Oklahoma is known for:
- American football
- Oil production
- Agriculture, particularly wheat, cattle, and oilseeds.
- Tornadoes
Geography & Demographics
| State Abbreviation |
OK |
| State Capital |
Oklahoma City |
| State Size |
Total (Land + Water): 69,898 sq miles; Land Only: 68,667 sq miles |
| Number of Counties |
77 |
| Time Zone |
Central Time Zone |
| Bordering States |
Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Texas |
| Highest Point | Black Mesa, 4,975 feet |
| Tallest Building | Devon Energy Center in Oklahoma City, 850 feet |
| Largest Stadium | Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, capacity 86,112 |
| National Parks | None |
| State Population (2020) | 3,959,353 |
| State Population Density | 57.7 people / square mile |
| Area Codes |
405, 539, 572, 580, 918 |
| Top 5 Cities (2020 population) |
Oklahoma City (662,314)
Tulsa (403,166)
Norman (125,762)
Broken Arrow (111,648)
Edmond (95,346)
|
Government & Legislature
State Symbols
| State Animal | American bison |
| State Bird |
Scissor-tailed flycatcher |
| State Colors | Green and white |
| State Fish | White or sand bass |
| State Flower |
Mistletoe |
| State Grass | Indian grass |
| State Insect | Honeybee |
| State Motto |
Labor omnia vincit (Labor conquers all things) |
| State Musical Instrument | Fiddle |
| State Nickname |
Sooner State |
| State Reptile | Mountain boomer (collared lizard) |
| State Rock | Rose rock |
| State Song | "Oklahoma!" |
| State Tree |
Redbud |
| State Wildflower | Indian blanket |
Sports Teams
Popular Tourist Attractions
- Broken Bow Lake: Reservoir in southeastern Oklahoma.
- Cain's Ballroom: historic music venue in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Chickasaw National Recreation Area: National recreation area in Sulphur, Oklahoma.
- Frontier City: Theme park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Gilcrease Museum: Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Oklahoma Aquarium: Aquarium in Jenks, Oklahoma.
- Oklahoma City National Memorial: Museum and memorial honoring all who were affected by the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. It is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Oklahoma City Zoo: Zoo in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Robbers Cave State Park: State park in Wilburton, Oklahoma.
- Science Museum Oklahoma: Science museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Skeletons Museum of Osteology: Museum devoted to the study of bones and skeletons, located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Tulsa Performing Arts Center: Theater in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Tulsa Zoo: Zoo in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Turner Falls: Waterfall in Davis, Oklahoma.
- White Water Bay: Water park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Festivals and Events
Top festivals and events in Oklahoma. They are listed in approximate order of when they take place during the year.
| Festival / Event |
When |
Location |
| Azalea Festival | April | Muskogee |
| Norman Music Festival | April | Norman |
| Paseo Arts Festival | Memorial Day Weekend in May | Oklahoma City |
| deadCenter Film Festival | June | Oklahoma City |
| Woody Guthrie Folk Festival | July | Okemah |
| FireFlight Balloon Festival | August | Shawnee |
| Oklahoma Festival of Ballooning | August | Muskogee |
| Oklahoma State Fair | September | Oklahoma City |
| Rocklahoma | September | Pryor |
| Tulsa State Fair | September to October | Tulsa |
| Poteau Balloon Fest | October | Poteau |
| Tulsa Oktoberfest | October | Tulsa |
Popular Iconic Oklahoma Foods
Oklahoma is famous for the following foods:
- Chicken Fried Steak
- Fried Okra
- Cornbread
- Fried Onion Burger
- Barbecue
- Biscuits
- Sausage and Gravy
- Grits
- Strawberries
- Pecan Pie
- Fried Pies
- Fried Catfish
- Indian Tacos
Famous People Born In Oklahoma
Pro Football Hall Of Fame Members
- Jim Thorpe (Halfback, Coach, League President. Inducted in 1963)
- Steve Owen (Tackle, Coach. Inducted in 1966)
- Steve Largent (Wide Receiver. Inducted in 1995)
- Lee Roy Selmon (Defensive End. Inducted in 1995)
- Dan Hampton (Defensive Tackle, Defensive End. Inducted in 2002)
Baseball Hall Of Fame Players
- Paul Waner (Right Fielder. Inducted in 1952)
- Lloyd Waner (Center Fielder. Inducted in 1967)
- Mickey Mantle (Center Fielder. Inducted in 1974)
- Willie Stargell (Left Fielder. Inducted in 1988)
- Johnny Bench (Catcher. Inducted in 1989)
- Bullet Rogan (Pitcher. Inducted in 1998)
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame Players
- Jack McCracken (Forward. Inducted in 1962)
- William Johnson (Center. Inducted in 1977)
- Marques Haynes (Guard. Inducted in 1998)
- Robert Hughes (Coach. Inducted in 2017)
- Bill Self (Coach. Inducted in 2017)
Famous Actors And Actresses
- Jennifer Jones
- Olivia Munn
- Brad Pitt
Famous Singers
- Garth Brooks
- Jeremy Castle
- Vince Gill
- Toby Keith
- Reba McEntire
Oklahoma Fun Facts
- The name "Oklahoma" comes from two Choctaw Indian words: "okla" meaning people, and "humma" meaning red, so the state's name literally means "red people."
- The Land Rush of 1889 permitted settlers to claim the Unassigned Lands in present-day Oklahoma. Some settlers tried to beat the system by entering the area before the official start at noon on April 22, 1889. These settlers were called the Sooners, and that's where Oklahoma got its nickname.
- Cimarron County is the only county in the U.S. that touches four states: Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Kansas.
- Oklahoma has more than 200 man-made lakes. That's more than any other state in the United States.
- The world's largest concrete totem pole is in Foyil, Oklahoma. It is 90 feet tall and 30 feet around at its widest point.
- Oklahoma is the main producer of iodine in the United States.
- Shopping cart was invented in Oklahoma. Sylvan Goldman, owner of the Hympty Dumpty supermarket chain in Oklahoma City, introduced the "folding basket carriers" on June 4, 1937.
- The world's first parking meter, known as Park-O-Meter No. 1, is installed on the southeast corner of what was then First Street and Robinson Avenue in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on July 16, 1935.
- Oklahoma is one of only two states whose capital city's name includes the state name. The other is Indianapolis, Indiana.
- The first official tornado forecast and the first successful tornado forecast in recorded history happened at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1948.
- In 1907, Oklahoma became the last state to declare Christmas as a legal holiday.
- In 1977, Oklahoma became the first state to adopt lethal injection as a means of execution.
This page was last updated on October 12, 2024.
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