Oklahoma (U.S. state)

Flag of the State of Oklahoma

Oklahoma was the 46th state to join the United States of America in 1907. It is the 20th largest in land area at 69,903 square miles. Its capital and largest city is Oklahoma City. Oklahoma is bordered by Texas and New Mexico to the south and west, Kansas and Colorado to the north, and Missouri and Arkansas to the east.

It is perhaps best known to the rest of the world for its state song, Oklahoma!, the title song from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the same name.

A major producer of oil and gas, it is also known for having had a producing oil derrick on the grounds of its state Capitol for many years.

Geography

Oklahoma has a diverse landscape and is divided into 10 distinct regions:

• Ozark Plateau
• Prairie Plains
• Ouachita Mountains
• Sandstone Hills
• Arbuckle Mountains
• Wichita Mountains
• Red River Valey Region
• Red Beds Plains
• Gypsum Hills
• High Plains

History

The area that comprises modern day Oklahoma was first brought into the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The government named it Indian Territory and used it to relocate the Five Civilized Tribes in the 1820's. These relocations were hard on the Indians, with the most famous being the hardships of the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears.

Politics

Oklahoma's politics is very conservative and the state is a stronghold for the Republican Party. Oklahoma's two U.S. senators are Tom Coburn (R) and Jim Inhofe (R). Both senators are controversial figures due to their incendiary remarks regarding to global warming and other hot-button issues. It has five representatives; four Republicans and one Democrat.

Brad Henry (D) has been governor of Oklahoma since 2003. The Republicans control the Oklahoma House of Representatives (57 to 44), while the Senate is evenly split between the parties (24 to 24).

Sports

The 1953-1957 University of Oklahoma football team, the Sooners, were coached by Bud Wilkinson to 47 consecutive victories, a NCAA Division I record that still stands. The Sooners were also considered the national champions in 1950, 1955, and 1957.