[257] In 2006, there were more than 220 newspapers in the state, including 177 with weekly publications and 48 with daily publications. Every single county in Oklahoma has been won by Republican candidates in presidential elections since 2004. Opens, the most recent in 2001. [42] An average 62 tornadoes strike the state per year—one of the highest rates in the world. Other Plays such as the Eagle Ford are geological rather than geographical. The Cross Timbers, a region transitioning from prairie to woodlands in Central Oklahoma, harbors 351 vertebrate species. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) sent a letter urging U.S. Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza to prevent Planned Parenthood affiliates from receiving illegal loans under Read more, The Voice of Arkansas Minority Advocacy Council/KLEK-LP 102.5 FM, 1411 Franklin Street,Suite #1, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401, Severe Weather Alerts made possible by Willy Weather, Oklahoma, Arkansas Detail Future of MKARNS, © Voice of Arkansas Minority Advocacy Council | Designed by, https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/7/oklahoma-arkansas-detail-future-of-mkarns, Challenges and Opportunities Ahead with New Administration, What They’re Saying: Boozman Delivers Investments for Arkansas Water Infrastructure, Paycheck Protection Program Re-Launches with Improvements, Boozman, Cotton Urge SBA to Halt PPP Funds to Planned Parenthood. Another Oklahoma attraction is the OKC Zoo, home to almost 2,000 animals. The Fair was held first on the south oval of the University of Oklahoma campus and in the third year moved to the Duck Pond in Norman until the Fair became too big and moved to Reaves Park in 2003. [232] In addition, 12 of the state's smaller colleges and universities compete in NCAA Division II as members of three different conferences,[233][234][235] and eight other Oklahoma institutions participate in the NAIA, mostly within the Sooner Athletic Conference. The percentage of Catholics is half the national average, while the percentage of Evangelical Protestants is more than twice the national average (tied with Arkansas for the largest percentage of any state). [139], Though oil has historically dominated the state's economy, a collapse in the energy industry during the 1980s led to the loss of nearly 90,000 energy-related jobs between 1980 and 2000, severely damaging the local economy. For other uses, see, Native America, Land of the Red Man, Sooner State, Map of the United States with Oklahoma highlighted, Determined by a survey by the Pew Research Center in 2008. [66] Ancestors of the Wichita, Kichai, Teyas, Escanjaques, and Caddo lived in what is now Oklahoma. Learn more about Oklahoma estate [116] Cities may also petition to incorporate as towns. During a ten-day run in Oklahoma City, the State Fair of Oklahoma attracts roughly one million people[213] along with the annual Festival of the Arts. ", "December 2013 Oklahoma: Magazine of the Oklahoma Heritage Association by Oklahoma Hall of Fame", "Musical Actor to Be Honored With Hall of Fame Award", "Cain's Ballroom—A Music Icon: Venue is a landmark for Western swing, punk fans", "100 and 1: State's centennial is named top-ranked bus-tour destination", "Mayfest: Celebrating Downtown: Festival closes after big year", "Top 10: American Oktoberfest Destinations", "WNBA Approves Relocation of Shock from Tulsa to Dallas-Fort Worth", "WNBA's Dallas Wings Introduced in DFW Metroplex", "BA Team Valuations—No. These were Yvonne Chouteau, sisters Marjorie and Maria Tallchief, Rosella Hightower and Moscelyne Larkin, known collectively as the Five Moons. Two trains are traveling nonstop to Kansas City, one leaving from Boston (1450 miles away) at 50 miles per hour and one leaving from San Francisco (1850 miles away) at 40 miles per hour. We also happened to be there during the “super moon.” Just strolling through the parks downtown made for great people watching. In the last-named sport, the state's most notable team was the Tulsa Talons, which played in the Arena Football League until 2012, when the team was moved to San Antonio. These provisions will open up 0 million in non-highway formula … During the first half-century of statehood, Oklahoma was considered a Democratic stronghold, being carried by the Republican Party in only two presidential elections (1920 and 1928). Partially in the western extreme of the Upland South, it is the 20th-most extensive and the 28th-most populous of the 50 United States. [84], The new state became a focal point for the emerging oil industry, as discoveries of oil pools prompted towns to grow rapidly in population and wealth. [110], Under Oklahoma law, municipalities are divided into two categories: cities, defined as having more than 1,000 residents, and towns, with under 1,000 residents. Oklahoma is between the Great Plains and the Ozark Plateau in the Gulf of Mexico watershed,[39] generally sloping from the high plains of its western boundary to the low wetlands of its southeastern boundary. Tulsa competes in FBS football and other sports in the American Athletic Conference,[230] while Oral Roberts, which does not sponsor football,[231] is a member of the Summit League. Deer were once so rare that a donated fawn was the first animal at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Oklahoma City bombing, terrorist attack in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S., on April 19, 1995, in which a massive homemade bomb concealed in a rental truck exploded, heavily damaging the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. It’s forward-thinking ideas like this that will keep Oklahoma’s economy strong and prosperous. 29 New Orleans Hornets", Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, "Southern Hills Country Club is rich in History", "State health workforce profiles:Oklahoma", United States Department of Health and Human Services, "Health insurance, lack of coverage among adults: State, 2002–2005", "OU Medical Center Employment Opportunities", "Tulsa Regional Medical Center Changes its name to OSU Medical Center", "Basic Biomedical Research in the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine", "Oklahoma voters approve medical marijuana despite opposition", "2011 Top Media Outlets: Newspapers, Blogs, Consumer Magazines & Social Network", "Local Television Market Universe Estimates Comparisons of 2008–09 and 2009–10 Market Ranks", "Historical Highlights of Television in Tulsa, Oklahoma", "Radio Days: Oklahoma's First Station: Broadcast pioneer WKY began in garage, living room", "Complete List of Radio Stations in the State of OK", "Deficient Bridges by State and Highway System", "Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. [203] Bond was instrumental in the Oklahoma! [130][131], Oklahoma is host to a diverse range of sectors including aviation, energy, transportation equipment, food processing, electronics, and telecommunications. [119] The variety of North American English spoken is called Oklahoma English, and this dialect is quite diverse with its uneven blending of features of North Midland, South Midland, and Southern dialects. State water resource leaders applauded Read more, Small business owners have faced unprecedented challenges for nearly a year as a result of COVID-19. [76] Slavery in Indian Territory was not abolished until 1866. [263] In 2010, the state had the nation's third-highest number of bridges classified as structurally deficient, with nearly 5,212 bridges in disrepair, including 235 National Highway System Bridges. Traveling westward, the climate transitions progressively toward a semi-arid zone (Koppen BSk) in the high plains of the Panhandle and other western areas from about Lawton westward, less frequently touched by southern moisture. [62], Over almost all of Oklahoma, winter is the driest season. July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008). [126], In 2010, the state's largest church memberships were in the Southern Baptist Convention (886,394 members), the United Methodist Church (282,347), the Roman Catholic Church (178,430), and the Assemblies of God (85,926) and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints[127] (47,349). The state depended heavily on petroleum and agriculture in the past. [81] Deliberations to make the territory into a state began near the end of the 19th century, when the Curtis Act continued the allotment of Indian tribal land. [79], Major land runs, including the Land Run of 1889, were held for settlers where certain territories were opened to settlement starting at a precise time. [32], The name Oklahoma comes from the Choctaw language phrase okla humma, literally meaning red people. Southern Plains villagers lived in the central and west of the state, with a subgroup, the Panhandle culture people living in the panhandle region. title song becoming the Oklahoma state song[198][204] and is also featured on the U.S. postage stamp commemorating the musical's 50th anniversary. [41][45], More than 500 named creeks and rivers make up Oklahoma's waterways, and with 200 lakes created by dams, it holds the nation's highest number of artificial reservoirs. [42], The entire state frequently experiences temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) or below 0 °F (−18 °C),[58] though below-zero temperatures are rare in south-central and southeastern Oklahoma. Both have legislative, judicial, and public power within their boundaries, but cities can choose between a mayor–council, council–manager, or strong mayor form of government, while towns operate through an elected officer system. Dec. 30, 2020. Well, before you battle boys, you'll have to battle Rebecca, 5, because she defines courage as: "You don't want to hit anybody." The Spiro Mound Building Indians were the state's first permanent settlers. According to the 2010 United States Census, Oklahoma is the 28th-most populous state with 3,751,616 inhabitants but the 19th-largest by land area spanning 68,594.92 square miles (177,660.0 km2) of land. Two inland ports on rivers serve Oklahoma: the Port of Muskogee and the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. [58] Precipitation and temperatures decline from east to west accordingly, with areas in the southeast averaging an annual temperature of 62 °F (17 °C) and an annual rainfall of generally over 40 in (1,020 mm) and up to 56 in (1,420 mm), while areas of the (higher-elevation) panhandle average 58 °F (14 °C), with an annual rainfall under 17 in (430 mm). Moreover, increases in life expectancy have been below the national average. [75] The Cherokee Nation had an internal civil war. Snowfall ranges from an average of less than 4 in (102 mm) in the south to just over 20 in (508 mm) on the border of Colorado in the panhandle. It reminded many of their pioneer past, of immigrants struggling to put … [83] On November 16, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt issued Presidential Proclamation no. The responsibilities of the Executive branch include submitting the budget, ensuring state laws are enforced, and ensuring peace within the state is preserved.[278]. [128], In 2000, there were about 5,000 Jews and 6,000 Muslims, with ten congregations to each group. Mary Linn, an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Oklahoma and the associate curator of Native American languages at the Sam Noble Museum, notes Oklahoma also has high levels of language endangerment. “That’s why we are glad to see Sen. Jim Inhofe’s continued support for MKARNS by including provisions in legislation making the system eligible for more funding to help with improvements and deepening the channel. [42], Among the most geographically diverse states, Oklahoma is one of four to harbor more than 10 distinct ecological regions, with 11 in its borders—more per square mile than in any other state. Original article source: https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/7/oklahoma-arkansas-detail-future-of-mkarns | Article may or may not reflect the views of KLEK 102.5 FM or The Voice of Arkansas Minority Advocacy Council, As of January 20 at noon, the executive branch of the United States government is now headed by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. [177], The Cherokee Nation instigated a ten-year plan in 2005 that involved growing new speakers of the Cherokee language from childhood as well as speaking it exclusively at home. [251], Using 2016-2018 data, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation calculated that life expectancy for Oklahoma counties ranged from 71.2 years for Okfuskee County to 79.7 years for Cimarron and Logan counties. [144] In total, aerospace accounts for more than 10 percent of Oklahoma's industrial output, and it is one of the top 10 states in aerospace engine manufacturing. The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University average well over 50,000 fans attending their football games, and Oklahoma's football program ranked 12th in attendance among American colleges in 2010, with an average of 84,738 people attending its home games. [257], The state's first radio station, WKY in Oklahoma City, began broadcasting in 1920. [92], On May 31, 2016, several cities experienced record setting flooding. Life expectancy for females in Oklahoma between 1980 and 2014 increased by 1.0 years compared to a national average of a 4.0 year increase in life expectancy for females. [154], The Oklahoma Stack Play is a geographic referenced area in the Anadarko Basin. Tribal governments are recognized by the United States as quasi-sovereign entities with executive, judicial, and legislative powers over tribal members and functions, but are subject to the authority of the United States Congress to revoke or withhold certain powers. [150], Ten years later in 2019, 53.5 % of electricity was produced from natural gas and 34.6 % from wind power. 14. [236], Regular LPGA tournaments are held at Cedar Ridge Country Club in Tulsa, and major championships for the PGA or LPGA have been played at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oak Tree Country Club in Oklahoma City, and Cedar Ridge Country Club in Tulsa. Twenty-five Native American languages are spoken in Oklahoma. Particularly impressive residents include lions, tigers, elephants and rhinos, and there are plenty of water-dwelling inhabitants to meet too. The Oklahoma City Blue, of the NBA G League, relocated to Oklahoma City from Tulsa in 2014, where they were formerly known as the Tulsa 66ers. At around 200, Oklahoma has more man-made lakes than any other state. Of these students, 18,892 received a bachelor's degree, 5,386 received a master's degree, and 462 received a first professional degree. Oklahoma!, American musical film, released in 1955, that was based on the Broadway musical (1943) written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. In Tulsa, Oklahoma's oldest resident professional company is American Theatre Company, and Theatre Tulsa is the oldest community theatre company west of the Mississippi. 2. Oklahoma (/ˌoʊkləˈhoʊmə/ (listen))[26] is a state in the South Central region of the United States,[27] bordered by the state of Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New Mexico on the west, and Colorado on the northwest. [54] The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is the oldest and largest of nine National Wildlife Refuges in the state[55] and was founded in 1901, encompassing 59,020 acres (238.8 km2). [270], Oklahoma is connected to the nation's rail network via Amtrak's Heartland Flyer, its only regional passenger rail line. The New York Times rates the Tulsa Ballet as one of the top ballet companies in the United States. These provisions will open up $250 million in non-highway formula funding for Oklahoma to use for MKARNS and will allow Oklahoma and Arkansas to jointly apply for federal freight grants that will total over $5 billion in the five years following the enactment of this legislation. The state's lowest point is on the Little River near its far southeastern boundary near the town of Idabel, which dips to 289 feet (88 m) above sea level. [103] Most people from Oklahoma who self-identify as having American ancestry are of overwhelmingly English and Scots-Irish ancestry with significant amounts of Scottish and Welsh inflection as well. [276][277], Oklahoma's judicial branch consists of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, and 77 District Courts that each serve one county. [138] Oklahoma's gross domestic product per capita was $35,480 in 2010, which was ranked 40th among the states. The state is divided into 77 counties that govern locally, each headed by a three-member council of elected commissioners, a tax assessor, clerk, court clerk, treasurer, and sheriff. How to increase brand awareness through consistency; Dec. 11, 2020 [197] Ridge Bond, native of McAlester, Oklahoma,[198] starred in the Broadway and International touring productions of Oklahoma!,[199][200][201][202] playing the role of "Curly McClain" in more than 2,600 performances. The University program was founded in 1962 and was the first fully accredited program of its kind in the United States.[195][196]. The Medieval Fair of Norman is Oklahoma's "largest weekend event and the third-largest event in Oklahoma, and was selected by Events Media Network as one of the top 100 events in the nation". [238] Rodeos are popular throughout the state, and Guymon, in the state's panhandle, hosts one of the largest in the nation. [189], In the state's largest urban areas, pockets of jazz culture flourish,[192] and Native American, Mexican American, and Asian American communities produce music and art of their respective cultures. The two state universities, along with Oklahoma City University and the University of Tulsa, rank among the country's best in undergraduate business programs. [140] Oil accounted for 35 billion dollars in Oklahoma's economy in 2007,[141] and employment in the state's oil industry was outpaced by five other industries in 2007. Tulsa is the base for the Tulsa Revolution, which plays in the American Indoor Soccer League. [132] Poultry and swine are its second- and third-largest agricultural industries. Cities may choose among aldermanic, mayoral, council-manager, and home-rule charter types of government. 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