, and the campus sits north of Oklahoma City's line. The Edmond bus system, Citylink, connects the campus area with downtown Edmond on free routes, and it uses a Transfer Center at 16 W. 3rd Street.

Why do locals still say "Central State" sometimes?

The university carried "Central State" in its name for decades, first as Central State Teachers College, later as Central State College, then as Central State University from 1971 until legislation in 1990 changed the name to the University of Central Oklahoma. The shorthand sticks in conversation, especially with alumni.

What does it cost to spend an afternoon at Arcadia Lake?

For a day visit, a vehicle entry is $10 and walk-in or bicycle entry is $3 per person. If you want to get on the water without your own gear, the UCO Boathouse in Edmond Park posts rentals at $15 per person for the first hour and $10 for each hour after that. The lake also keeps a heated dock for year-round fishing.

Is there a quick way to look up library hours near UCO?

Yes. The Edmond Library at 10 S. Boulevard runs Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 1-6 p.m. There is also a 24-hour return kiosk at Mitch Park on the northwest side of Edmond.

If you're still sorting out what "Central" points to on a map, ask yourself what you need that day. If it's classes, buses, or library hours, you're talking about Edmond and the campus. If it's sand, shade, and a fishing dock that stays warm in January, follow 2nd Street east to Arcadia. Both answers are part of how "Central" lives in Oklahoma, and in this corner of the state, they're only a short drive apart.

Published: September 22, 2026 · Reviewed by the Oklahoma editorial team