Oklahoma
state of the United States of America / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oklahoma | |
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State of Oklahoma | |
Nickname(s): Native America, Land of the Red Man, Sooner State | |
Motto: Labor omnia vincit (Latin: Work conquers all) | |
Anthem: Oklahoma, Oklahoma Hills | |
Country | United States |
Before statehood |
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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 |
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U.S. House delegation |
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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 | 4,975 ft (1,516 m) |
Lowest elevation | 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 |
Oklahoma state symbols | |
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Living insignia | |
Amphibian | Bullfrog[6] |
Bird | Scissor-tailed Flycatcher[7] |
Fish | Sand bass[8] |
Flower |
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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 |
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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.