Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Capital: Oklahoma City
Population: 3,943,079 (Source: 2012 U.S. Census)
Major Cities: Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Broken Arrow, Lawton, Edmond
Borders: Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $160,953 million (2012 U.S. Department of Commerce)
Key Industries:
Agriculture including grains, cattle, dairy products, and cotton
Natural gas, oil, petroleum products, machinery, aircraft parts, electronic equipment, and food products
How Oklahoma got its name: The name Oklahoma comes from two words in the Choctaw Indian language: okla, which means people, and humma, which means red.
State Nickname: Sooner State
State Slogan: Native America; also on its license plate
State Motto: Labor omnia vincit (Labor conquers all things)
State flower: Oklahoma Rose
State bird: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
State fish: White bass
State tree: Redbud
State mammal: Bison, Common Raccoon
State foods: Barbecued Pork, Sausage, Biscuits and Gravy, Grits, Fried Okra, Pecan Pie
Date admitted: Saturday, November 16, 1907
Number admitted: 46
Prior Name: Oklahoma Territory & Indian Territory
Postal Abbreviation: OK
Total Size: 68,667 sq. miles (source: 2003 Census)
Geographical Low Point: Little River at 289 feet, located in the county/subdivision of McCurtain (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
Geographical High Point: Black Mesa at 4,973 feet, located in the county/subdivision of Cimarron (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
Central Point: Located in Oklahoma County approx. 8 miles north of Oklahoma City (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
Counties: 77 (source: National Association of Counties)
Bodies of Water: Lake Texoma, Eufaula Lake, Grand Lake of the Cherokees, Red River, Arkansas River, Canadian River
Johnny Bench - Professional baseball player
Vince Gill - Country music singer and songwriter
Ron Howard - Actor and movie director
Toby Keith - Country music singer and songwriter
Mickey Mantle - Professional baseball player
Reba McEntire - Country music singer
Dr. Phil McGraw - Talk show host
Chuck Norris - Actor and martial arts expert
Brad Pitt - Actor
Maria Tallchief - Ballet dancer
Jim Thorpe - Athlete and Olympic medalist
Carrie Underwood - Singer and American Idol winner
Sam Walton - Founder of Walmart stores
Oklahoma has the largest population of Native Americans of any state.
The name Oklahoma means 'red people'.
Cimarron County in Oklahoma borders 5 states. More states than any other US county.
The parking meter was invented in Oklahoma.
The name Sooner State comes from people who tried to sneak into Oklahoma and make land claims 'sooner' than they were allowed.
Oklahoma! Is the name of a famous 1943 musical.
Many American Indian tribes were forced to move to Oklahoma including the Cherokee, Seminole, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Creek peoples.
The first shopping cart was invented by Sylvan Goldman, owner of the Piggly Wiggly supermarket chain.
The National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Oklahoma City.
The tribal capital of the Cherokee Nation is located in Tahlequah.
Oklahoma City Thunder - NBA (basketball)
Tulsa Shock - WNBA (basketball)
Native Americans
Before Europeans arrived in Oklahoma, Native American tribes lived throughout the land. These tribes included the Ute, Comanche, Osage, Quapaw, Wichita, and the Caddo. The Caddo and the Wichita lived in the southern part of the state and had similar customs and history. The Quapaw and the Osage lived in the eastern part of the state and spoke a similar language. They grew corn and hunted buffalo. The Comanche and the Ute were pure hunters who lived mostly off of buffalo. They followed the buffalo herds and lived in portable homes called teepees.
Bison on the Tallgrass Prairie Nature Preserve
by Reservoirhill
Europeans Arrive
The first European to arrive in Oklahoma was Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado in 1541. Like most Spanish explorers he was searching for gold, but did not find any in Oklahoma. Over one hundred years later, French explorer Robert de La Salle arrived. He claimed the land for the French who then established fur trading posts along the rivers in the region.
Louisiana Purchase
In 1803, the United States bought a large region of land west of the Mississippi River from the French for $15 million. It was called the Louisiana Purchase and included Oklahoma. Explorers such as Zebulon Pike and Captain Richard Sparks were sent out by President Thomas Jefferson to map out the new territory. In 1819, Oklahoma became part of the Arkansas Territory.
Indian Territory and the Trail of Tears
In 1830, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act requiring the Indian tribes in the Southeast to give up their land and move to the west. Oklahoma was set aside as Indian Territory. Many tribes moved to the new territory including the Creek, Chickasaw, Seminole, Choctaw, and Cherokee. Some tribes were forced to march to the new territory under harsh conditions. When the Cherokee were forced to march from the Southeast to Oklahoma in 1838, around 4,000 Cherokee died along the way. Today, this march is called the Trail of Tears.
Oklahoma Land Rush by Unknown
After the Civil War, Oklahoma became part of the American frontier. Cattle ranchers used Indian lands to graze their cattle. It was a land of cowboys and Indians.
People racing to claim new land
In the late 1800s large sections of Oklahoma were unoccupied. Despite making promises to the Indian tribes that the land was theirs, the United States decided to allow settlers into the land. In 1889, a large section of 2 million acres was opened to the public. Homesteaders had to wait on the border and then "rush" in to grab their land when a gun was shot. Some people cheated and snuck in early. These people were called "sooners" and gave the state its nickname.
Becoming a State
In 1890, Oklahoma was split into the Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory. The leaders of the Indians wanted to make their own state called Sequoyah. They applied for statehood in 1905. However, Congress rejected their application and instead reunited Oklahoma into a single state. Oklahoma became the 46th state on November 6, 1907. The original capital city was Guthrie. The capital was moved to Oklahoma City in 1910.
Oklahoma City by Soonerfever
Timeline
1541 - Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado is the first European to arrive.
1682 - Robert de La Salle claims Oklahoma for France.
1803 - Oklahoma becomes part of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase.
1819 - Oklahoma is part of the Arkansas Territory.
1830 - Congress passes the Indian Removal Act.
1835 to 1838 - Many Indian tribes are forced to move from the southeast to Oklahoma.
1866 - Slavery is abolished.
1889 - Much of Oklahoma is opened up to homesteaders.
1897 - The first oil well is drilled in Oklahoma.
1905 - The Indian tribes request to create an all Indian state called Sequoyah.
1907 - Oklahoma becomes the 46th state.
1910 - The capital city is moved from Guthrie to Oklahoma City.
1930 - Severe drought begins across much of the Great Plains causing the Dust Bowl. Many people will leave Oklahoma and head west in the years to come.
1995 - The Oklahoma City bombing occurs when terrorists bombed a government building killing 168 people.