Oklahoma Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.state.ok.us/

Income

The population of Oklahoma in 2002 was 3,489,700. Its rank was 28th in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Oklahoma had a per capita personal income of $25,936. This per capita personal income ranked 40th in the United States and was 84 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 1.9 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Oklahoma was $17,376 and ranked 40th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.1 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Oklahoma had a total personal income of $90,507,694. This total personal income ranked 29th in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Oklahoma was $55,958,490 and ranked 29th in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 2.6 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 4.9 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Oklahoma. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 66.1 percent of total personal income (compared with 66.8 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 17.1 percent (compared with 17.6 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 16.8 percent (compared with 15.5 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 1.9 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 0.4 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 8.0 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 4.8 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 4.6 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 5.8 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Oklahoma increased from $64,508,920 in 2001 to $65,843,459 in 2002, an increase of 2.1 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $41,265,657 to the 2002 estimate was 4.8 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Oklahoma covers 181,048 sq km (69,903 sq mi), including 3170 sq km (1224 sq mi) of inland water, and it ranks 20th in size among the 50 states. Along its southern border, Oklahoma measures 507 km (315 mi). The Panhandle, which is 269 km (167 mi) long, brings Oklahoma's northern border to 747 km (464 mi). From north to south the length ranges from 267 to 357 km (166 to 222 mi), except in the Panhandle, which measures only 55 km (34 mi). The mean elevation is about 400 m (1300 ft). Oklahoma has mountainous lands as well as vast areas of level plains. Soils vary from rich black grassland soils to sterile blow sand, and vegetation ranges from sagebrush to grassland to dense forest. The climate varies from semiarid to humid.

Climate - Oklahoma's geographic location and topography have a critical effect on the state's climate. Like many plains states, Oklahoma is known for its changeable and varied weather patterns. During the winter it is common for the south and southeast regions to bask in springlike temperatures when as much as 300 mm (12 in) of snow falls in the Panhandle. About four- fifths of Oklahoma outside of the Panhandle is categorized as humid subtropical, with very hot, long summers and moderate short winters. The western portion and the Panhandle are classified as a steppe, where precipitation, typically 250 to 500 mm (10 to 20 in), is the controlling characteristic. January is usually the coldest month with an average of about 3° C (38° F) and extremes from -32° C (-27° F), the lowest ever recorded, to 33° C (92° F). Summer are long and hot with temperatures in the upper 30°s C (lower 100°s F) common from May until September across the state. The growing season varies from less than 180 days in the western Panhandle to more than 240 days in the southeastern Coastal Plain. Oklahoma occupies a transitional precipitation zone, with a humid east and a semi-arid west. Rainfall averages from more than 1270 mm (50 in) in the Ouachita Mountains to less than 380 mm (15 in) in the far western Panhandle. Spring is generally the wettest, but in the west this advantage is offset by the high evaporation rate. Two defining weather phenomena in Oklahoma are drought and tornadoes. Periodic droughts occur particularly in semiarid areas of western Oklahoma, the most famous of which occurred during the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s. The state averages dozens of tornadoes annually, especially during the months of April and May. These destructive storms are embedded in thunderstorms and move from southwest to northeast across the state.

State Flag

State Flower - Mistletoe

State Capitol - Oklahoma City
Oklahoma is governed under its original constitution, adopted in 1907, and since amended. An amendment to the constitution may be proposed by initiative, the state legislature, or a constitutional convention, which can be called by the legislature if approved by a vote of the people. To become effective, an amendment must be approved by a majority of the people voting on the issue in a general election.

Famous People

Ben Johnson actor, Pawhuska
Bill Moyers journalist, Hugo
Brad Pitt actor Shawnee
Chester Gould cartoonist, Pawnee
Dale Robertson actor, Oklahoma City
Dan Rowan comedian, Beggs
Garth Brooks singer, Tulsa
Gordon Cooper astronaut, Shawnee
Ike,Taylor, Zac Hanson music, Tulsa
Iron Eyes Cody Cherokee actor
James Francis Jim Thorpe athlete, Prague
James Garner actor, Norman
Jeane Kirkpatrick diplomat, Duncan
Jeanne Tripplehorn actress, Tulsa
Jennifer Jones actress, Tulsa
Jeremy Castle singer, Blanchard
John Berryman poet, MacAlester
Johnny Bench baseball player, Oklahoma City
Karl Guthe Jansky engineer, Norman
Maria Tallchief ballerina, Fairfax
Mickey Charles Mantle baseball player, Spavinaw
Oral Roberts evangelist, Ada
Owen K. Garriott astronaut, Enid
Patti Page singer, Clarence
Paul Harvey broadcaster, Tulsa
Ralph Ellison writer, Oklahoma City
Reba McEntire singer, McAlester
Robert Stemmons whistler, Tulsa
Ron Howard actor, director, Duncan
Shannon Lucid astronaut, Bethany
Shannon Miller Olympic gymnast, Edmond
Ted Shackleford actor, Tulsa
Tony Hillerman author, Sacred Heart
Tony Randall actor, Tulsa
Van Heflin actor, Walters
Vince Gill singer, Norman
Will Rogers humorist, Oologah
Woodrow Wilson Woody Guthrie singer, composer, Okemah