The Outsiders takes place in an unnamed city in the Southwest region of the United States, which closely resembles Tulsa, Oklahoma, where author S.E. Hinton grew up and wrote the book in the 1960s
. The story is set during the mid-1960s, specifically around 1965 to 1967, with the social and geographic divide between the wealthy Socs living on the West Side and the economically disadvantaged Greasers living on the East Side of town
. The novel also features a rural setting outside the city, such as the abandoned church and the town of Windrixville, where some key events take place and the characters find a temporary escape from their social conflicts
