Oklahoma

35°30′N 98°00′W / 35.5°N 98°W / 35.5; -98

Oklahoma
State
State of Oklahoma
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Native America, Land of the Red Man, Sooner State
Motto:  Labor omnia vincit (Latin: Work conquers all)
Anthem: Oklahoma, Oklahoma Hills
Map of the United States with Oklahoma highlighted
Country	United States
Before statehood	Indian Territory (1834–1907) Oklahoma Territory (1890–1907)
Admitted to the Union	November 16, 1907 (46th)
Capital (and largest city)	Oklahoma City
Largest metro and urban areas	Greater Oklahoma City
Government
• Governor	Kevin Stitt (R)
• Lieutenant Governor	Matt Pinnell (R)
Legislature	Oklahoma Legislature
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Representatives
U.S. senators	James Lankford (R) Markwayne Mullin (R)
U.S. House delegation	4 Republicans 1 Democrat (list)
Area
• Total	69,899 sq mi (181,037 km2)
• Land	68,595 sq mi (177,660 km2)
• Water	1,304 sq mi (3,377 km2)  1.9%
• Rank	20th
Dimensions
• Length	465 mi (749 km)
• Width	230 mi (370 km)
Elevation	1,300 ft (400 m)
Highest elevation (Black Mesa[1][2])	4,975 ft (1,516 m)
Lowest elevation (Little River at Arkansas border[1][2])	289 ft (88 m)
Population
• Total	3,956,971
• Rank	28th
• Density	55.2/sq mi (21.3/km2)
• Rank	35th
• Median household income	$50,051[3]
• Income rank	44th
Demonym(s)	Oklahoman; Okie (colloq.)
Language
• Official language	English • Choctaw • Cherokee • Note: (Choctaw official within Choctaw Nation, Cherokee official within Cherokee Nation and UKB)[4][5]
Time zones
entire state (legally)	UTC−06:00 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−05:00 (CDT)
Kenton (informally)	UTC−07:00 (Mountain)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00 (MDT)
USPS abbreviation	OK
ISO 3166 code	US-OK
Traditional abbreviation	Okla.
Latitude	33°37' N to 37° N
Longitude	94° 26' W to 103° W
Website	www.ok.gov

Oklahoma state symbols
Flag of Oklahoma
Living insignia
Amphibian	Bullfrog[6]
Bird	Scissor-tailed Flycatcher[7]
Fish	Sand bass[8]
Flower	Oklahoma Rose Wildflower: Indian Blanket
Grass	Indian Grass
Insect	European honey bee
Mammal	American bison[9]
Reptile	Mountain Boomer
Tree	Redbud
Inanimate insignia
Beverage	Milk[10]
Colors	White and green (vice versa)
Dance	Waltz: Oklahoma Wind
Dinosaur	Acrocanthosaurus atokensis[11]
Folk dance	Square dance
Fossil	Saurophaganax maximus[12]
Instrument	Drum[13]
Rock	Rose Rock
Soil	Port Silt Loam
Tartan	Oklahoma Tartan
Other	Cartoon: Gusty created by Don Woods, Oklahoma's first professional meteorologist, used on KTUL-TV from 1954 to 1989.[14][15] Fruit: Strawberry[16] Vegetable: Watermelon[17][18] Game bird: Wild turkey[19] Monument: Golden Driller[20] Rock song: "Do You Realize??" by The Flaming Lips[21] Theater group: Lynn Riggs Players of Oklahoma[22][7]
State route marker
State quarter
Released in 2008, as part of the state quarters series. Oklahoma's state bird flying above its state wildflower.[23]
Lists of United States state symbols

Oklahoma (pronounced /ˌoʊkləˈhoʊmə/)^[24] is a state in the southern part of the Central United States. It had a population of about 3,751,351 people in 2010. The state has a land area of about 68,667 sq mi (177,847 km²).^[25] Oklahoma is the 28th largest state by population and the 20th largest state by area. The name of the state comes from the Choctaw words okla and humma. It means "Red People".^[26] It is also known by its nickname, The Sooner State. The state was formed from Indian Territory on November 16, 1907. It was the 46th state to become part of the United States. The people who live in the state are known as Oklahomans or Okies. The state's capital and largest city is Oklahoma City.

In the past, Oklahoma was used as a path for cattle drives, a place for southern settlers, and a government-made territory for Native Americans. The state is a large producer of natural gas, oil and food. It has large industries in aviation, energy, telecommunications, and biotechnology.^[27] The state has one of the fastest growing economies in the nation. Between 2005 and 2006, it had the third highest percentage of income growth and the highest percentage in gross domestic product growth.^[28][29] Oklahoma City and Tulsa are the main economic areas of Oklahoma. Almost 60 percent of Oklahomans live in these two metropolitan statistical areas.^[30]

Oklahoma has small mountain ranges, prairies, and eastern forests. Most of Oklahoma is in the Great Plains. It is regularly hit by severe weather.^[31]

The cultural heritage of Oklahoma is made from by a population descending from many cultures. These include German, Irish, British and Native American people. More than 25 Native American languages are spoken in Oklahoma, more than in any other state.^[32] Many people in Oklahoma believe in evangelical Christianity.^[33] The state is part of the Bible Belt. Oklahoma is one of the most politically conservative states, and most people vote for the Republican Party.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Elevations and Distances in the United States". United States Geological Survey. 2001. Archived from the original on October 15, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Elevation adjusted to North American Vertical Datum of 1988.
3. ↑ "Median Annual Household Income". The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
4. ↑ "Keetoowah Cherokee is the Official Language of the UKB" (PDF). Keetoowah Cherokee News: Official Publication of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. April 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
5. ↑ "UKB Constitution and By-Laws in the Keetoowah Cherokee Language" (PDF). United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
6. ↑ "Oklahoma State Amphibian—Bullfrog". State Symbols USA. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} "Oklahoma State Icons". Oklahoma Department of Libraries. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2007.
8. ↑ "Oklahoma State Fish—White Bass". State Symbols USA. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
9. ↑ "Oklahoma State Animal—Buffalo". State Symbols USA. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
10. ↑ "Oklahoma State Beverage—Milk". State Symbols USA. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
11. ↑ "Oklahoma State Dinosaur—Acrocanthosaurus atokensis". State Symbols USA. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
12. ↑ "Oklahoma State Fossil". State fossils. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2007.
13. ↑ "Oklahoma State Percussive Instrument—Drum". State Symbols USA. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
14. ↑ Oklahoma Statutes, §25–98.8
15. ↑ "Oklahoma State Cartoon Character—Gusty". State Symbols USA. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
16. ↑ "Oklahoma State Symbols and Emblems—Complete list of Oklahoma state symbols including the state flag and state seal from NETSTATE.COM". Netstate.com. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
17. ↑ "Watermelon State Vegetable". State Symbols USA. Archived from the original on March 27, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
18. ↑ Matthew Weaver (April 18, 2007). "It's a scandal: Oklahoma declares watermelon a vegetable". the Guardian.
19. ↑ "Oklahoma State Game Bird—Wild Turkey". State Symbols USA. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
20. ↑ "Oklahoma State Monument—Golden Driller". State Symbols USA. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
21. ↑ John Benson (April 28, 2009). "Flaming Lips prepare for Oklahoma honor". Reuters.
22. ↑ "Oklahoma State Theater Group—Lynn Riggs Players of Oklahoma". State Symbols USA. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
23. ↑ "New Oklahoma Quarter Launches into History". United States Mint. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved February 9, 2008.
24. ↑ "Oklahoma - Definitions from Dictionary.com". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
25. ↑ "Oklahoma QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". State & County QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. 2006-01-12. Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
26. ↑ Wright, Muriel (June 1936). "Chronicles of Oklahoma". Oklahoma State University. Archived from the original on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
27. ↑ "Oklahoma at a Glance" (PDF). Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
28. ↑ "State Personal Income 2006". United States Department of Commerce. 2007-03-27. Archived from the original on 2013-06-22. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
29. ↑ "Gross Domestic Product by State (2005-2006)" (PDF). Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
30. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (csv) on 2008-01-15. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
31. ↑ "Oklahoma, All Terrain Vacation". TravelOK. TravelOK.com. 2006-01-12. Archived from the original on 2006-07-09. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
32. ↑ Greymorning, Stephen. "Profiles of Native American Education Programs". Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. Archived from the original on 2009-03-29. Retrieved 2008-09-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
33. ↑ "Religious Groups". pewforum.org. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Retrieved 2011-01-22.