Higher Education  

Oklahoma has twenty-seven colleges and universities as well as eighteen two-year and community colleges. Among Oklahoma's state institutions are Central State University, in Edmond; the University of Oklahoma, at Norman; Oklahoma State University, in Stillwater; East Central Oklahoma State University, in Ada; Langston University, in Langston; Northeastern Oklahoma State University, in Tahlequah; Northwestern Oklahoma State University, in Alva; and Oklahoma Panhandle State University, in Goodwell. Private institutions include Oklahoma Baptist University, in Shawnee; Oklahoma City University and Oklahoma Christian College, in Oklahoma City; Bacone College, in Muskogee; Phillips University, in Enid; and the University of Tulsa, in Tulsa.

Geography

Having an area of 181,185 square kilometers, the state of Oklahoma can be divided into ten regions: the High Plains, the Plains Border, the Central Lowlands, the Gypsum Hills, the Red Bed Plains, the Sandstone Hills, the Wichita and Arbuckle Mountains, the Interior Highlands, the Ozark Plateau, and the Red River Plain. In the westernmost part of the state, including the Panhandle, the High Plains area is a level expanse of land suitable for grazing and wheat farming. The hilly Plains Border region slopes downward to reach the Central Lowlands, which covers most of the state. In the northwestern part of the state are the Gypsum Hills, and east of them are the gently rolling farmlands of the Red Bed plains. The Sandstone Hills region, which stretches through the east-central portion of the state, has oil, gas, and coal deposits. Lumbering and mining are the major industries in the Wichita Mountains in the southwest and the Arbuckle Mountains in the south-central area. The Interior Highlands encompasses most of the eastern section of the state. In the northeast, the Ozark Plateau features hills, valleys, bluffs, and heavy forests. The Red River Plain, in the southeast section of the state, supports a wide variety of farming. Oklahoma's major rivers are the Arkansas and the Red. Important cities include Oklahoma City (capital), Tulsa, Lawton, Norman, and Enid. The state's population is about 3.3 million.

Climate

Oklahoma has a generally temperate climate. The north is usually cooler than the rest of the state. While the east and south are more humid, the west is dry. Overall, temperatures average around 4° C in January and 28° C in July. Annual precipitation (including rain, snow, and other moisture) averages 38 cm on the Panhandle and 127 cm in the southeast.

Cultural Profile

Oklahoma's museums include the Philbrook Art Center, the Thomas Gilcrease Institute of Art, and the Fenster Gallery of Jewish Art, all in Tulsa; the University of Oklahoma's Museum of Art and the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, both in Norman; the Oklahoma Art Center, the Oklahoma Science and Arts Foundation Museum, the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center, all in Oklahoma City; the National Hall of Fame For Famous American Indians, in Anadarko; and the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, in Claremore.

Oklahoma features both classical and Native American performances. The state's major orchestras are the Oklahoma Symphony in Oklahoma City, the Tulsa Philharmonic, and the Lawton Symphony Orchestra. Many other cities and towns also support local symphony orchestras. At the American Indian Exposition in Anadarko, as well as at numerous powwows held throughout the state, Indian dance exhibitions are staged annually.

Recreation

Oklahoma has fifty state parks, twenty-eight state recreation areas, and forty-eight state wildlife management areas. The state's many rivers and lakes provide many recreational opportunities, such as boating, water skiing, swimming, and fishing. Some of the state's popular attractions are Alabaster Caverns State Park, near Freedom; the Arbuckle Wilderness, in south-central Oklahoma; the Creek National Tribal Complex, in Okmulgee; the Heavener Runestone State Park, near Heavener; the Ouachita National Forest, in southeastern Oklahoma; and the Tsa-La-Gi Ancient Village, in Tahlequah.

Interesting Facts

The nickname for people from Oklahoma is "Sooners." The shopping cart and the turn signal for the automobile were invented by Oklahomans. Famous Oklahomans include Carl Albert (politician), Angie Debo (historian), Ralph Ellison (author), Woody Guthrie (songwriter and musician), Karl Jansky (radio research engineer), Mickey Mantle (baseball player), Oral Roberts (evangelist), Will Rogers (entertainer and humorist), Maria Tallchief (ballerina), and Jim Thorpe (athlete).