Arts District in Oklahoma City in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Jim Couch

City of Oklahoma City - City Manager

— 2000-2018 —

Jim Couch Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 10, 2025

1. Jim Couch Marker

Inscription. As Oklahoma City's longest-tenured city manager, Couch led city government in a period of growth and redevelopment that included the completion of MAPS and shepherding MAPS for Kids and MAPS 3. He was a key player in the revival of the Skirvin Hotel, the arrival of the NBA and securing Oklahoma City's water supply in an historic water settlement among tribes, the city and state.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 2000.

Location. 35° 28.064′ N, 97° 31.244′ W. Marker is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in Oklahoma County. It is in the Arts District. It is on West Main Street east of North Walker Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 420 W Main St, Oklahoma City OK 73102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Oklahoma — Frontier Country.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

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and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Harbour-Longmire Building (here, next to this marker); 420 W. Main Street (a few steps from this marker); Hightower Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Beale Defeats Overholser For Mayor (about 400 feet away); The Oklahoma Territory Organic Act (about 400 feet away); The New Framework of Government (about 500 feet away); Prominent Land Cases (about 600 feet away); The Resignation of Mayor William L. Couch (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oklahoma City.

More about this marker. Marker is in front of the James D. Couch Municipal Office Building.

Regarding Jim Couch. MAPS (originally known as Metropolitan Area Projects) is a series of voter-approved capital-improvement programs. The original MAPS, approved in 1993, used a temporary one-cent sales-tax increase to build a minor-league baseball stadium, an arena, a convention center and

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 10, 2025

2. Jim Couch Marker

a library among other projects. Voters renewed the sales-tax increase in 2001 for MAPS for Kids, which focused on improving public schools. MAPS 3 (approved in 2009) included a new convention center and a new park, riverside and fairgrounds improvements, and sidewalks among its projects. MAPS 4, approved in 2019, extended the sales tax increase to fund a multitude of projects, including senior and youth centers, transit improvements, and a civil-rights museum.

Also see . . . James D. Couch. Biography of his professional and governmental career, both in and out of city hall. (The City of Oklahoma City) (Submitted on May 30, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 106 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 30, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.