The constituent state of Oklahoma lies in the heart of the Southcentral region of the United States, bordering a total of 6 other states, Colorado and Kansas to the north, Missouri and Arkansas to the east, Texas to the south and west, and New Mexico to the west of its Panhandle region.
Oklahoma is commonly referred to as the Sooner State, adopting this nickname due to the land being unassigned during the 1800s, which led to many settlers waiting patiently for the land to be opened up for a new territory to be claimed, they were labeled, “Sooners”.
The natural beauty this state possesses is often overlooked by many, with the state not being the main hub for tourism, business, and economics. However, what the state lacks in certain aspects, certainly makes up for it in others.
With a plethora of stunning mountain ranges, expansive luscious forests, and vast golden fields, the Sooner State offers a multitude of outdoor things to do, and with an underrated business and economic climate, there is much to discover when looking into the interesting facts of Oklahoma!
On the topic of business, if you would like to skip over to our Oklahoma business and economics fact section of this page, feel free to do so.
15 Interesting Facts of Oklahoma
1. It may come as a surprise that Oklahoma is the home to many interesting and revolutionary inventions. Our first of the list coming in the shape of a shopping cart, which was invented by Sylvan Goldman, the owner of the Piggly Wiggly supermarket chain in Oklahoma City during the year 1937.
2. Oklahoma impressively has over 11,000 miles of Shoreline, which is more than the combined non-tidal coasts of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico – crazy to think when the state is totally landlocked!
3. Due to the abundance of sightings, Oklahoma hosts a Big Foot Festival in eastern Oklahoma.
4. Oklahoma is the 20th largest state in the United States, with an impressive land area of 69,903 square miles.
5. Oklahoma City is the capital of the state and has the highest population out of any other city in the state too (643,692 approx), which is pretty rare! Something else unique about this fact is that Oklahoma is one of only two states to have the state capital city contain the name of the state.
6. Oklahoma has the largest population of Native Americans than any other U.S. state.
7. In the region of south-central Oklahoma, the beautiful Arbuckle Mountains are actually one of the oldest mountain ranges in the nation, at approximately 1.3 billion years old!
8. Oklahoma is the home to almost 200 man-made lakes, which is by far the most in the United States.
9. Voicemails were invented in Oklahoma, think about that! During the 1970s, a man named Gordon Matthews invented the revolutionary technology, hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
10. Oklahoma’s official state meal was adopted in 1988 and consists of fried okra, squash, cornbread, barbecue pork, biscuits, sausage and gravy, grits, corn, strawberries, chicken-fried steak, pecan pie, and black-eyed peas.
Interesting Facts About Oklahoma and the State Economy
There is plenty to consider when taking a look at the business and economic interesting facts about Oklahoma as there is plenty to dissect. Many have perceived Oklahoma over the years as having a weaker economy and business climate than most. However, this could not be further from the truth.
Over the past several years Oklahoma’s popularity certainly has increased, with business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs all deciding to call Oklahoma their new home and subsequent place of business.
If you would like to learn how to register a business in Oklahoma so you can start your entrepreneurial journey, we have created a checklist walking you through the process.
When you compare the state GDP, median income, and college education system with the population and the state’s cost of living, Oklahoma has an impressive business and economic environment.
Here is our List of Interesting Facts about Oklahoma’s Economy
- Oklahoma’s GDP is around $188 billion!
- Oklahoma has a progressive income tax system, with the highest rate being 5%.
- Over 34% of Oklahoma’s population have been college-educated.
- With an extremely low cost of living comparatively, it comes as no surprise to see Oklahoma ranks #4 for the US News & World Report’s affordability rank.
- Oklahoma releases less than half of the industrial toxins than the national average (US News & World Report).
- Oklahoma’s renewable energy usage is also significantly higher than the national average, meaning that Oklahoma is an environmentally friendly state when compared with most.
- The minimum wage in Oklahoma is $7.25 per hour.
- Aviation and Aerospace are Oklahoma City’s biggest industries, both in employment and economic impact.
- Oklahoma’s median income is $26,472.
- The average house price in Oklahoma is $140,511, however, this number is seasonally adjusted. To remain updated with the latest house price information, take a look at Zillow’s website.
- Small businesses are quickly taking over the country, for the better! Oklahoma’s number of small businesses is rising each year, there are currently over 358,000 small businesses.
- Small businesses account for over 99% of all Oklahoma businesses.
- There are over 710,000 small business employees in Oklahoma.
- The number of small business employees makes up over 52% of all employees in the state.
- Oklahoma is home to over 2,640 small business exporters.
- Oklahoma’s sales tax rate is 4.5%.
- The corporate income tax rate in Oklahoma is a flat 6%.
All of these economic facts about Oklahoma provide many valid reasons why people decide to move to the state for business and work opportunities, and it’s difficult to argue with any of them!
5 Interesting Facts About Oklahoma
Here are the remaining 5 interesting facts about Oklahoma
11. Be careful where you stand, Oklahoma’s state flower is Mistletoe!
12. Oklahoma is an incredibly spacious state, especially when you compare the population density with others. For example, New Jersey has around 1,134 people per square mile, whilst Oklahoma has around 50 people per square mile.
13. The state capital, Oklahoma City is equidistant from New York City and Los Angeles, making Oklahoma the middle man.
14. Annually, in the month of April, the town of Beaver, OK, is host to the World Championship Cow Chip Throw. Which consists of 4 divisions; Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Teams (4 people), and VIP.
15. The maximum speed limit in which you can drive in Oklahoma is 75 mph, however, this limit can only be reached on specific Oklahoma roads, stay safe, and avoid fines!
Thanks for taking a look at our 15+ interesting facts of Oklahoma! If you have some facts and fun information regarding Oklahoma’s past and present that we have not covered, make sure to comment below.
