Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state in the South Central and Southwestern parts of the United States. It is bordered by Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Colorado. Oklahoma is the 20th-largest state and the 28th-most populated of the 50 United States. The people who live there are called Oklahomans, and the capital city is Oklahoma City.

The name Oklahoma comes from the Choctaw words "okla," meaning "people," and "humma," meaning "red." It is often called "The Sooner State" because of the settlers who quickly claimed land during the Land Rush of 1889.

Oklahoma has many different landscapes, including mountains, prairies, mesas, and forests. The state is known for its severe weather and is where three major American cultural regions meet. It has a rich history, especially as a place for American Indians who were moved from east of the Mississippi River. Today, Oklahoma is a major producer of natural gas, oil, and farm products, and its economy also includes aviation, energy, telecommunications, and biotechnology. Oklahoma City and Tulsa are the two biggest cities and main economic centers.

Etymology

The name Oklahoma comes from the Choctaw language. The word okla means "people," and humma means "red." A Choctaw leader named Allen Wright suggested this name in 1865 when leaders were discussing treaties with the United States government about land use in Indian Territory. The name Oklahoma was later used for Oklahoma Territory and became official in 1890.

History

Main article: History of Oklahoma

Pre-Columbian

Indigenous peoples lived in what is now Oklahoma during the last ice age. Ancestors of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, including Teyas, Escanjaques, and Tawakoni, Tonkawa, and Caddo (including Kichai) were also there. Southern Plains villagers lived in central and western Oklahoma, with the Panhandle culture people in the panhandle. Caddoan Mississippian culture peoples lived in eastern Oklahoma. Spiro Mounds, in what is now Spiro, Oklahoma, was an important mound complex that thrived between AD 850 and 1450. Plains Apache people settled in the Southern Plains and Oklahoma between 1300 and 1500.

European exploration and colonization

The Spaniard Francisco Vázquez de Coronado traveled through Oklahoma in 1541, but French explorers claimed the area in the early 1700s. By the 1700s, Comanche and Kiowa entered from the west, and Quapaw and Osage peoples moved into eastern Oklahoma. French colonists controlled the region until 1803, when the United States acquired it through the Louisiana Purchase. The area became part of the Arkansas Territory from 1819 to 1828.

19th century

During the 1800s, the U.S. federal government moved many American Indians from their homes across North America to Oklahoma. The Choctaw were the first of the Five Civilized Tribes to be moved from the Southeastern United States. This journey is known as the "Trail of Tears".

Thousands of Cherokees and their slaves were forced to move. The area, already home to Osage and Quapaw tribes, became known as the Choctaw Nation until later policies changed the borders to include more Native Americans. By 1890, over 30 Native American nations and tribes lived in Indian Territory or "Indian Country".

All Five Civilized Tribes supported the Confederate side during the American Civil War. The Cherokee Nation had its own internal conflict. Slavery in Indian Territory was not ended until 1866.

Between 1866 and 1899, cattle ranches in Texas tried to meet the demand for food in eastern cities. Railroads in Kansas promised quick delivery. Cattle trails and ranches grew as cowboys drove cattle north or settled in Indian Territory. In 1881, four of the five major cattle trails in the West passed through Indian Territory.

As more white settlers arrived in Indian Territory and wanted land guaranteed to Native American tribes by treaties, the U.S. government passed the Dawes Act in 1887 and the Curtis Act of 1898. These acts ended tribal governments, ended tribal land ownership, and gave 160 acres (65 ha) of land to each Native American family head. The goal was to assimilate Native Americans into white society. Land not given to individuals was owned by the U.S. government and sold to settlers and railroads. The money from land sales was used to educate Native American children and support assimilation. Because of these acts, by 1900, about half of the land once owned by Native American tribes was owned by white people. Much of the land given to Native American families became white-owned. Many families sold their land or were tricked out of it.

The U.S. government taking tribal lands led to land runs, also called land rushes, from 1887 to 1895. Major land runs, like the Land Rush of 1889, opened millions of acres of former tribal lands to white settlers. The rushes started at exact times, and settlers raced to claim 160 acres (65 ha) of land under the Homestead Act of 1862. Settlers who crossed into the area early were called sooners, which later became the state's nickname. George Washington Steele was appointed the first governor of the Oklahoma Territory in 1890.

20th century

Attempts to create an all-Native American state named Oklahoma and later Sequoyah failed, but the Sequoyah Statehood Convention of 1905 helped lead to the Oklahoma Statehood Convention in 1907. On June 16, 1906, Congress allowed the people of the Oklahoma and Indian Territories, along with Arizona and New Mexico, to create a constitution and state government to become a state. On November 16, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt announced Oklahoma as the 46th state.

The new state became important for the growing oil industry, with oil discoveries causing towns to grow quickly. Tulsa became known as the "Oil Capital of the World" for much of the 1900s, and oil money helped the state's early economy. In 1927, businessman Cyrus Avery, called the "Father of Route 66", started efforts to create U.S. Route 66. Using a stretch of road from Amarillo, Texas to Tulsa, Oklahoma, Avery helped form the U.S. Highway 66 Association to plan Route 66, based in Tulsa.

In late September 1918, the first cases of the Spanish flu appeared in Oklahoma. Public health workers and local leaders tried to handle the disease, but the fast spread overwhelmed them. In Oklahoma City, the American Red Cross helped with shortages of supplies and workers. Estimates suggest about 100,000 people got sick, and around 7,500 died, with the pandemic ending in 1919.

Oklahoma has a significant African-American history. Many Black towns were founded by Freedmen of the Five Tribes during Reconstruction and grew in the early 1900s with the arrival of Black Exodusters from nearby states, especially Kansas. Politician Edward P. McCabe encouraged Black settlers to move to Indian Territory. McCabe talked with President Theodore Roosevelt about making Oklahoma a majority-Black state.

By the early 1900s, the Greenwood district in Tulsa was one of the most successful African-American communities in the United States. Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation before the 1900s, but Tulsa's Black residents had built a thriving area.

During the 1930s, parts of Oklahoma suffered from poor farming. This period was called the Dust Bowl, when little rain, strong winds, high temperatures, and huge dust storms hurt farmers. Many families moved to other parts of the western United States. From 1931 to 1950, the state's population dropped by 6.9 percent.

Soil and water conservation projects changed farming. Big flood control systems and dams were built to supply water for homes and farms. By 2024, Oklahoma had over 4,700 dams, about 20% of all dams in the U.S.

The [Dust Bowl](/wiki/Dust_Bowl) caused many farmers to lose their land during the 1930s.

On May 31, 2016, several cities had record setting flooding.

On July 9, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States decided in McGirt v. Oklahoma that the reservations of the Five Tribes in much of Eastern Oklahoma were never officially ended by Congress and are still "Indian Country" for criminal law purposes.

Later rulings by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals also found that the Quapaw Nation, Ottawa Tribe, Peoria Tribe, and Miami Tribe still have existing reservations. The Osage Nation is waiting for a possible decision after a judge ruled that its reservation was ended.

Geography

Oklahoma is the 20th-largest state in the United States, covering an area of 69,895 square miles. It lies partly in the Great Plains near the geographical center of the 48 contiguous states. It is bordered on the east by Arkansas and Missouri, on the north by Kansas, on the northwest by Colorado, on the far west by New Mexico, and on the south and near-west by Texas.

Oklahoma is between the Great Plains and the Ozark Plateau in the Gulf of Mexico watershed. It has diverse geography, with its highest peak, Black Mesa, at 4,973 feet above sea level, and its lowest point on the Little River near Idabel, which dips to 289 feet above sea level. The state has many ecological regions, with forests covering 24 percent of the land and prairie grasslands in the central and western parts.

Oklahoma has populations of white-tailed deer, mule deer, antelope, coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, elk, and many bird species. The state also has American bison, greater prairie-chickens, badgers, and armadillos. The Ouachita Mountains are home to black bear, red fox, gray fox, and river otter populations.

Oklahoma has fifty-one state parks, six national parks or protected regions, and two national protected forests or grasslands. The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in north-central Oklahoma is the largest protected area of tallgrass prairie in the world. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is the oldest and largest of nine National Wildlife Refuges in the state.

Oklahoma lies in an area known as Tornado Alley, where it experiences frequent severe weather, including tornadoes. The state has a humid subtropical climate in central, southern, and eastern areas, transitioning to a semiarid climate in the western regions. Oklahoma City and Tulsa are the largest cities, with Oklahoma City being the state capital.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Oklahoma

Oklahoma's population has grown over the years. In 1920, about 2 million people lived there. By 2010, this number had grown to nearly 4 million. The latest count in 2020 showed just under 4 million people, and by 2022, the population had passed 4 million for the first time. Oklahoma is one of the faster-growing states in the South Central area, just behind Texas.

Many people living in Oklahoma today were not born there. In 2018, about 6% of the state's residents were immigrants, mostly from Mexico, Vietnam, India, Germany, and Guatemala. Some children in Oklahoma also have parents who came from other countries.

Oklahoma has become more diverse in recent years. In 1940, nearly 90% of people were White. By 2020, this dropped to about 75%, with more people from different backgrounds such as Hispanic or Latino, American Indian and Alaska Native, Black or African American, and Asian.

Oklahoma has many different cultures and languages. Besides English, which most people speak, there are speakers of Spanish, German, Vietnamese, and several Native American languages such as Cherokee and Choctaw. The state also has communities that follow many different religious traditions, with Christianity being very common.

Oklahoma has a mix of people from many ancestral backgrounds. German, American, Irish, English, African American, and Native American heritages are common. There are also many people of Mexican origin, and Oklahoma is home to many Native American tribes.

In Oklahoma, English is the official language, but many people also speak other languages at home.

English

Most people in Oklahoma speak English at home. In 2000, around 93% of people five years and older spoke only English. Some people also speak other languages.

Native American languages

Oklahoma has many Native American languages. Cherokee and Choctaw are two of the most spoken. There are twenty-five Native American languages in Oklahoma, more than any other state except California.

Other languages

Spanish is the second-most common language spoken in Oklahoma. Other languages spoken include German, Vietnamese, French, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, and others.

Religion

See also: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is in a part of the United States known for strong Christian beliefs. Many people in Oklahoma follow Christianity, especially Evangelical Protestant traditions. There are also smaller groups of people who follow other religions such as Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

Oklahoma has many different religious groups. The largest include the Southern Baptist Convention, the United Methodist Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Assemblies of God. Some people also follow The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Oklahoma has many people who do not follow any particular religion. Over time, the number of people without a religious affiliation has been growing.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma locations by per capita income and List of Oklahoma counties by socio-economic factors

In 2025, Oklahoma's total value of goods and services was $274.4 billion, and the average income for each person was $66,660. In 2023, the middle income for families was $59,673, ranking 46th among all states. Oklahoma also has a low cost of living compared to other states.

Oklahoma has many different industries, including aviation, energy, transportation, food processing, electronics, and telecommunications. The state is a big producer of natural gas, aircraft, and food. It ranks third in the nation for natural gas production and fifth for wheat production. Four large national companies and six bigger companies are based in Oklahoma. The state has been friendly to businesses, with low taxes.

In 2010, some big private companies included Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores in Oklahoma City, QuikTrip in Tulsa, and Hobby Lobby in Oklahoma City.

Although oil used to be a big part of Oklahoma's economy, changes in the energy industry in the 1980s caused many jobs to disappear. By 2025, small businesses made up almost all businesses in Oklahoma and employed over half of the workers.

Industry

In mid-2011, Oklahoma had about 1.7 million people available for work, with around 1.5 million jobs in areas besides farming. The government had the most jobs, followed by transportation and utilities, and then education, business, and manufacturing. The aerospace industry brings in $11 billion each year.

Tulsa is home to the world's largest airline maintenance base, serving as the main center for American Airlines. Aerospace manufacturing is a big part of Oklahoma's economy, and the state is also good at making tires and biotechnology products. In 2005, Oklahoma's manufacturing exports were worth $4.3 billion.

Energy

Oklahoma is the third-largest producer of natural gas and fifth-largest producer of crude oil in the United States. The state also has many drilling rigs and ranks fifth in oil reserves. In 2019, most of Oklahoma's electricity came from natural gas and wind power.

The oil industry adds $35 billion to Oklahoma's economy. In 2009, the state had many oil wells producing millions of barrels of oil. Some of the biggest energy companies in the U.S. are based in Oklahoma, including ONEOK and the Williams Companies.

Oklahoma Gas & Electric operates several power plants, including two using coal and two using natural gas. The company started making electricity from wind farms in 2003.

Nuclear power

Oklahoma had no operating nuclear power plants as of March 2021.

In 1973, plans were made for a nuclear power plant near Inola, Oklahoma. After protests and legal problems, the project was stopped in 1982.

Wind generation

Main article: Wind power in Oklahoma

Agriculture

Oklahoma is the 27th-most productive state for farming. It is fifth in cattle production and fifth in wheat production. About 5.5 percent of American beef comes from Oklahoma. The state also produces wheat, pig products, and dairy products.

In 2012, Oklahoma had many farms that produced billions of dollars in animal products and added more than $6.1 billion to the state's economy. Poultry and swine farming are also important industries.

Education

See also: List of school districts in Oklahoma, List of high schools in Oklahoma, and List of colleges and universities in Oklahoma

Oklahoma has many schools, both public and private. In 2008, there were over 638,000 students in more than 1,800 schools across 533 school districts. Oklahoma is special because it has the most Native American students in school of any state, with over 126,000 in the 2009–10 school year.

Oklahoma works hard to give young children a good start with strong pre-kindergarten programs. The state was rated best in the country for pre-kindergarten education in 2004. The state also tries to help students stay in school, and the number of students leaving school early went down between 2007 and 2008.

Oklahoma has many colleges and universities. Some of the largest include the University of Oklahoma, The University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State University, the University of Central Oklahoma, and Northeastern State University. These schools offer many different programs for students to study.

Cherokee Language education

The Cherokee Nation has a plan to teach more people the Cherokee language. They started this plan in 2005 and want many more Cherokee people to speak the language in the future. They have opened schools, trained teachers, and created learning materials to help teach the language. There is even a school in Tahlequah, Oklahoma where students from preschool to eighth grade learn only in Cherokee.

Culture

Oklahoma is placed in the South by the United States Census Bureau, but other definitions place the state at least partly in the Southwest, Midwest, Upland South, and Great Plains. Oklahomans have a high rate of English, Scotch-Irish, German, and Native American ancestry, with 25 different Indigenous languages spoken in the state.

Sixty-seven Native American tribes and bands are represented in Oklahoma, including 38 federally recognized tribes. Native American tribes, Western ranchers, Southern settlers, and Eastern oil barons have shaped the state's culture, and its largest cities have been named among the most underrated cultural destinations in the United States.

Arts

Further information: List of Native American artists from Oklahoma

In the state's largest urban areas, pockets of jazz culture flourish, and African American, Mexican American, and Asian American communities produce music and art of their respective cultures. The Oklahoma Mozart Festival in Bartlesville is one of the largest classical music festivals on the Southern Plains, and Oklahoma City's Festival of the Arts has been named one of the top fine arts festivals in the nation.

The state has a rich history in ballet with five Native American ballerinas attaining worldwide fame. Oklahoma is in the nation's middle percentile in per capita spending on the arts, ranking 17th, and contains more than 300 museums.

Festivals and events

Oklahoma's centennial celebration was named the top event in the United States for 2007 by the American Bus Association, and consisted of multiple celebrations saving with the 100th anniversary of statehood on November 16, 2007. Annual ethnic festivals and events take place throughout the state such as ceremonial events, include festivals in Scottish, Irish, German, Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Czech, Jewish, Arab, Mexican and African-American communities depicting cultural heritage or traditions.

Oklahoma City is home to a few reoccurring events and festivals. The Tulsa State Fair attracts more than a million people each year during its ten-day run, and the city's Mayfest festival entertained more than 375,000 in four days during 2007. In 2006, Tulsa's Oktoberfest was named one of the top 10 in the world by USA Today.

Norman plays host to the Norman Music Festival, a festival that highlights native Oklahoma bands and musicians. Norman is also host to the Medieval Fair of Norman, which has been held annually since 1976 and was Oklahoma's first medieval fair.

Sports

The Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA) is the state's only major league sports franchise. Oklahoma has teams in several minor leagues, including Minor League Baseball at the Triple-A and Double-A levels, hockey's ECHL, and a number of indoor football leagues.

Collegiate athletics are a popular draw in the state. The state has four schools that compete at the highest level of college sports, NCAA Division I. The Oklahoma Sooners participate in the Southeastern Conference, and the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Cowgirls participate in the Big 12 Conference. The two universities meet several times each year in rivalry matches known as the Bedlam Series, which are some of the greatest sporting draws to the state.

Regular LPGA tournaments are held at Cedar Ridge Country Club in Tulsa, and major championships for the PGA or LPGA have been played at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oak Tree Country Club in Oklahoma City, and Cedar Ridge Country Club in Tulsa.

A teqball competition was held in Tulsa June 14–16, 2024.

Current professional teams

Health

Oklahoma received a lot of money for health programs from the federal government in 2005. The top areas that got money were immunizations, being ready for diseases, and health education. Oklahoma's rates of asthma, diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure are close to the rest of the country.

Oklahoma had fewer doctors and nurses compared to other states in 2000, but it had more hospital beds than average. Many people in Oklahoma did not have health insurance. The state also had a high rate of obesity.

Oklahoma has important medical centers, including the OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, which is the state's only Level I trauma center. In 2018, Oklahoma allowed the use of marijuana for medical reasons.

People in Oklahoma tend to live shorter lives than the average American. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Oklahoma had more deaths from the disease compared to the rest of the United States. Different counties in Oklahoma saw different numbers of deaths from COVID-19.

Media

Main articles: List of newspapers in Oklahoma, List of radio stations in Oklahoma, and List of television stations in Oklahoma

Oklahoma City and Tulsa are important places for news and entertainment in the United States. Broadcast television started in Oklahoma in 1949. Today, all the big American TV networks have stations in the state.

Oklahoma has two main newspapers. The Oklahoman, from Oklahoma City, is the largest. The Tulsa World is the second-largest. Oklahoma’s first newspaper, the Cherokee Advocate, began in 1844 and was written in both Cherokee and English.

The state’s first radio station, WKY in Oklahoma City, started in 1920. Today, Oklahoma has many radio stations run by local or national companies. Some universities also run their own public radio stations.

There are also TV stations in Oklahoma that broadcast in Spanish, Asian languages, and some Native American programs. A Christian television network, TBN, has a studio in Tulsa.

Transportation

Oklahoma has many ways to travel, including big roads called Interstate Highways, trains, airports, places to load ships, and public transport systems. Oklahoma City is a key spot where three main Interstates meet: Interstate 35, I-44, and I-40.

The state has over 12,000 miles of roads, including special roads called turnpikes and a long stretch of historic Route 66. Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport is the biggest airport, and Tulsa International Airport is the second biggest. Trains connect Oklahoma City to Fort Worth, Texas on the Heartland Flyer line, with plans to extend it to Newton, Kansas.

Oklahoma also has two important places for ships: the Port of Muskogee and the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, which helps move goods far away by water.

Law and government

Main article: Government of Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a constitutional republic with a government similar to the federal government of the United States. It has three main parts: executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The state has 77 counties and five congressional districts, and most people vote for the Republican Party. State leaders are chosen by plurality voting in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma's government includes a legislature made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Senate has 48 members serving four-year terms, and the House has 101 members serving two-year terms. The state's judicial system includes the Oklahoma Supreme Court, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, and 77 District Courts. The executive branch is led by the governor, who is the main leader of the state.

State government

See also: Governor of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Legislature, and Oklahoma Supreme Court

The Legislature of Oklahoma is responsible for making laws and managing the state's money. The governor leads the executive branch and works to enforce laws and keep the state safe.

Local government

See also: List of counties in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is divided into 77 counties, each run by elected leaders. Cities and towns have their own governments too. There are also 39 Native American tribal governments in Oklahoma, each with its own leaders and rules for their members.

National politics

Further information: Political party strength in Oklahoma

Main article: Politics of Oklahoma

For many years, Oklahoma has mostly voted for Republican candidates in elections. The state has an all-Republican group of leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2021.

Military

Main articles: List of military units and installations in Oklahoma and List of battles fought in Oklahoma

State symbols

See also: List of Oklahoma state symbols

Oklahoma has special symbols and honors that are part of its laws. These symbols can be chosen by the Oklahoma Senate or House of Representatives for special events or to help certain groups. In 2012, there was a proposal to change the state motto from "Labor Omnia Vincit" to "Oklahoma—In God We Trust!". The person who suggested this change said that someone checked the Oklahoma Constitution and did not find an official vote for the original motto, so they thought it could be changed.