Oklahoma: The Sooner State

Oklahoma: The Sooner State book cover — ENCYCLOPÆDIA Britannica DISCOVER AMERICA Oklahoma The Sooner State CHICAGO LONDON NEW DELHI PARIS SEOUL SYDNEY TAIPEI TOKYO

Oklahoma: The Sooner State — page 1 — INTRODUCTION Oklahoma occupies a unique place in U S history In the mid-1800s as the United States pushed westward the land that would later become Oklahoma remained mostly untouched by settlers The U S government had set the area aside as Indian Territory a home for various Native American peoples forced out of their homelands The state’s Native American heritage shows even in its name Oklahoma is a combination of two Choctaw Indian words okla meaning people and humma meaning red Although Oklahoma is usually thought to consist of flat prairies the state is truly breathtaking Its terrain is diverse with mountains as well as vast level plains In addition to Native Americans Oklahoma’s land has been inhabited by pioneers cowboys and outlaws All have contributed to the state’s rich past paving the way to the present 4 OKLAHOMA Robbers Cave State Park in Oklahoma is where outlaws such as Jesse James once stored their loot The state song is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma At one time it was Oklahoma A Toast by Harriet Parker Camden The barite rose a rock shaped like a rose is the state rock The state colors are green and white The musical Oklahoma the source of the state song won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1944

Oklahoma: The Sooner State — page 2 — INTRODUCTION 5 Oklahoma lies in the south-central portion of the United States It shares borders with six other states Arkansas and Missouri lie to the east Kansas and Colorado are to the north New Mexico is to the west and Texas is to the south Three interstate highways pass through Oklahoma City dividing the state north-south east-west and northeast-southwest Oklahoma City and Tulsa have international airports Numerous regional municipal and private airports are scattered throughout the state Oklahoma City is the transportation center of the state Oklahoma Location Map The state motto which is in Latin is Labor Omnia Vincit It translates as Labor Conquers All Things From 1890 to 1910 Guthrie was the capital of Oklahoma In 1910 Oklahoma City was named the capital city A monument marks the location where the states of Oklahoma New Mexico and Colorado all meet Capital Oklahoma City Population 3,450,654 Interstate highways Size 69,903 square miles 0 0 45 72 90 Mi 145 Km Scale Highest peak Black Mesa 4,973 feet

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