The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture

HALL PARK.

Surrounded by Norman, Hall Park existed as a Cleveland County incorporated town for more than forty years. Founded off U.S. Highway 77, at the old site of the Norman Country Club, the exclusive community was named for its developer, Ike Hall. The town incorporated in 1960, the same year that construction began on its first homes. It was advertised as Oklahoma's first "all electric city," with all the housing utilities powered by electricity. In March 1962 the village held its grand opening, with Ronald Reagan, then the promotion chief for General Electric, in attendance as the honorary mayor. By this time thirty homes had been completed. Hall Park provided its own utilities, including a sewer and water system. A board of trustees governed the town, and it had an ordinance dictating the minimum size of the custom-built homes.

By 1970 the population stood at 163 and, as development continued, climbed to 577 in 1980. In 1972 Hall sold the undeveloped portion of the community and the utilities to Sooner Federal Savings and Loan. In that decade natural gas service was added. In 1981 residents voted to fund a police department. In 1986 Pres. Ronald Reagan returned to the town when he visited Norman for a political rally. In 1990 the population was 1,090, and in 2000 the 1.059-square-mile town had a population of 1,088. In 2003 residents voted to dissolve the town, and it was annexed by Norman.

Larry O'Dell