Oklahoma+State+Facts

Oklahoma was the 46th state in the USA; it became a state on November 16, 1907. State Abbreviation - OK State Capital - Oklahoma City Largest City - Oklahoma City Area - 69,903 square miles [Oklahoma is the 20th biggest state in the USA] Population - 3,450,654 (as of 2000) [Oklahoma is the 27th most populous state in the USA] Name for Residents - Oklahomans Major Industries - farming (wheat, cattle), oil, natural gas Oklahoma State Symbols The State flag features an Osage warrior's shield on a blue background. An olive branch and a calumet, or peace pipe, lay across the shield. Seven eagle feathers decorate the shield. Both of these items are symbols of peace. The design was officially adopted as Oklahoma's flag in 1926. In 1941 the word "Oklahoma" was added beneath the shield. The State Seal features a five-pointed star. In the center of the star is the state motto "Labor Omnia Vincit." Columbia, a symbol of justice, stands between a pioneer and an American Indian clasping hands.
 * The Oklahoma State Flag**[[image:Flag.jpeg]]
 * The Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma**[[image:Seal.jpeg]]

Inside each point is an emblem of one of the Five Civilized Tribes. In the background of the seal are 45 stars, representing the forty five states in the Union. Oklahoma was the forty-sixth state.

Buffalo (Bison bison) The buffalo, or bison, was adopted as the state animal in 1972. Buffalo are large mammals with a brown coat, a large hump, and shaggy hair around the head. Buffalo can reach up to 2,000 pounds and stand almost six feet tall. Buffalo were an important source of food for the American Indians.
 * Animal**

Raccoon (Algonquian arathkone) Adopted in 1989. White-tailed Deer The white-tailed deer has a brown coat in the summer, and turns gray throughout the rest of the year. Males grow large antlers, and can weigh over 200 pounds.
 * Furbearer**
 * Game Animal**

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Muscivora forficate) The scissor-tailed flycatcher was named the state bird in 1951. The scissortail has a mostly gray body with a long forked tail. Wild Turkey
 * Bird**
 * Game Bird**

Photo courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife Department © 2006. Flying Mammal Mexican Free-tailed Bat Collared Lizard, or Mountain Boomer (Crotaphytus collaris) The Collared Lizard is a brightly colored reptile that can grow up to a foot long. The name "collared" comes from the dark bands around the lizards neck. Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) The bullfrog was adopted as the state amphibian in 1997.
 * Reptile**
 * Amphibian**

Sandbass, or White Bass (Morone chrysops) Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) This butterfly is mostly black, with a row of colored spots. Males have yellow markings, while females have yellow and blue accents. Honeybee (Apis mellifera)
 * Fish**
 * Butterfly**
 * Insect**

Strawberry The strawberry was adopted in 1995. For 60 years the town of Stilwell has held an annual strawberry festival to celebrate this fruit and the farmers who grow it.
 * Fruit**

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) The watermelon is Oklahoma's most recent symbol. It was adopted in September of 2007.
 * Vegetable**

Oklahoma Rose
 * Flower**

Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) The Indian Blanket, or Blanket Flower, is a daisy-shaped flower with red petals tipped with yellow.
 * Wild Flower**

Mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum) Mistletoe is Oklahoma's oldest symbol, orginally chosen as the state flower in 1893. It was later changed to the state floral emblem. Redbud (Cercis canadensis) The Redbud is a colorful tree with small pink flowers. It was chosen in 1937.
 * Floral Emblem**
 * Tree**

Indiangrass (Sorhastrum nutans)
 * Grass**

Port Silt Loam (Cumulic haplustolls)
 * Soil**

Rose Rock (Barite rose) These rare rocks, sometimes called "Cherokee Roses" are only found in Oklahoma. Their red coloring and petal-like shape resemble a rose. Saurophaganax Maximus Crystal Hourglass Selenite Crystal
 * Rock**
 * Fossil**

Milk Fried Okra, Squash, Cornbread, Barbeque Pork, Biscuits, Sausage & Gravy, Grits, Corn, Strawberries, Chicken Fried Steak, Black-eyed Peas, and Pecan Pie Gusty, created by Don Woods The Golden Driller The Golden Driller stands 76 feet tall. A plaque at the base of the driller reads "The Golden Driller, a symbol of the International Petroleum Exposition. Dedicated to the men of the petroleum industry who by their vision and daring have created from God's abundance a better life for mankind." Drum Fiddle The Sooner State Labor Omnia Vincit, latin for "Labor Conquers All Things" "I salute the flag of the State of Oklahoma. Its symbols and peace unite all people." Green & White
 * Beverage**
 * Meal**
 * Cartoon Character**
 * Monument**
 * Percussive Instrument**
 * Musical Instrument**
 * Nickname**
 * Motto**
 * Flag Salute**
 * Colors**

Other information the student want to share: Oklahoma is a plains state, mostly flat but with lakes, farms, prairie, and a couple of mountain ranges known as The Wichitas and the Arbuckles. We also have the Alabaster Caverns known for a large bat population.

Our state opened with a Land Run in 1889 whereby pioneers staked claim to land. In 2007 we celebrated our first 100 years as a state.

Today we have several country singers who claim Oklahoma as home including Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, and Woody Guthrie, and Vince Gill. Our sports teams include the Red Hawks baseball, the Thunder basketball, and our state university teams of OU and OSU.

Oklahoma is known for its tornadoes. We are said to be in tornado ally.

Oklahoma has a National Memorial to honor those who died in the Murrah Building Bombing April 19, 1995. This link will give you a virtual tour of that museum. Oklahoma Memorial