Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state in the South Central region of the United States. It borders Texas to the south and west, Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northeast, Arkansas to the east, New Mexico to the west, and Colorado to the northwest. 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. Its residents are known as Oklahomans and its capital and largest city is Oklahoma City.
The state's name is derived from the Choctaw words okla, 'people' and humma, which translates as 'red'. Oklahoma is also known informally by its nickname, "The Sooner State", in reference to the Sooners, American settlers who staked their claims in formerly American Indian-owned lands until the Indian Appropriations Act of 1889 authorized the Land Rush of 1889 opening the land to settlement.
Some of the key events about Oklahoma
- 1830The Indian Removal Act forced Native American tribes to relocate to present-day Oklahoma
- 1889The Land Run of 1889 opened up nearly two million acres of unassigned lands in the Oklahoma Territory for settlement
- 1889The Land Run of 1889 resulted in chaotic settlement and disputes over land claims
- 1907Oklahoma became the 46th state to join the United States
- 1921The Tulsa Race Massacre destroyed the prosperous Greenwood District, known as "Black Wall Street"
- 1928Oil was discovered in Oklahoma City, leading to an economic boom
- 1930sThe Dust Bowl caused severe ecological and agricultural damage, forcing many farmers to leave the state
- 1935The first parking meter in the world was installed in Oklahoma City
- 1955The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority was established, leading to the development of a modern highway system
- 1955A devastating F5 tornado struck Blackwell, killing 20 people and injuring over 200
- 1971The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum opened in Oklahoma City
- 1993The Chickasaw National Recreation Area was established, preserving natural and cultural resources
- 1995The Oklahoma City bombing killed 168 people and injured hundreds more
- 1999An F5 tornado hit Oklahoma City and surrounding areas, causing 36 deaths and over $1 billion in damage
- 2000The Oklahoma City National Memorial was dedicated to honor victims of the 1995 bombing
- 2007The I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse in Minneapolis was linked to a design flaw by an Oklahoma engineering firm
- 2008The NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder played their first game, bringing major league sports to the state
- 2011A 5.7 magnitude earthquake near Prague caused significant damage and was linked to wastewater injection from oil and gas operations
- 2013An EF5 tornado struck Moore, killing 24 people and causing $2 billion in damage
- 2015The First Americans Museum opened in Oklahoma City, celebrating Native American history and culture
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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