Almanacs 47840 PDF

Commerce &
Agriculture
927
Commerce in Oklahoma
According to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission’s “Oklahoma Economic
Report 2012,” Oklahoma’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased in 2011 to $15 billion for
all industry jobs. Except for 2009 (during the height of the recession), the state’s GDP has
steadily increased since 2006. Moreover, Oklahoma’s non-farm employment increased to
just over 1.5 million in 2011. Unemployment rates remain elevated by Oklahoma standards,
but well below national rates. In 2011 Oklahoma’s unemployment rate was 5.5 percent down
from 7.0 percent in 2010. The unemployment rate for the nation in 2011 was 9.0 percent,
down from 9.6 percent in 2010.
National Economic Conditions

According to Oklahoma State University’s Center for Applied Economic Research report
entitled Oklahoma Economy 2012: Looking Backwards and Forwards, the United States real
gross domestic product (GDP) increased three percent in 2010. Long and severe declines
in economic activity have historically characterized the aftermath of financial crises. U.S.
GDP was forecast to finish the year 2011 at a level 1.7 percent higher than in 2010. Real GDP
growth was also forecast to continue at approximately the same growth rate (1.8 percent) in
2012, and is expected to moderately accelerate to 2.4 percent in 2013.
While the losses in real GDP experienced during the economic recession have since been
recouped, U.S. payroll employment lies well below the peak attained prior to the onset of the
recession. U.S. payroll employment was forecast to finish 2011 one percent higher, and only
grow about 1.1 percent in 2012. These rates approximate the growth rate in the labor force and
was anticipated to leave the unemployment rate largely unaffected over this period. Only in
2013 is employment forecast to grow more robustly, at a rate of 1.6 percent. The unemploy-
ment rate is only expected to approach the full employment level by the end of the decade.
The fastest growing spending components in 2011 were nonresidential investment, durable
consumption and exports. Spending in nonresidential investment in part reflected spending
related to energy development. The largest drags on the economy were the spending declines
by local, state, and federal governments. In 2012, strong growth in spending was expected
by the end of the year for residential investment, durable consumption, and exports. Nega-
tive growth in the government sectors was forecast to continue but at more moderate rates.
The energy sector was expected to remain strong, though with growth moderating in 2012.
The price of West Texas Intermediate Oil was forecast to decline slightly by the end of 2012,
but then rise sharply by the end of 2013 with the strengthening of the national economy.
The price of natural gas (Henry Hub) was predicted to increase robustly throughout both
years. Clearly, these energy price forecasts are sensitive to the resulting economic growth in
the country and world, and geopolitical events as evidenced by recent tensions with Iran.
Likewise, increased uncertainty in the energy markets could cause prolonged rises in energy
prices. However, significant downside risks also exist such as the unfolding debt crisis in
Europe and the slowing of growth in China.
Oklahoma’s Economy
Oklahoma’s economy lagged behind the nation in falling into recession. While the national
economic recession began in December 2007, the first negative quarterly growth rate in
Oklahoma did not occur until the fourth quarter of 2008. Two primary factors accounted
928 Oklahoma Almanac
for the disparity. First, the regions that led the nation into recession were those that expe-
rienced the largest housing market bubbles. Second, energy prices initially ran counter to
the national economic cycle.
Per Capita Personal Income

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis the personal per capita income in the United
States in 2011 was $40,584. Oklahoma’s average personal per capita income in 2011 was lower
in comparison to the national rate at $36,421, but on average or slightly below other states
in the region. For example, the average personal per capita income in 2011 in Arkansas was
$33,150; Colorado, $42,802; Kansas, $39,737; New Mexico, $33,837; and Texas, $39,493. Along
with the national and regional trends, Oklahoma’s average wage per job has continued to
increase over the years from $36,288 in 2007 to $37,836 in 2008.
Foreign Investment
According to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce’s Oklahoma is Global: 2011 Oklahoma
Global Recruitment and Trade Report, the total number of Oklahoma exports surpassed
$6.2 billion in 2011. Oklahoma exports grew more than 41 percent between 2009 and 2011.
The four leading exports were aircraft engines and parts, liquid pumps, pork, medical sup-
plies, and machinery parts. The reasons for Oklahoma’s export growth is attributed to the
innovation-driven entrepreneurial character of Oklahoma businesses that secured their
growing competitiveness in global markets; a favorable U.S. dollar exchange rate that made
American exports more competitive even in price sensitive international markets; and an
increasing number of companies that are globalizing their business models, expanding their
customer bases and supply chains to meet the competitive pressures of a shifting economy.
Canada remains the primary recipient of Oklahoma’s exports with more than $1.9 billion or
31.2 percent. The three leading Oklahoma exports to Canada in 2011 were liquid pumps, tires,
and machinery parts. Mexico is second highest importer of Oklahoma products with $523
million or 8.4 percent. Mexico’s leading imports from Oklahoma include pork, motor vehicle
parts, and grain. Japan is the third leading importer of Oklahoma products with $404 million
or 6.5 percent. Japan’s Oklahoma imports include pork, civilian aircraft engines and parts,
and medicaments nesoi. China ranks fourth in imports from Oklahoma with $367 million
or 5.9 percent. China’s leading imports from Oklahoma are soybeans, machinery parts, and
cotton. Singapore rounds up the top five importers from Oklahoma with $169 million or 2.7
percent. Singapore leading purchases from Oklahoma are automatic data process machines,
civilian aircraft engines and parts, and electrical components.
In international markets with export sales of more than $12 million, the most substantial
growth for Oklahoma exports from 2010 to 2011 was seen in Jordan at 1,871 percent; Afghani-
stan, 725 percent; Finland, 262 percent; Kazakhstan, 183 percent; Israel, 124 percent; Saudi
Arabia, 107 percent; Dominican Republic, 104 percent; Columbia, 70 percent; Brazil, 70
percent; and Qatar, 69 percent.
Foreign-controlled companies employ approximately 34,300 workers in Oklahoma. The
leading sources of foreign investments in Oklahoma are France, United Kingdom, Canada,
and Germany. Nearly 45 percent of jobs at international subsidiaries in Oklahoma are in the
manufacturing industry, accounting for 15,100 jobs. In 2011, twelve internationally owned
companies publicly announced new and expanding investments in Oklahoma, and they
are expected to add more than 1,200 jobs.
Commerce and Agriculture 929
Forecast
According to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission’s Oklahoma Economic Report
2012, the industry employment forecast for the state predicts that total payroll employment
will grow by 14.1 percent by 2020, adding 234,550 jobs to the state’s economy. In the goods-
producing industries, employment growth in natural resources and mining is expected to
lead, adding 13,820 jobs; manufacturing follows closely adding 11,810; and construction is
expected to add 8,250 jobs. In the services-producing industries, employment in education
and health services is projected to provide the largest gains adding 82,580, while professional
and business services employment is expected to add 31,700 positions. The broad trade,
transportation, and utilities sector is forecast to add 26,960 jobs. Accommodation and food
services employment is projected to increase by 23,670; the financial activities “supersector”
is forecast to add 8,040 jobs; and other services (except government) is expected to add 3,410
employees. Government employment is forecast to increase also, adding 17,380 by 2020. The
greatest percentage of new government positions will be at the local level adding 13,960 jobs.
Employment in the occupational areas is also expected to increase by 2020, although this
group lost employment between 2008 and 2010. Office and administrative support occupations
are expected to see the largest gain in employment adding 26,250 jobs. Food preparation and
serving related positions are projected to add 23,730, followed by healthcare practitioners
and technical occupations which should add 23,180 jobs. A few occupational groups are
forecast to have lower employment levels in 2020. For example, production occupations are
forecast to have an employment level of 123,710 by 2020 compared to the 129,900 figure in
2008. Farming, fishing, and forestry employment is projected to be 23,162, or 4,640 less than
2008. Transportation and material moving occupations is expected to have an employment
level of 113,168; in 2020, or 2,650 fewer jobs than the 2008 level of 115,814. Finally, computer
and mathematical occupations are expected to have an employment level of 27,651 by 2020,
slightly lower than the 2008 level of 28,514 jobs.
Selected Oklahoma Indicators

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Real Gross State Product ($Mil) 129,509 133,266 147,045 147,587 134,146
Real Personal Income ($Mil) 124,762 134,505 132,132 136,627 142,861
Wage and Salary Income ($Mil) 59,790 63,422 61,318 62,735 66,259
Ratio OK/US
90.6 91.9 89.7 89.7 90.6
Per Cap Income (%)
Unemployment Rate (%) 4.3 4.0 6.6 7.0 5.9
Taxes on Production and
9,199 9,494 8,745 9,255 N/A
Imports ($Mil)
Personal Current Taxes ($Mil) 13,620 14,027 10,439 10,584 12,710
Personal Property Taxes
36,339 29,697 29,910 29,447 29,653
($Thousands)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

Oklahoma Gross State Product by Industrial Sector
Actual (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010) in Millions
2002
Major Industry 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Actual ($)
Agriculture 1,785 1,777 2,294 2,154 2,035 2,149 2,281 1,819 2,287
Mining 6,028 9,161 11,598 16,301 20,882 19,536 20,255 22,939 13,705
Construction 3,909 4,051 4,222 4,772 5,162 4,450 5,232 4,908 5,235
Manufacturing-
6,760 6,802 7,373 7,964 9,090 9,554 10,008 9,211 8,840
Durable
Manufacturing-
4,051 4,575 4,332 4,661 4,909 5,954 8,304 8,366 7,984
Nondurable
Wholesale and Retail
12,760 12,960 13,643 14,370 15,397 15,940 16,428 16,050 16,740
Trade
Finance, Insurance,
14,180 14,931 15,819 16,442 18,327 17,743 17,743 21,224 21,578
and Real Estate
Transportation and
5,804 6,066 6,417 6,668 7,238 8,415 8,764 8,865 8,414
Utilities
Services 20,926 22,208 23,506 24,775 26,950 29,068 21,314 21,284 28,734
Government 16,678 17,296 18,284 19,392 20,551 21,811 24,902 26,403 26,098
Source: 2011 U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis

Oklahoma Non-Farm Wage and Salary Disbursements
(In millions of dollars)
Major Industry 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Total 44,399 45,050 46,086 48,277 50,937 56,196 59,465 63,042 61,028 62,469 66,259
Mining 1,615 1,559 1,745 1,953 2,351 3,643 3,680 4,483 3,567 3,665 4,842
Construction 2,129 2,049 2,068 2,064 2,271 2,581 2,752 3.131 2,895 2,941 3,045
Manufacturing— 4,076 3,789 3,742 3,844 3,994 4,440 4,666 4,895 4,151 4,054 4,527
Durable
Manufacturing— 1,864 1,822 1,837 1,853 1,909 1,961 1,951 1,946 1,878 1,926 2,013
Nondurable
Wholesale and 5,687 5,799 5,776 5,978 6,290 6,774 7,078 7,375 7,099 7,138 7,560
Retail Trade
Finance, Insurance, 2,637 2,713 2,882 3,066 2,504 3,448 3,625 3,706 3,622 3,297 3,909
and Real Estate
Transportation and 2,341 2,264 2,276 2,397 2,672 2,709 3,022 3,065 3,033 3,032 3,220
Utilities
Services 11,067 11,596 11,992 12,533 13,177 14,206 15,281 16,163 16,382 15,575 16,705
Government— 9,867 10,432 10,714 11,166 11,774 12,507 13,326 13,968 14,572 14,993 14,980
All Levels
Source: 2010 U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
932
Fortune 500 Companies

Company Name Business Type Location # Employees
Walmart Stores Inc. Retail Statewide 32,000
AMR Retail Tulsa 7,000
Community Health Health Statewide 7,000
Systems
Chesapeake Energy Petroleum Statewide 4,500
ConocoPhillips Petroleum Bartlesville/Ponca City 4,000
Lowe’s Specialty Retailers Statewide 4,000
Seaboard Food Production Statewide 3,400
HCA Holdings Health Oklahoma City/ 3,000
Edmond
Halliburton Oil/Gas Equipment Statewide 3,000
Oneok Pipelines Statewide 3,000
Dollar General Retail Statewide/Tulsa 3,000
AT&T Telecommunications Statewide 2,500
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Motor Vehicle Parts Statewide/Lawton 2,500
Walgreen Food/Drug Retail Statewide 2,000
Target Retail Statewide 2,000
United Parcel Service Mail/Package Delivery Statewide 2,000
McDonald’s Food Services Statewide 2,000
Baker Hughes Oil/Gas Equipment Statewide 2,000
Yum Brands Food Services Statewide 2,000
Marriott International Hotels/Casinos/Resorts Statewide 2,000
Devon Energy Mining/Crude Oil Production Statewide 2,000
Darden Restaurants Food Services Statewide 2,000
Health Management Oklahoma City/Midwest City/ Health Care/Facilities 2,000
Associates Durant/Choctaw
Home Depot Specialty Retailers Statewide 1,500
Best Buy Specialty Retailers Statewide 1,500
Coca-Cola Beverages Oklahoma City 1,500
Tyson Foods Food Production Statewide/Broken Bow 1,500
J.C. Penney Retail Statewide 1,500
Dillard’s Retail Statewide 1,500
Williams Energy Statewide 1,400
O’Reilly Automotive Specialty Retailers Statewide 1,400
Dell Computers/Office Equipment Oklahoma City 1,250
State Farm Insurance Insurance Statewide/Tulsa 1,200
Universal Health Services Health Care/Facilities Statewide 1,200

Kohl’s Retail Statewide
Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Statewide 1,000
International Business Information Technology Tulsa 1,000
Machines Services
Sears Holding Retail Statewide 1,000
Sprint Nextel Telecommunications Statewide 1,000
Directv Telecommunications Statewide 1,000
American Electric Power Energy Statewide 1,000
National Oilwell Varco Oil/Gas Equipment, Services Statewide 1,000
GAP Specialty Retailers Statewide 1,000
Dish Network Telecommunications Statewide 1,000
Hertz Global Holdings Automotive Retail Services Statewide 1,000
Advance Auto Parts Specialty Retailers Statewide 1,000
Boeing Aerospace/Defense Altus/Oklahoma City/ 900
Tulsa
Johnson Controls Motor Vehicle Parts Statewide 900
Dollar Tree Specialty Retailers Statewide 900
Northrop Grumman Aerospace/Defense Lawton/Oklahoma 850
City/Midwest City
Southwest Airlines Airlines Oklahoma City/Tulsa 800
Navistar International Motor Vehicles/Parts Tulsa 800
Starbucks Food Services Statewide 800
Quest Dianostics Health Care/Pharmacy Statewide 800
Telephone & Data Telecommunications Statewide 800
Systems
Autozone Specialty Retailers Statewide 775
Hewlett-Packard Computers/Office Equipment Tulsa 750
Macy’s Retail Oklahoma City/Tulsa 750
Ross Stores Specialty Retailers Statewide 750
Family Dollar Stores Retail Statewide 750
Big Lots Specialty Retailers Statewide/Durant 750
Hartford Financial Insurance Oklahoma City/Tulsa 600
Whirlpool Electronics/Electrical Tulsa 600
Dover Industrial Machinery Statewide 600
Spectra Energy Pipelines Oklahoma City 600
Fidelity National Financial Data Oklahoma City 525
Gamestop Specialty Retailers Statewide 520
Exxon Mobil Petroleum Shawnee 500
Bank of America Commercial Banks Statewide 500
Verizon Communications Telecommunications Tulsa 500

J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Banks Statewide 500
CVS Caremark Food/Drug Stores Statewide 500
Unitedhealth Group Health Care/Insurance Oklahoma City 500
Pepsico Food Consumer Products Statewide 500
International Paper Forest/Paper Products Fletcher/Oklahoma 500
City/Tulsa/Valliant
Hollyfrontier Petroleum Tulsa 500
Genuine Parts Wholesalers Statewide 500
Limited Brands Specialty Retailers Statewide 500
Avis Budget Group Automotive Retailers Statewide 500
Toys “R” Us Specialty Retailers Norman/Oklahoma 475
City/Tulsa
Kelly Services Temporary Help Oklahoma City/Tulsa 475
SAIC Information Technology Midwest City/ 475
Norman/Oklahoma
City/Tulsa
Petsmart Specialty Retailers Statewide 450
Starwood Hotels/Resorts Hotels/Casinos/Resorts Midwest City/ 450
Oklahoma City/Tulsa
Sara Lee Food Consumer Products Broken Bow/Enid/ 425
Tulsa
Metlife Insurance Tulsa 400
Honeywell International Aerospace/Defense Oklahoma City/Tulsa 400
Goldman Sachs Group Commercial Banks Statewide 400
Staples Specialty Retailers Statewide 400
Kimberly-Clark Household/Personal Products Jenks 400
Paccar Motor Vehicle/Parts Ardmore/Broken 400
Arrow/Oklahoma City/
Tulsa
L–3 Communications Aerospace/Defense Statewide 400
Eaton Industrial Machinery Edmond/Oklahoma 350
City/Shawnee/Tulsa
VF Apparel Oklahoma City/ 350
Seminole
Sherwin-Williams Chemicals Statewide/ 350
Weatherford
Sonic Automotive Automotive Retail/Services Statewide 350
TJX Specialty Retailers Statewide 325
Office Depot Specialty Retailers Statewide 320
Sysco Wholesalers/Food/Grocery Statewide 300
Murphy Oil Petroleum Refining Statewide 300
Raytheon Aerospace/Defense Lawton/McAlester 300

Terex Construction/Farm Oklahoma City/Tulsa 300
Equipment
Avaya Network/Communications Lawton/Oklahoma 300
City
United Stationers Wholesalers/Electronics/ Muskogee/Oklahoma 300
Office Equipment City/Tulsa
CC Media Holdings Entertainment Oklahoma City/Tulsa 275
Valero Energy Petroleum Refining Statewide 250
URS Engineering/Construction Oklahoma City/Tulsa 250
Travelcenters of America Specialty Retailers Oklahoma City/Sayre 250
Officemax Specialty Retailers Norman 250
Barnes & Noble Specialty Retailers Statewide 250
Dick’s Sporting Goods Specialty Retailers Statewide 250
Apache Mining/Crude Oil Production Chickasha/Elk City/ 230
Tulsa/Woodward
Waste Management Waste Management Oklahoma City/ 230
Muskogee
Manpower Temporary Help Lawton/Oklahoma 225
City/Tulsa
McKesson Wholesalers/Health Care Lawton/Oklahoma 200
City/Tulsa
Wells Fargo Commercial Banks Statewide 200
Sunoco Petroleum Statewide 200
Enterprise Products Pipelines Cushing/Healdton/ 200
Oklahoma City
Morgan Stanley Commercial Banks Statewide 200
Plains All American Pipelines Statewide 200
Pipeline
Xerox Computers/Office Equipment Statewide 200
Illinois Tool Works Industrial Machinery Oklahoma City/Tulsa 200
Cummins Construction/Farm Machinery Duncan/Norman/ 200
Oklahoma City/Tulsa
Bed Bath & Beyond Specialty Retailers Edmond/Norman/ 200
Oklahoma City/Tulsa
Kindred Healthcare Health Care/Medical Facilities Statewide 200
Con-Way Transportation/Logistics Oklahoma City/ 200
Sapulpa
YRC Worldwide Trucking/Truck Leasing Oklahoma City/Tulsa 200
C.H. Robinson Worldwide Transportation/Logistics Oklahoma City 175
Carmax Automotive Retailers/Services Oklahoma City/Tulsa 175
Omnicare Health Care/Pharmacy Oklahoma City/Tulsa 175
SPX Industrial Machinery Norman/Tulsa 175

Marathon Petroleum Petroleum Refining Statewide 150
Lockheed Martin Aerospace/Defense Lawton/Oklahoma 150
City
Allstate Insurance Statewide 150
Aramark Diversified Outsourcing Oklahoma City/ 150
Services Shawnee/Tulsa
Dean Foods Food Consumer Products Oklahoma City/Tulsa 150
Whole Foods Market Food/Drug Stores Oklahoma City/Tulsa 150
Republic Services Waste Management Statewide 150
Weyerhaeuser Forest/Paper Products Broken Bow/Idabel/ 150
Valliant
Harley-Davidson Miscellaneous Statewide 150
Susser Holdings Specialty Retailers Statewide 150
Marathon Oil Mining/Crude Oil Production Statewide 140
Loews Insurance Oklahoma City 130
CF Industries Holdings Chemical Claremore/Catoosa/ 120
Woodward
Foot Locker Specialty Retailers Statewide 120
Chevron Corporation Petroleum Refining Bartlesville/Pryor 100
Cardinal health Wholesalers/Health Care Mannford 100
Google Internet Services/Retail Pryor 100
Supervalu Food/Drug Stores Statewide 100
United States Steel Metals Catoosa/Tulsa 100
Union Pacific Railroads Statewide 100
AES Utilities Panama 100
Computers Sciences Information Technology Enid 100
Progressive Insurance Stillwater/Tulsa 100
Penske Automotive Group Automotive Retail/Services Oklahoma City/Tulsa 100
Enbridge Energy Partners Pipelines Statewide 100
Energy Transfer Equity Pipelines Statewide 100
W.W. Grainger Wholesalers/Diversified Oklahoma City/Tulsa 100
Cameron International Oil/Gas Equipment Services Statewide 100
Ryder Sysem Trucking/Truck Leasing Statewide 100
MRC Global Oil/Gas Equipment Services Statewide 100
937
Mining/Petroleum Overview
Non-fuel Mineral Production, 2008
Mineral Quantity (in metric tons) Value (in thousands)
Cement w w
Common Clay 756,000 $3,900
Gypsum 1,370,000 $12,800
Iodine w w
Sand & Gravel 16,640,000 $157,100
Stone 45,817,000 $341,000
Tripoli 64,500 $1,800
w = data withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data
Note: Total value in table above does not equal the total value of nonfuel mineral production in
Oklahoma for 2008. The difference is in mineral values not released for public distribution.
The United States Geological Survey estimated the value of nonfuel mineral production
in Oklahoma was $810 million in 2008. That represents a 9 percent increase from the final
figures for 2007. Crushed stone lead the state in the value of nonfuel mineral production at
$341 million. Based on value, crushed stone was followed by portland cement, construc-
tion sand and gravel, industrial sand and gravel, iodine, and Grade A helium (descending
order of value). About 63 percent of the total value was due to the combined values of three
of Oklahoma’s four major construction materials: crushed stone, construction sand and
gravel, and gypsum (descending order of value). All nonfuel minerals increased in value
in 2008 except for common clay, crude gypsum, construction sand and gravel, and dimen-
sion stone. Despite the increase of its mineral value, Oklahoma production of the common
clays and construction sand and gravel decreased slightly, but crude gypsum decreased by
50 percent and dimension stone production decreased by 25 percent. Oklahoma led the
United States in the production of tripoli; ranks fourth in industrial sand and gravel; remains
fourth in feldspar production; ranks third of three states producing helium, and is the only
state producing iodine. Oklahoma ranks eight (from seventh in 2007) in industrial common
clays production, and eleventh (from tenth in 2007) in the production of masonry cement.
Oklahoma’s enormous mineral reserve can be divided into three types of mineral products:
mineral fuels, metals, and non-metals. Mineral fuels are materials that can be burned, such
as petroleum (crude oil and natural gas), and coal. These account for more than 90 percent
of Oklahoma’s annual mineral output. Metals are substances that can be melted and molded
into any shape desired and are usually hard and heat resistant. There presently are no metals
mined in Oklahoma. Zinc and lead are the principal metals previously mined in Oklahoma,
but copper, manganese, iron, and uranium also were produced. A non-metal (industrial
mineral) is any rock, mineral or other select naturally occurring or synthetic material of
economic value often used in combination with other materials, such as sand and crushed
stone used in concrete. The principal industrial minerals produced in Oklahoma include
crushed stone, Portland cement, construction sand and gravel, industrial sand and gravel,
gypsum, and iodine. Other Oklahoma non-metals include tripoli, feldspar, helium, common
clay, dimension stone, salt, volcanic ash, and lime.
Value of Petroleum and Natural Gas Production,

2000–2011
The Global Scene
Crude oil is an important commodity in the global market. Prices fluctuate depending
on supply and demand conditions in the world. Since oil is such an important part of the
economy, it can also help determine the direction of inflation. In the United States, con-
sumer prices have moderated whenever oil prices have fallen, but have accelerated when oil
prices have risen. Oklahoma produces a substantial amount of oil, with annual production
typically accounting for more than 3 percent of total U.S. production in recent years. Crude
oil wells and gathering pipeline systems are concentrated in central Oklahoma. Two of the
100 largest oil fields in the U.S. are found in Oklahoma.
Unlike oil, natural gas demand in the United States is met exclusively from domestic and
Canadian production. The lack of infrastructure necessary to import large quantities of
liquefied natural gas (LNG) leaves the North American gas market largely independent of
the global market. Likewise with the oil market, natural gas product prices are determined
by supply and demand. Oklahoma is one of the top natural gas producers in the U.S. with
production typically accounting for almost one-tenth of the U.S. total. More than a dozen of
the 100 largest natural gas fields in the country are found in Oklahoma and proven reserves
of conventional natural gas have been increasing in recent years.
Oklahoma Oil and Gas

The long-term declines in Oklahoma oil and natural gas production have been reversed in
the last several years due to the impact of horizontal drilling and completion technology.
Although they still account for only slightly more than a third of all drilling, the effect of
this technology has been enormous. It has helped increase overall drilling activity and now
accounts for almost all significant exploratory drilling in Oklahoma. In fact, state operators
are now almost entirely occupied with identifying areas and reservoirs where this technology
Oklahoma Activity Rotary Rigs

Figure 1
Source: Baker Hughes
Petroleum and gas information provided by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

Oklahoma Annual Crude Oil Production

(including Condensate)
Figure 2
Source: Oklahoma Tax Commission
will work. The Baker Hughes rig count is an important indicator for the energy industry and
Oklahoma. When drilling rigs are active they consume products and services produced by the
oil service industry. The active rig count acts as a leading indicator of demand for products
used in drilling, completing, producing, and processing hydrocarbons. Oklahoma’s active
rotary rigs has increased in 2011 to 175, up from 130 in early 2010. (Figure 1)
Oklahoma oil production, which had been in decline since 1984, has been on a general rise
since 2006. In 2011 production rose to about 80 million barrels (Figure 2). There are many
horizontal drilling plays that contributed to this rise in the face of continued declines in
conventional production. The most important are the Cleveland, Granite Wash, Hunton,
and Mississippian reservoirs. Oklahoma’s crude oil price has steadily climbed from 2001 to
2008, where it peaked at $96.26 per barrel. In 2009 the price per barrel dropped to $56.61,
but rebounded to $91.01 per barrel in 2011 (Figure 3).
Natural gas is by far the most important resource in Oklahoma, because it alone maintains a
positive state energy balance. Most natural gas in Oklahoma is consumed by the electricity
generation and industrial sectors. About three-fifths of Oklahoma households use natural
Oklahoma Average Annual Crude Oil Price

Figure 3

Oklahoma Annual Natural Gas Production

Million Cubic Feet (MCF) per Day
Figure 4
gas as their primary energy source for home heating. Nevertheless, only about one-third of
Oklahoma’s natural gas output is consumed within the state. The remaining supply is sent
via pipeline to neighboring states, the majority to Kansas.
Most new gas production is a result of horizontal drilling, which has continued at high levels
despite low prices. This is occurring because operators must drill what are now marginally
economic wells in order to hold acreage that was expensive to acquire. Although undevel-
oped reserve bookings are at record levels, this has put more natural gas into a market that is
already glutted. Faced with decade-low gas prices that have made some drilling operations
unprofitable, domestic producers have drastically cut drilling and production of the fuel
in the U.S. Consequently, natural gas drilling has also fallen in recent years. In 2011 state
production fell to 4.2 billion cubic feet per day, down from 5.0 billion cubic feet per day in
2008.(Figure 4). Although production has tapered off, the price for natural gas has risen over
the past two years. In 2011 natural gas was $5.43 per million cubic feet, up from $3.52 per
million cubic feet in 2009, and $4.62 per million cubic feet in 2010. However, it is still down
from its high of $7.31 per million cubic feet in 2008 (Figure 5).
Oklahoma Average Wellhead Annual Natural Gas

Figure 5

941
Agriculture Overview
Environmental conditions such as climate and soil type have a great influence on
agriculture practices in the state. Oklahoma lies between the long growing season
of the South and the shorter growing season of the North. The average length of this
season, also called the freeze-free period, ranges from 168 days in the northwestern
Panhandle to about 240 days along the Red River in south central and southern
sections of the state.
In most circumstances, individual farming areas include more than one type of crop
since it is more economical to grow a variety of crops within one area; however,
wheat is planted on more acres than any other crop in Oklahoma. Wheat produc-
tion is centered primarily in the northwestern and north central areas of the state.
Oklahoma normally ranks second in winter wheat production, surpassed only by
Kansas.
The Panhandle area of Oklahoma is a mixed area of rangeland and valuable irrigated
cropland. Wheat, corn, and grain sorghum are grown to help support a large cattle
feeding industry and a recent expansion in hog production.
Cotton and grain production is extensive in the southwestern corner of the state.
The warm climate in this area is extremely hospitable to cotton production and
provides an annual growing season in excess of 210 days. The area receives between
twenty-two and thirty inches of rainfall annually.
A wide variety of crops are grown in the mixed-farming region in the eastern part of
the state. While soybeans play an important role on farms within this zone, farmers
supplement their income by growing crops such as corn, peanuts, strawberries,
peaches, and assorted vegetables. Contract broiler operations, egg laying flocks,
and hog production facilities are found in this area of the state, which also has a
large number of cattle ranches and a significant number of dairy farms.
The range-grazing lands of Oklahoma are spread across the state. The six regions
shown on the map generally have rich soils and plentiful supplies of water to sup-
port grasses. Ranches located in areas where soils are not as rich make up for the
deficit by increasing the number of grazing acres per animal.
The years between 1879 and 1900 saw a rapid increase in farm production because
of an expansion in the labor force and more efficient technology in the area of horse
drawn plows, cultivators, and grain harvesters. During this period, the total acreage
of cropland in the United States grew rapidly. This expansion period ended by 1920.
Between 1935 and 1960, agricultural output per man hour increased by more than
Information for Agriculture Overview was provided by the Agricultural Statistics Division, Oklahoma
Department of Agriculture, and in particular, the Oklahoma Agricultural Statistics 2010 Report. The U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Trade and Agriculture: What’s at Stake for Oklahoma report for 2010 served as
the source of information on Oklahoma’s agricultural exports. Additional information (including maps)
was found in the Atlas of Oklahoma, edited by Tom Wikle, published by Oklahoma State University, 1991.
four times, while crop production per acre nearly doubled. It was also during this
time that many subsistence farms were eliminated by larger, more specialized
farms. Although the number of farms in the U.S. in the mid–1930s was almost seven
million, by the mid 1970s, that number had dropped to about two million.
According to the 2011 Oklahoma Agricultural Statistics Report, in 2010 Oklahoma
had a total of 86,500 farms. The total land area in farms equaled 35,200,000 acres.
The average size farm was 407 acres.
As of January 1, 2011, Oklahoma’s farms and ranches held 5,100,000 cattle and calves,
down 400,000 from 2010. The cow inventory consisted of 2,036,000 beef cows and
56,000 milk cows. The annual average milk production per cow increased to 17,125
lbs, an increase of 142 lbs. per cow. The total milk production in 2010 was 959 mil-
lions lbs. As of December 1, 2010, Oklahoma held 2,340,000 hogs, 7,287,000 pigs, and
60,000 sheep and 48,000 lambs. Total chickens (excluding broilers) in Oklahoma
on December 1, 2010, totaled 4.56 million. Hens and pullets of laying age, at 3.32
million, were up 2 percent from 2009.
Cash receipts for all Oklahoma commodities sold in 2010 totaled 6.1 billion, up 26
percent from 2009. Receipts from livestock and related products, which accounted
for 73 percent of the total cash receipts, totaled $4.7 billion, a 30 percent increase
from 2009. Receipts for cattle and calves sold were up 30 percent to $3 billion, as
were broiler receipts, at $724 million. The third largest livestock item, based on cash
receipts, was hogs at $696 million, up 37 percent from 2009. Dairy product receipts
increased 18 percent from 2009 sales, at $171 million.
Crop sales for 2010, at $1.4 billion, were up 14 percent from 2009. Food grain sales,
which include wheat and rye, totaled $541 million, up 9 percent from 2009. Feed
crop sales, comprised of corn, sorghum, oats, and hay, at $298 million, were up 15
Agricultural Regions
0 50 miles
percent from 2009. Oilseed cash receipts increased 24 percent to $152 million for
peanuts, soybeans, canola, and sunflowers. Cotton lint and cottonseed, at $146
million, were up a dramatic 53 percent from 2009.
Beef cattle prices for 2010 averaged $96.80 per hundred weight, up $10.10 from
2009; steer and heifer prices averaged $101.00 per hundredweight, up $10.80; beef
cow prices averaged $59.60 per hundredweight, up $13.20, and calf prices were
$120.00 per hundredweight, up $15.00 from 2009. Milk cows averaged $1,200 per
head, down $150.00 from 2009. Sheep prices averaged $46.00 per hundredweight,
up $15.00. Lamb prices averaged $120.00 per hundredweight, a significant increase
of $23 from the previous year. Wool prices averaged 60 cents a pound in 2010, up
20 cents from 2009. All hog prices were $48.10 per hundredweight, up $13.30 from
2009. Broiler prices per pound were up 5 percent in 2010 to 48 cents. Egg prices
were $1.32 per dozen, up 22 cents.
The 2010 Oklahoma winter wheat market year average price was $5.10 per bushel,
a increase of 4 percent from 2009. The average sorghum price was $9.65 per hun-
dredweight, an increase of almost $4.00 from the previous year. Corn, at $4.80,
increased 29 percent from 2009. The all hay average price was $104.00 per ton.
Soybeans were $11.10 per bushel for 2010, up $1.70 cents per bushel from the year
before. Oat prices were $3.20 per bushel, up $0.30 per bushel, and the peanut aver-
age price was $0.251 per pound, up $0.04 per pound. The market year average price
for rye, at $6.10 per bushel, was down $2.10. Cotton lint was up $0.26 per pound to
$0.90 per pound, and cottonseed increased $9 per ton to $141.00.
Oklahoma produces agricultural products that are exported worldwide. In 2010, the
state’s farm cash receipts totaled $5.6 billion, and exports were an estimated $1.1
billion. Agriculture exports help boost farm prices and income, while supporting
jobs both on the farm and off the farm in food processing, storage, and transporta-
tion. Exports are increasingly important to Oklahoma’s agricultural and statewide
economy. Measured as exports divided by farm cash receipts, the state’s reliance
on agricultural exports was 21 percent in 2010.
Oklahoma’s top five agricultural exports in 2010 were (1) wheat and products at
$363 million; (2) live animals and red meat at $259 million; (3) feeds and fodders
at $118 million; (4) cotton and linters at $106 million; and (5) poultry and products
at $101 million.
World demand for these products is increasing, but so is competition among
suppliers. If Oklahoma’s farmers, ranchers, and food processors are to compete
successfully for the export opportunities of the twenty-first century, they need fair
trade and more open access to growing global markets.
944
2010 Crop Weather Review

January—A cold snap at the end of the first week of January brought frigid tempera-
tures as low as -6 degrees with wind chills into the -20s. By the third week a warm
front led to highs in the 60s and 70s. These extreme temperatures were followed
by a severe winter storm at the end of the month. Freezing rain, sleet and snow led
to dangerous conditions and power outages across the state. Southwest and south
central Oklahoma received heavy ice accumulations while the northwest received
up to 10 inches of snow.
February—February was a wet and cold month, with frequent rains, along with
some fog, freezing drizzle and snow. The average temperature for the state was more
than six degrees below normal and the cold weather affected wheat development.
Statewide precipitation for the month averaged 2.61 inches, 0.85 above normal.
Only the North Central district was below normal precipitation for the month.
Soil moisture conditions improved over the month due to the ample precipitation.
March—Precipitation totals were below normal for the month of March, but sev-
eral precipitation events combined with a wet February to keep producers out of
the fields, slowing seedbed preparations. A substantial snowfall of three to seven
inches fell across northern Oklahoma the third week of March, with Pryor report-
ing 11 inches. The first tornado of the year was an EF–2 that damaged homes and
businesses in Roger Mills County on the 8th of the month. The month ended with
summer-like temperatures, including a high of 97 degrees
April—April weather was fairly mild with enough showers to keep producers happy
while allowing spring planting to begin. Overall, precipitation was below normal in
the eastern half and slightly above normal in the western half. It was a warm April
with the exception of frost early in the month in the northwest.
May—Tornado season was unleashed full force in May with as many as sixty tor-
nadoes reported during several severe storms throughout the month. The first and
most dangerous storm produced more than thirty tornadoes, including an EF–4,
along with softball-sized hail, and resulted in two deaths. Another storm a week
later produced an intense hailstorm resulting in untold property damage. The
severe weather continued unabated from the 10th through the end of the month.
The numerous hail events resulted in crop damage to some Oklahoma wheat.
Despite the numerous storms, the month still ended below normal precipitation.
June—The month felt more like July with the average temperature 4 degrees above
normal, making it the seventh warmest June on record. A flash flood event midway
through the month broke rainfall records at two Mesonet stations in Oklahoma
City. Over eleven inches fell in one day in north Oklahoma City and flash floods in
Lawton resulted in one death. Despite these excessive rains, precipitation for the
month was below average, more so in the western and southern parts of the state.
July—Heavy rains the first half of July were followed by extreme heat and humidity.
Excessive heat warnings were issued and livestock health was affected. Though the
high for the month was 105 degrees, the heat index reached as high as 116 due to
humidity. Overall, July was the sixteenth wettest such month since 1895, though
pockets of the state were below normal. The heat began to affect crop and soil
moisture conditions by the end of the month.
August—August lived up to its name with hot and dry conditions. Concerns about
row crops continued as the southern part of the state was considered to be in a
mild drought. The East Central and Southeast districts were the driest. Pasture
and grasses fared poorly as the August heat combined with grasshopper problems.
The average statewide temperature was three degrees above normal, making it the
eighteenth warmest August since 1895.
September—Warmer than average temperatures were experienced during
September, particularly in the western half of the state. Tropical storm Hermine
brought above average rainfall to the eastern half of the state, especially the East
Central district where the three-day total September 7–9 in Stigler was 11.2 inches.
The storm system produced three tornados but it was the flash floods in the area
that resulted in one death. Small grain planting started out behind normal due to
dry fields in the west, but significant rains towards the end of the month allowed
producers to make progress.
October—Like September, October was a warmer than average month and started
off dry, dragging out the fall planting in some areas. However, the warm and dry
conditions were good for the harvest, which was ahead of normal throughout the
month for all row crops. Despite a significant rain storm later in the month, October
ended 1.6 inches below normal as the thirtieth driest such month on record, with
the northeast the most affected area.
November—November continued to be drier than normal, but enough moisture
was received throughout the month to improve crop conditions and grazing pros-
pects for the winter. Fall harvest finished ahead of normal due to the dry weather.
The month was 1.5 degrees above normal on average. Record high temperatures of
79 and 85 degrees were reported the 22nd through on the 24th in multiple locations.
However, a cold front came through in time for a chilly Thanksgiving holiday with
lows of eight degrees in the Panhandle.
December—The beginnings of a drought were seen in December as the month
finished over an inch below normal precipitation. For the Southwest district, it
was the eighth driest December on record. The effects were seen in soil moisture
conditions, low pond levels and concerns about small grain grazing potential. The
southeastern quarter of the state was the exception, receiving multiple beneficial
rains. Temperatures rose into the 80s twice during the month and a new daily
record high of 77 degrees for Oklahoma City was recorded on December 20. An
EF–3 tornado touched down in Adair County on New Year’s Eve before it traveled
into Arkansas killing three people.
946
Agricultural and Livestock Production

Highlights of Oklahoma Agriculture
Source: 2007 Census of Agriculture, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture
This Census is published every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
1987 1997 2007

Number of Farms 70,228 74,214 86,565
Land in Farms (acres) 31,541,977 33,218,677 35,087,269
Average Size of Farm (acres) 449 448 405
Value of Land and Buildings (based on sample of farms)

Average per farm ($) $215,024 $271,996 468,809
Average per acre ($) 480 610 1,157
Estimated Market Value of All Machinery and Equipment

(based on sample of farms)
Average per farm ($) $29,465 $36,936 $63,642
Farms by Size
1 to 9 acres 3,666 2,505 3,802
10 to 49 acres 10,134 12,673 18,700
50 to 179 acres 22,331 24,681 29,719
180 to 499 acres 18,006 18,288 19,140
500 to 999 acres 8,405 8,155 7,484
1,000 acres or more 7,686 7,912 7,720
Total Cropland
Farms 55,783 58,741 59,040
Acres 14,443,459 14,843,823 13,007,625
Harvested Cropland
Farms 43,522 44,786 46,224
Acres 7,319,193 8,462,079 7,650,080
Irrigated Land
Farms 3,029 2,710 3,026
Acres 478,737 506,459 534,768
1987 1997 2007

Market Value of Agricultural
Products Sold ($) $2,714,892 $4,146,351 $5,806,061
Average per farm ($) 38,658 55,870 67,072
Crops, including nursery
and greenhouse crops ($) 610,050 907,865 1,187,625
Livestock, poultry
and their products ($) 2,104,842 3,238,485 4,618,436
Farms by Value of Sales

Less than $2,500 $18,501 $20,476 $34,669
$2,500 to $4,999 11,073 11,713 9,059
$5,000 to $9,999 11,999 12,341 10,731
$10,000 to $24,999 12,805 12,869 13,494
$25,000 to $49,999 6,300 6,234 6,886
$50,000 to $99,999 4,479 4,285 4,563
$100,000 or more 5,071 5,296 7,163
Total Farm Production 2,359,468 3,576,456 5,223,365

Expenses ($)
Average per farm ($) 33,594 48,186 60,340
Net Cash Return from Agricultural Sales for the Farm Unit
# of farms w/$1000 or more sales 70,235 74,222 86,565
Average per Farm $4,214 $6,145 $11,885
Livestock and Poultry

Cattle and Calves Inventory
Farms w/cattle 53,544 58,023 55,105
Number of head of cattle 4,537,774 5,321,161 5,391,337
Beef Cows
Farms 44,130 49,281 47,059
Number 1,630,425 1,931,805 2,063,613
Milk Cows
Farms 2,828 1,921 981
Number 90,499 87,647 66,023
Hogs and Pigs inventory
Farms 3,710 3,002 2,702
Number 187,351 1,689,700 2,398,372
1987 1997 2007

Hogs and Pigs sold
Farms 3,090 2,082 2,274
Number 346,686 3,943,563 9,010,682
Sheep and Lambs inventory
Farms 1,799 1,792 1,939
Number 120,479 74,596 76,243
Chickens 3 months old or older inventory
Farms 5,703 3,293 5,235
Number 5,826,714 5,059,373 3,323,802
Broilers and other meat-type chickens sold
Farms 556 632 636
Number 89,704,380 138,607,293 242,228,335
Selected Crops Harvested

Sorghum for Grain or Seed
Farms w/sorghum 18,644 2,557 966
Acres in state 339,368 417,872 219,883
Bushels in state 15,114,650 18,863,920 11,682,402
Wheat for Grain
Farms 18,644 13,935 8,744
Acres 4,276,344 4,825,074 3,421,098
Bushels 113,464,955 141,302,977 89,968,524
Cotton
Farms 2,913 849 420
Acres 360,299 176,962 164,273
Bales 306,388 190,186 279,871
Soybeans for Beans
Farms 1,566 1,921 813
Acres 229,887 323,082 180,878
Bushels 5,622,675 9,498,068 4,559,245
Peanuts for Nuts
Farms 1,088 662 148
Acres 86,469 68,340 16,319
Pounds 190,592,633 163,572,035 55,039,635
Hay—Alfalfa, other wild silage
Farms 32,196 35,751 38,897
Acres 1,920,000 2,478,944 3,250,005
Tons, dry 3,430,874 4,651,859 6,607,628
Agricultural Trade Statistics, 2010

Oklahoma Exports U. S. Exports
Product (millions of $) (millions of $)
Wheat and products 363.9 8,667
Soybeans and products 78.8 22,086
Peanuts and products 5.3 325
Cotton and linters 106.5 4,840
Cotton Seed and products 3.1 130
Feed Grains and products 65.9 11,912
Tree nuts 7.4 4,062
Fruits and Preparations 1.1 6,116
Vegetables and Preparations 0.9 5,556
Live Animals & meat (excl. poultry) 259.7 8,907
Hides and skins 2.5 2,117
Poultry and products 101.4 4,619
Fats, oils, and grease 5.6 950
Dairy products N/A * 3,458
Feeds and fodders 118.2 4,836
Seeds 10.3 1,218
Other (incl. processed foods) 46.9 14,896
Total 1,179.1 108,664
The above data are based on the assumption that each state’s contribution to exports is
equal to each state’s share of production or marketing. They should not be interpreted
as an actual measure of the state’s export. Totals in this chart for U.S. exports include
Tobacco, Rice, and Sunflower Seed and Sunflower Oil. These commodities are not listed,
as Oklahoma has no exports in these categories.
* The information regarding Oklahoma’s dairy products was not published to prevent
disclosure.
Wildlife
& Nature
953
Location and Size

Oklahoma is surrounded by six other states: Texas to the south and west, New Mexico to the
west, Colorado and Kansas to the north, and Missouri and Arkansas to the east. Oklahoma
City serves as the state’s capital. It is located very near the geographic center of the state.
Geographic center is approximately eight miles north of Oklahoma City.
Lines of longitude and latitude form a grid system on the earth’s surface. These reference
lines are used to pinpoint the position of any spot on Earth. Oklahoma extends across north
latitudes and west longitudes.
Latitude is distance measured north and south of the equator. Lines of latitude, also called
parallels, are established by the angle between a radius from a point at the center of the
earth in relation to the equatorial plane. Latitude ranges from 90 degrees at each pole to zero
degrees at the equator. For greater precision, degrees of latitude can be broken up into min-
utes and seconds. There are sixty minutes in a degree and sixty seconds in each minute. One
degree of latitude equals roughly sixty-nine miles because the Earth is not a perfect sphere.
Longitude is the other component of the Earth’s grid system. Lines of longitude, called
meridians, run north and south and help to pinpoint locations east and west. Longitude is
Location of Oklahoma
This section was compiled using data from the following sources: The Atlas of Oklahoma, Classroom
Edition, published by the Department of Geography, Oklahoma State University, October 1991, Tom Wikle,
Editor • U.S. Government Information Division, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Steve Beleu, Adminis-
trator • Geological Survey at the University of Oklahoma • State Geographer Bob Springer • Oklahoma
Climatological Survey • Wayne Wyrick at the Kirkpatrick Planetarium • Michah Holmes at the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation • Forestry Services Division of the Oklahoma Department of
Agriculture.
Longitude and Latitude

103°W 102 101° 100° 99° 98° 97° 96°
37°N 37°N
103° 102° 101°

Ada—34°28’N • 96°43’W 36° 36°
Ardmore—34°10’N • 97°8’W
Clinton—35°31’N • 98°56’W
Durant—33°59’N • 96°23’W
Enid—36°24’N • 97°54’W
Guymon—36°41’N • 101°29’W
Hollis—34°40’N • 99°55’W
Idabel—33°53’N • 94°48’W 35° 35°
Lawton—34°35’N • 98°24’W
McAlester—34°55’N • 95°45’W
Miami—36°53’N • 95°51’W
Muskogee—34°55’N • 95°45’W
Okahoma City—35°28’N • 97°31’W
Pawhuska—36°41’N • 96°20’W 34° 34°N
Poteau—35°3’N • 94°37’W
Stillwater—36°7’N • 97°4’W
Tulsa—35°9’N • 95°59’W 100° 99° 98° 97° 96° 95°W
Tahlequah—35°55’N • 94°58’W
Woodward—36°25’N • 99°24’W 0 50 miles
also measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds. The most important reference line used
for longitudinal reference is the Prime Meridian established in 1884 by international agree-
ment. The Prime Meridian runs through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England, and
represents a longitude of zero degrees. Longitudes to the east of the Prime Meridian are called
east longitudes and those to the west, west longitudes. On the opposite side of the earth is
the International Date Line that represents a longitude of 180 degrees.
Oklahoma is situated between ninety-four degrees, twenty-nine minutes, and 103 degrees
west longitude; and thirty-three degrees, forty-one minutes, and thirty-seven degrees north
latitude.
By the time Oklahoma was granted statehood in 1907, it had been divided into seventy-five
counties. New counties were created when Harmon County was separated from Greer County,
Trends in County Populations

Five Largest
County 1991 Population 2012 Pop. Est.
Oklahoma 636,539 741,781
Tulsa 548,296 613,816
Cleveland 203,449 265,638
Comanche 106,621 126,390
Canadian 86,498 122,560
Five Smallest
Cimarron 2,922 2,385
Harmon 3,336 2,906
Harper 3,580 3,676
Roger Mills 3,593 3,774
Ellis 4,194 4,104
Source: U.S. Census Bureau data
Wildlife and Nature 955
and Cotton County broke away from Comanche County. With these additions in 1910, the
number of counties was elevated to the present total of seventy-seven. Since statehood, only
eight counties have relocated their county seats.
Osage is the state’s largest county with an area of 2,293 square miles, while Marshall is the
smallest county in the state with only 360 square miles. Cimarron County is the only state
county in the nation that borders four other states (Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas).
The five largest counties by population, according to the U.S. Census 2012 estimates are:
Oklahoma (741,781), Tulsa (613,816), Cleveland (265,638), Comanche (126,390), and Cana-
dian (122,560). In contrast, the five smallest counties by population are: Cimarron (2,385),
Harmon (2,906), Harper (3,676), Roger Mills (3,774), and Ellis (4,104). For more information,
visit www.census.gov
Locating property in Oklahoma can be accomplished by using a reference system known
as Township and Range. The system was adopted by the federal government as a part of
the Northwest Ordinance of 1785 to prevent conflicting titles of land as pioneers claimed
irregularly shaped plots to acquire the most fertile lands. It was also initiated to assist in the
orderly survey and sale of public land. The Township and Range System uses an initial point
from which all locations are referenced. The primary initial point used for land in Oklahoma
is located about one mile south of Fort Arbuckle in Murray County (in south central Okla-
homa). This point was established by Ehud N. Darling in 1870 to aid in the dispersion of
Indian lands. Running through the initial point are two lines: a base line that corresponds
to an east/west parallel, and a north/south meridian. All areas to the north of this point are
referred to as township north and areas to the south are called township south. The merid-
ian associated with the initial point is called the “Indian Meridian” and is used to designate
range east from range west.
The base line and meridian are divided into six-mile segments forming a grid of individual
township/range units. These units are again divided into thirty-six, one-square-mile sections
that are numbered consecutively beginning in the northeast corner of the township/range.
These sections (640 acres each) are then divided into half-sections, quarter-sections, etc.
Townships and Ranges

State Dimensions
464 miles
300 miles
132 miles
320 miles
314 miles
Texas
538 m
iles
Rhode Island
0 50 miles
Excluding the Panhandle, there are thirty-eight township lines running east and west and
fifty-three range lines running north and south. A separate initial point was used for the
panhandle and is located at the southwest corner of Cimarron County.
Oklahoma is located farther west than any country in South America. Traveling due south
from Oklahoma City, one would cross Texas and the country of Mexico before reaching the
Pacific Ocean. All of South America would be located to the east. Oklahoma covers an area
of 69,903 square miles (68,679 in land and 1,224 in water).
Oklahoma ranks eighteenth in size in the United States and is considered one of the larger
states when compared to those of the East Coast. The combined area of Maine, Massachu-
setts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Connecticut are smaller than the area
of Oklahoma. Oklahoma is more than fifty times larger than the state of Rhode Island and
has about the same area as the South American country of Uruguay. Only Montana, Ten-
nessee, Texas, and Alaska have greater east-west distances than Oklahoma. With 277,340
square miles, Texas is almost four times larger than Oklahoma. When compared to other
states in the West, Oklahoma is larger than Washington and Hawaii.
957
Demographics
Population
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Oklahoma’s population for 2000 was 3,450,654.
This represents an increase of 9.7 percent from 1990 to 2000, or 305,069 persons. For 2012,
Oklahoma’s population was estimated to be 3,814,820. In 1990, population density was 46.1
persons per square mile; in 2000, the density was 50.3. Trends in Oklahoma continue to
show people leaving rural areas of the state in favor of urbanized areas. The two biggest
concentrations of people in the state are in the metropolitan areas of Oklahoma City and
Tulsa. U.S. Census Bureau population predictions state that Oklahoma’s population is esti-
mated to be 4,057,000 by 2025.
Vital Statistics
In 2012 Oklahoma had 51,292 live births, and 35,134 deaths (preliminary). By comparison, in
2000, there were 49,782 births and 35,079 deaths. The number of births to unwed teenage
mothers in Oklahoma in 2012 was 1,566 (preliminary data), a slight increase from 1,554
(preliminary data) in 2011.
The number of marriages in Oklahoma in 2010 was 27,012, an increase from the 26,830
marriages in 2009. The number of divorces in Oklahoma continued to increase in 2010 with
19,589, up from 19,015 in 2009.
Vernacular and Cultural Regions

Vernacular regions are areas that have a unique cultural identity among their residents. R.
Todd Zdorkowski and George O. Carney’s map [below] was constructed using a survey of past
and present Oklahoma place names that respondents had heard or used. The regions shown
Vernacular Regions
Panhandle Wheat
Belt
Oil Patch
Little Dixie
Zdorkowski and Carney, 1985

Cultural Regions
Midwest
West
South
Southwest Zelinsky, 1980
reflect local customs and economic histories. The area known as “Little Dixie” is dominated
by a non-Indian population; however, the Indian population of this region responded to the
survey with the name “Kiamichi,” which is also the Oklahoma Tourism Department’s name
for the area (although pronunciations differ). A uniformity among responses concerning the
Panhandle region suggests it is the most widely accepted vernacular region. Other region
names are derived from economic terms, suggesting local experience and public involve-
ment may be the keys to regional perception.
Wilbur Zelinsky’s map [above] is an excerpt from a national map of cultural geography.
Oklahoma is at the center of three cultural regions of the nation: the Middle West, the South
and the West. The influx of Indians from the East and the settlement of Europeans add to
uncertainty in the national cultural identity of Oklahoma.
959
Climate
According to the Koppen climate classification, Oklahoma’s climate ranges from humid
subtropical in the east to semi-arid in the west. Warm, moist air moving northward from
the Gulf of Mexico often exerts much influence, particularly over the southern and eastern
portions of the state, where humidity, cloudiness, and precipitation are greater than in
western and northern sections. Summers are long and usually quite hot. Winters are shorter
and less severe than those of the more northern Plains states. Periods of extreme cold are
infrequent, and those lasting more than a few days are rare.
Our knowledge of climate is based on the variables that we measure, typically with surface
observing stations, weather radar, satellites, weather balloons, and other instrumentation.
Some weather events cannot be measured easily by automated methods (e.g., tornadoes) and
must be documented by human observers. Hence, as Oklahoma’s population increased over
the years, human observations of rare events became more prevalent. Even measurements
of mundane variables such as temperature have become more common, with automated
weather stations taking more measurements per day at more locations than in past decades.
Climatologists know how to work with changes in observing intervals, sensors, techniques,
and locations to provide decision makers with an historical record to better understand
climate normals, extremes, and variability.
Precipitation
The dominant feature of the spatial distribution of rainfall across Oklahoma is a sharp decrease
in rainfall from east to west. Although precipitation is quite variable on a year-to-year basis
average annual precipitation ranges from about 17 inches in the far western panhandle
to about 56 inches in the far southeast. Only the summer months of July and August see
a substantial relaxation of this distribution. The greatest annual precipitation recorded at
an official reporting station was 84.47 inches at Kiamichi Tower in the southeast in 1957.
The least annual rainfall occurred during 1956, when Regnier, in the extreme northwestern
panhandle, observed 6.53 inches.
Normal Annual Precipitation

Annual Precipitation History

with 5–year Tendencies
Graph of the statewide average annual precipitation (in inches) for Oklahoma using
data from 1895 to 2009. Dark gray shading (above the horizontal line) highlights wetter
periods and lighter gray shading (below the line) highlights drier periods than average.
The frequency of days with measurable precipitation follows the same gradient as the annual
accumulation, increasing from forty-five days per year in western Oklahoma to 115 near the
Arkansas border. On average, more precipitation falls during the nighttime hours, while
greatest rainfall intensities occur during late afternoon. Excessive rainfall occurs at times.
Amounts of 10 inches or more during 24 hours, while rare, have been recorded. The greatest
official rainfall in a 24–hour period is 15.68 inches at Enid on October 11, 1973.
The character of precipitation also varies by season. Wintertime precipitation tends to be
somewhat widespread, stratiform in nature, and tied almost exclusively to synoptic-scale
systems. Rainfall is the dominant precipitation type during winter for all but the Oklahoma
panhandle. Summertime precipitation is almost entirely convective in nature, produced by
individual thunderstorms and thunderstorm complexes. The transition seasons of spring
and autumn offer both convective and stratiform precipitation. A significant portion of
the state’s precipitation during the transition seasons is associated with systems of severe
thunderstorms.
Average annual snowfall increases from less than 2 inches in the extreme southeast to nearly
30 inches in the western panhandle. The frequency of snow events also increases sharply
along the same gradient. Locations in southeast Oklahoma have gone several years between
events, while northwestern Oklahoma typically records several snow events in one winter.
Unless otherwise noted, all charts and graphs in the Climate section are courtesy of the Oklahoma
Climatological Survey, and are based on statistics spanning from 1971 until 2011.
Other Climatic Features

Annual average relative humidity ranges from about 60 percent in the panhandle to just
over 70 percent in the east and southeast. On average, cloudiness increases from west to
east across Oklahoma. The annual fraction of possible sunshine observed ranges from about
45 percent in eastern Oklahoma to near 65 percent in the panhandle. These fractions are
highest in the summer and lowest in the winter for all portions of the state.
Average annual lake evaporation varies from 48 inches in the extreme east to 65 inches in
the southwest, numbers that far exceed the average yearly rainfall in those areas. Evapora-
tion and percolation into the soil expend about 80 percent of Oklahoma’s precipitation.
Prevailing winds are from the south to southeast throughout most of the state from the spring
through autumn months. These prevailing winds typically are from the south to southwest in
far western Oklahoma, including the panhandle. The winter wind regime is roughly equally
split between northerly and southerly winds.
Temperatures
The mean annual temperature over the state ranges from 62 degrees along the Red River
to about 58 degrees along the northern border. It then decreases westward to 56 degrees in
Cimarron County. Temperatures of 90 degrees or greater occur, on average, about 60–65 days
per year in the western panhandle and the northeast corner of the state. The average is about
115 days in southwest Oklahoma and about eighty-five days in the southeast. Temperatures
of 100 degrees or higher occur, frequently during some years, from May through September,
and very rarely in April and October. With thirty to forty days at or above 100 degrees, western
Oklahoma experiences more extreme summer temperatures than elsewhere in the state.
Both the Panhandle and eastern Oklahoma average about fifteen days above the century
mark. The increased humidity in the east, however, adds to that section of the state’s sum-
mertime misery. Heat index values of 105 degrees or greater occur more than forty times per
year in the far southeast and less than ten times per year in the far northwest. Years without
triple-digit temperatures are rare, ranging from about one of every seven years in the eastern
half of the state to somewhat rarer in the west.
The highest temperature ever recorded in the state was 120 degrees. This reading was first
observed during the brutally hot summer of 1936: at Alva on July 18, at Altus on both July 19
and August 12, and at Poteau on August 10.
Temperatures of 32 degrees or less occur an average of sixty days per year in the southeast.
This value increases to about 110 days per year where the panhandle joins the rest of the
state, and to 140 days in the western panhandle. The lowest temperature on record is -31
degrees, set at Nowata on February 10, 2011.
The average length of the growing season or freeze-free period, is at a maximum of 225 to
230 days in the southern tier of counties and in the Arkansas River Valley downstream of
Tulsa. The value generally decreases to about 195 days in the eastern panhandle, then more
rapidly to 175 days in the western panhandle. The general northwest-to-southeast gradient
is interrupted in the Ouachita Mountains, where growing seasons are three to four weeks
shorter compared to surrounding areas. Along the Red River, the average date of the last
freeze of spring ranges from about March 15 in the east to April 1 in the west. In northern
Oklahoma, the last freeze of spring occurs, on average, from about April 8 near the Missouri
border to April 15 in the eastern panhandle to the last week of April in the western panhandle.
Freezing temperatures have occurred as late as April 20 along the southern border and in
Normal Annual Temperatures
east-central Oklahoma to about May 15 in northwest Oklahoma to the last days of May in
the western panhandle.
The average date of the autumn’s first freeze varies from about October 15 in the western
panhandle, to about October 25 along the northern border and in northwestern Oklahoma,
to about November 10 along the Red River and in the Arkansas River Valley downstream of
Tulsa. Autumn freezes have occurred as early as about September 15 in the western third of
the state to about October 15 in the southeast corner. Again, the Ouachita Mountains tend
to differ from surrounding terrain by about two weeks during either season.
Frozen soil is not a major problem, nor much of a deterrent to seasonal activities. Its occur-
rence is rather infrequent, of very limited depth, and of brief duration.
Oklahoma’s Weather Hazards

Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
On average, thunderstorms occur about fifty-five days per year in eastern Oklahoma,
decreasing to about forty-five days per year in the southwest. The annual rate increases to
near sixty days annually in the extreme western panhandle. Late spring and early summer
are the peak seasons for thunderstorms. December and January, on average, feature the
fewest thunderstorms.
Frequent cold fronts, a favorable jet stream, and dry line development make springtime the
preferred season for violent thunderstorms, although they can occur at any time of year.
Severe weather threats during spring include squall lines, mesoscale convective systems,
heatbursts, and rotating supercell thunderstorms that can produce very large hail, damaging
winds, and tornadoes. Autumn marks a secondary severe weather season, but the relative
frequency of supercell thunderstorms is much lower than during spring. Individual thun-
derstorms are common during the summer, but tend to be less severe and shorter lived.
These storms can produce locally heavy rain and hail.
Tornadoes are a particular hazard in Oklahoma. Since 1950, an average of fifty-five tornadoes
have been observed annually within the state’s borders. Tornadoes can occur at any time of
year, but are most frequent during springtime. Three-fourths of Oklahoma’s tornadoes have
Number of Tornadoes by County

Map of the number of tornadoes recorded by county using data from 1950 to 2011.
occurred during April, May, and June. May’s average of twenty-one tornado observations
per month is the greatest. The winter months each average less than one tornado per month.
Severe weather can occur at any time of day, but the maximum frequency for severe weather
is from mid-afternoon to sunset. About 80 percent of tornadoes are observed between noon
and midnight Central Standard Time, with the peak hours being between 4:00 and 8:00 PM.
Flooding
Floods of major rivers and tributaries may happen during any season, but they occur with
greatest frequency during those spring and autumn months associated with greatest rainfall.
Such floods cost many lives and property damage during the first fifty years of statehood,
but flood prevention programs have reduced the frequency and severity of such events.
Flash flooding of creeks and minor streams remains a serious threat, especially in urban
and suburban areas, where development and removal of vegetation have increased runoff.
Drought
Drought is a recurring part of Oklahoma’s climate cycle, as it is in all the Plains states. Almost
all of Oklahoma’s usable surface water comes from precipitation that falls within the state’s
borders. Therefore, drought in Oklahoma is tied almost entirely to local rainfall patterns
(i.e., the influence of upstream events on drought is very small). Western Oklahoma is
slightly more susceptible to drought because precipitation there tends to be more variable
(percentage-wise) and marginal for dryland farm applications.
Drought episodes can last from a few months to several years. Those that last a few months
can elevate wildfire danger and impact municipal water use. Seasonal droughts can occur
at any time of the year, and those that coincide with crop production cycles can cause bil-
lions of dollars of damage to the farm economy. Multi-season and multi-year episodes can
severely impact large reservoirs, streamflow, and groundwater.
Since modern climatological record-keeping began in the 1890s, the state has seen five major
multi-year, regional drought events. These occurred in the late 1890s, from 1909 to 1918, 1930
to 1940, 1952 to 1956 and, to a lesser extent, 1962 to 1972. Each of these episodes contained
at least one year of above-normal rainfall. The drought of the 1930s is associated with the
Dust Bowl of the Great Plains, when socioeconomic conditions, agricultural practices and
drought forced the largest emigration of Oklahomans in state history.
The agricultural impact of drought is increasingly mitigated on a farm-by-farm and year-
by-year basis through irrigation of crops, mostly with groundwater. This practice dominates
much of the panhandle and some of the rest of western Oklahoma.
Oklahoma’s Weather Network

Oklahoma has acted to enhance its environmental monitoring through implementation of
the Oklahoma Mesonet. The Mesonet is a world-class network of environmental monitoring
stations that measure soil and atmospheric variables 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The
Mesonet is a collection of 116 towers, at least one in each county, equipped with sensors and
configured to automatically relay data to a central collection point. Operated by the Oklahoma
Climatological Survey in partnership with the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State
University, the Mesonet monitors air and soil temperature, relative humidity, wind speed
and direction, solar radiation, and precipitation at each of its sites. Many of the sites measure
other information of agricultural or other scientific interest. Observations are made every
five minutes and transmitted every five minutes. Reports are carried from the field sites to
the central processing computer by a combination of radio and the dedicated high-speed
telephone lines of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (OLETS).
The Mesonet is unique in its capability to measure a large variety of environmental condi-
tions at so many sites across an area as large as Oklahoma. In addition, these conditions
are relayed to a wide variety of customers very quickly after the observations are taken.
Numerous agencies have fast and reliable access to Oklahoma Mesonet data, including
the NWS Weather Forecast Offices in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Amarillo, and Shreveport, the
Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center, the National Severe Storms Laboratory, and over
180 public safety offices across Oklahoma. These agencies use the data from the network to
reduce loss of life and property damage in almost every community across the state.
The Oklahoma Climatological Survey has earned a world-class reputation for its operation
of the Oklahoma Mesonet and its associated information infrastructure created and man-
aged by scientists at the University of Oklahoma and at Oklahoma State University. The
Oklahoma Mesonet has collected over 3 billion weather and soil observations—more than
99% of those possible—and produced millions of decision-making products for state and
federal agencies, public safety officials, farmer and agricultural extension agents, university
and K–12 students, scientific researchers, rural electric cooperatives, weather forecasters,
and private citizens.
In January 2005, the Oklahoma Mesonet was awarded a Special Award from the American
Meteorological Society “for serving Oklahoma and the meteorological community by provid-
ing high-quality data and information products used to protect lives, reduce costs, facilitate
cutting-edge research, and educate the next generation.”
A 2008 National Research Council report named the Oklahoma Mesonet as the “gold stan-
dard for statewide weather and climate networks.”
965
Geology
Oklahoma is a region of complex geology where several major sedimentary basins are set
amongst mountain ranges and uplifts. The state contains many classic areas where funda-
mental concepts of geology, petroleum exploration, and minerals production have been
formulated during the years. Because of its geologic history, Oklahoma has abundant mineral
resources that include petroleum (crude oil and natural gas), coal, nonfuel minerals (lead,
zinc, gypsum, limestone, sand, and gravel), and water.
Major Geological Provinces

Geologic forces deep within the earth’s crust hundreds of millions of years ago caused portions
of Oklahoma to subside as major sedimentary basins, while adjacent areas were folded and
thrust upward as major mountain uplifts. Most of the outcropping rocks in Oklahoma are
of sedimentary origin, and they consist mainly of shale, sandstone, limestone, and gypsum.
These sedimentary rocks typically are 2,000 to 10,000 feet thick in the northern shelf areas,
and they increase sharply to 30,000 to 40,000 feet thick in the deep basins of the south.
These sedimentary rocks contain most of the states’ mineral resources, including petroleum,
coal, water, and most of the nonfuel minerals. Sedimentary rocks rest upon a “basement”
of igneous and metamorphic rocks that underlie all parts of the state.
Exposed in the southern Oklahoma mountain belts are a great variety of sedimentary and
igneous rock units seen at few other places in the entire mid-continent region. Steeply dip-
ping strata, such as those exposed along Interstate 35 through the Arbuckle Mountains, attest
the strong geologic forces that folded and raised the mountain blocks. Outcropping rocks
outside the mountain regions are essentially horizontal, with dips of less than one degree
being most common. These strata typically form gently rolling hills and plains: thick shale
units form broad, flat plains and valleys, whereas resistant layers of sandstone and limestone
cap mesas, cuestas, and hills 100 to 500 feet high. Rocks and soils of western Oklahoma
typically are red in color, due to iron oxides present in the bedrock, whereas rocks and soils
elsewhere are shades of brown, gray, and black.
Major Geological Provinces
Northern Shelf Areas

Ozark
Uplift
Anadarko Basin
Wic Arkoma Basin
hita M
t. U Ouachita
Hollis plif
t Mountain
Basin Arb
uck
le U Uplift
M
plif
ar
Ardmore t
iet
ta
Basin
Gulf Coastal Plain
Ba
0 50 miles
sin
Physiographic Regions
1
8
1—High Plains
2—Gypsum Hills 7
2 4
3—Wichita Mountains
4—Red Bed Plains 6
5—Arbuckle Mountains
6—Sandstone Hills
7—Prairie Plains
3
8—Ozark Plateau 5 9
9—Ouachita Mountians 6
10—Red River Plains 10
Source: Oklahoma Geography 1954

0 50 miles
In the Wichita Mountain Uplift, peaks of Cambrian granite and related igneous rocks tower
500 to 1,200 feet above surrounding plains. The province is composed mostly of granite,
rhyolite, gabbro, and limestone. In the Hollis Basin, located in the extreme southwest cor-
ner of the state, thick formations of gypsum, shale, and sand are found. In the northeastern
corner of the state, the Ozark Uplift is deeply dissected with Mississippian limestone and
chert, shale, sandstone, and dolomite are also found in this area. The Arkoma Basin, in east
central Oklahoma, is composed primarily of sandstone, shale, and limestone. The Ouachita
Mountain Uplift consists of tightly folded sedimentary rock types, varying in age from Ordo-
vician to Mississippian. The mountain ridges are folded Mississippian and Pennsylvanian
sandstones that tower above valleys formed in shale.
The Gulf Coastal Plain is located in the southeast part of the state. Shale, limestone, sand-
stone, and large amounts of sand are present in this geological province. The Arbuckle Uplift
is totally enclosed in Oklahoma. Thick limestone and dolomite units, varying in age from
Cambrian to Mississippian, are found in addition to some sandstone and granite deposits.
The Ardmore Basin is also located completely within Oklahoma’s borders. It is composed
mainly of Pennsylvanian sandstone and shale. The Marietta Basin consists mainly of outcrops
of sandstones and shales of Pennsylvanian and Permian age.
Physiographic Regions
Oklahoma lies mostly in the Great Plains physiographic region and is characterized by low
rolling plains that slope eastward. Although the state is often described as flat, local hilly
areas rise a few hundred feet to more than 1,000 feet above the surrounding prairies. Three
mountain ranges are present in the state: the Wichita Mountains in southwest Oklahoma,
the Arbuckle Mountains in south central Oklahoma, and the Ouachita Mountains in the
southeastern portion of the state. The highest vertical relief in Oklahoma occurs in the
Ouachita Mountains and the southeast part of the prairie plains, with some peaks reaching
more than 2,000 feet above their base elevations.
The major rivers of Oklahoma generally flow eastward. Listed from north to south these
rivers are: the Arkansas, Cimarron, North Canadian, Canadian, Washita, and the Red. The
Arkansas and its tributaries drain the northern two-thirds of the state, while the Red River
and its tributaries drain the southern third.
Oklahoma can be divided into ten distinct regions, based on physical characteristics. Many
of these areas are extensions of those found in surrounding states and extend to areas as far
away as the Gulf of Mexico. The sharp contrasts between the regions give a broad overview
of what to expect on a tour of the state.
The state’s most level areas are those of the High, Red Bed, and Prairie Plains (regions 1, 4,
and 7). Within these areas, the majority of Oklahoma’s crops are produced and a great varia-
tion in population can be found. The Red River Plains (region 10) is located in the southern
portion of the state and is endowed with fertile soil and low, rolling hills. Most of the rock
in this region is composed of shale, sandstone, and limestone. A large portion of this area
is located below 500 feet in elevation.
Interrupting the plains are the Sandstone and Gypsum Hill regions (2 and 6). The hills in these
regions are aligned north to south. The Sandstone Hills resist general weathering because
they are capped by resistant sandstone layers. The Gypsum Hills of western Oklahoma are
known for the thick layers of white gypsum that cap mesas, buttes, and hilltops, and overlie
layers of shale and sandstone that tend to erode easily.
The Arbuckle and Wichita Mountain regions (3 and 5) were formed through geologic uplift
and folding. The Arbuckle Mountains contain limestone, sandstone, shale, and granite that
have become important mineral sources to the mining industry. The Wichita Mountains,
on the other hand, were formed from intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks that are very
resistant to erosion. Granite and rhyolite remain where overlying rocks have been eroded.
The most pronounced of the mountain areas is the Ouachita Mountains (pronounced WA-
she-taw) found in the southeastern section of the state (region 9). The rough terrain allows
for farming only in the valleys, while some hillsides are grazed by cattle.
At one time the Ozark Plateau (region 8) was shaped like a large dome that rose high above
the surrounding plains. It is now a hilly region with deeply dissected valleys as a result of
the action of northeastern Oklahoma’s numerous streams and rivers.
Generalized Topography
Oklahoma lies between the lower elevations of the Coastal Plain and the higher eleva-
tions of the Rocky Mountain foothills. The land surface of Oklahoma slopes gently from its
northwest corner to the southeast with the steepest gradient of about twelve feet per mile in
the Panhandle. Throughout the rest of the state, the slope averages about five feet per mile.
The contour lines shown in the diagram on previous page (“Physiographic Regions”) con-
nect points on the land surface having the same elevation. When contour lines are close
together, they indicate that the slope of the land is steep.
Southeastern Oklahoma has many steep slopes and high mountains, while western Oklahoma
has gentle slopes. In the extreme northwestern part of the state is Black Mesa, the highest
point in Oklahoma, with an elevation of 4,973 feet above sea level. The lowest point, at 287 feet
above sea level, is in the flood plain of the Little River near the state’s southeastern corner.
Oklahoma’s best-known peak is Mount Scott in the Wichita Mountains.
Mineral Resources
CS
He WAS H- IS
He K AY CS SG
C IMAR R ON HAR P E R
S alt G R ANT
SG
ING T ON CS C R AIG
T E X AS B E AV E R WOODS CS OT T AW A
ALF ALF A
SG SG CS OS AG E NOWAT A
SG R OG E R S
SG
CS
I C em DE LAWAR E
SG
E nid NOB LE
P AWNE E
2 CS
MAY E S
C em
SG
Mineral Symbols E LLIS
WOODWAR D MAJ OR
G yp
G AR F IE LD CS
SG CS
C lay
CS 3
CS T uls a
I CS S te e l
Major Producing Areas P AY NE
DE W E Y
1 B LAINE
G yp
K ING F IS HE R
SG
SG C lay
SG
T ULS A WAG ONE R
SG
C HE R OK E E SG
SG CS
Cem Cement plant SG
I
G yp S G
LOG AN CREEK
C lay
ADAIR
Clay Common clay R OG E R

MILLS
G yp
P er S G
LINC OLN OK MULG E E IS F el
S G MUS K OG E E
SG
C US T E R
CS Crushed stone C ANADIAN
SG
OK LAHOMA
Oklahoma C ity
OK F US K E E
CS
S E QUOY AH
CS Lime
D-G Dimension granite E lk C ity C lay
Mc I N T O S H D-S d
P OT T AWAT OMIE
WAS HIT A S E MINOLE
CS
D-Sd Dimension sandstone B E C K HAM
SG
C LE V E LAND
SG HAS K E LL
CS
SG SG
C lay
Fel Feldspar C ADDO
SG HUG HE S
SG
SG
SG
Gyp Gypsum GR EER
CS K IOWA
CS G R ADY
Mc C L A I N
CS
CS
L eF L O R E
D-G G yp LAT IME R
He Helium G yp CS SG
I Iodine HAR MON CS 4 G AR V IN
P ONT OT OC
P IT T S B UR G
D-S d
J AC K S ON C OMANC HE C em
IS Industrial sand G yp
C la y CS
IS
C OAL
5 SG
S T E P HE NS CS
Lime Lime plant SG T ILLMAN
SG
MUR R AY
SG
IS
CS
P US HMAT AHA
SG J OHNS T ON
Per Perlite plant C OT T ON
SG CS
AT OK A
C lay
Mc C U R T A I N
SG
Salt Salt J E F F E R S ON
C AR T E R
MAR S HALL
CS
CS C HOC T AW CS CS
SG Construction sand and gravel LOV E
SG B R Y AN SG
SG
Steel Steel plant SG
0 50 K ilometers
County boundary City Capital
Legend 1 Crushed stone, sand, and gravel districts
Source: Oklahoma Geological Survey/U.S. Geological Survey, 2005
Minerals
The United States Geological Survey estimated the value of nonfuel mineral production in
Oklahoma was $810 million in 2008. That represents a 9 percent increase from the final figures
for 2007. Crushed stone leads the state in the value of nonfuel mineral production at $341
million. Based on value, crushed stone was followed by cement (masonry and portland),
construction sand and gravel, industrial sand and gravel, iodine, and gypsum. About 63
percent of the total value is due to the combined values of three of Oklahoma’s four major
construction materials: crushed stone, construction sand and gravel, and gypsum (descending
order of value; data for cement was withheld for proprietary reasons). All nonfuel minerals
increased in value in 2008 except for common clay, crude gypsum, construction sand and
gravel, and dimension stone. Despite the increase in value of its mineral value, Oklahoma
Nonfuel Mineral Production, 2008

Quantity Value
Mineral (in metric tons) (in thousands)
Cement W* W*
Common Clay 756,000 $3,900
Gypsum 1,370,000 $12,800
Iodine W* W*
Sand & Gravel 16,640,000 $157,100
Stone 45,817,000 $341,000
Tripoli 64,500 $1,800
* Data withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data.

Note: Total value presented in the table does not equal the total value of nonfuel mineral production in
Oklahoma for 1999. The difference is in mineral values not released for public distribution.
production of the common clays and construction sand and gravel decreased slightly, but
crude gypsum deceased by 50 percent and dimension stone production decreased by 25
percent. Oklahoma leads the U.S. in the production of tripoli; ranks fourth in industrial sand
and gravel; ranks third of three states producing helium and is the only state producing
iodine. Oklahoma ranks eighth (from seventh in 2007) in industrial common clays produc-
tion, and eleventh (from tenth in 2007) in the production of masonry cement. Oklahoma
mines produced industrial minerals exclusively (no metals were mined in the state). Overall,
Oklahoma ranked twenty-seventh of the fifty states in total nonfuel production value.
Oklahoma’s enormous mineral reserve can be divided into three types of mineral products:
mineral fuels, metals, and non-metals. Mineral fuels are materials that can be burned, such
as petroleum (crude oil and natural gas), and coal. These account for more than 90 percent
of Oklahoma’s annual mineral output. Metals are substances that can be melted and molded
into any shape desired and are usually hard and heat resistant. There presently are no metals
mined in Oklahoma. Zinc and lead are the principal metals previously mined in Oklahoma,
but copper, manganese, iron, and uranium also were produced. A non-metal (industrial
mineral) is any rock, mineral or other select naturally occurring or synthetic material of
economic value often used in combination with other materials, such as sand and stone
used in concrete. The principal industrial minerals produced in Oklahoma include crushed
stone, portland cement, construction sand and gravel, industrial sand and gravel, iodine,
and gypsum. Other Oklahoma non-metals include tripoli, feldspar, helium, common clay,
granite, salt, volcanic ash, and lime.
Fred Marvel, Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department.
“River of Rocks” at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, near Lawton, Oklahoma.

970
Forests and Vegetation

Oklahoma’s forests are vital to the economy and environmental quality of the state, providing
a diverse scenic panorama, a wealth of intangible benefits, and a significant forest products
industry. Forests protect our high quality waters, provide habitat for wildlife, supply oppor-
tunities for recreation, and enhance the environment.
Our forests have been shaped and altered by natural
disturbances and human influences. Native Americans Nearly ten million
worked the forest for their own needs. They burned the
forest floor to stimulate brushy growth favored by game acres—20 percent
species, cleared land for settlements, and used wood for of the land—in
their primary cooking fuel. The first European settlers
found forests dominated by white and red oaks, short- Oklahoma is forest,
leaf and loblolly pine, black walnut, maple, hickory, and with six million
pecan, elm, ash, cottonwood, baldcypress, and many
other species. commercial-capable
As logging dried up the forests of New England and the forest acres.
Great Lakes, the extensive pine and oak resources of the
South beckoned. Although small “peckerwood” sawmills were scattered across southeastern
Oklahoma by the late 1800s, intensive logging began in earnest around 1900. By 1930, much
of Oklahoma’s most valuable virgin pine timber had been removed to support the industrial
growth of the upper midwest. Forests were cleared for cotton farming or livestock grazing.
As the southern forests began to wane, loggers moved west, leaving behind an overcut for-
est plagued by wildfire.
Concerns about overcutting, wildfires, and lack of timbers to support local industry for the
long term led citizen groups and private companies to support establishment of the Okla-
homa Forestry Association and a State Forestry Service in 1925. Protection reduced wildfire
damage and regeneration took hold. In western Oklahoma, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s
Prairie States Forestry Project planted its first tree in a Greer County shelterbelt. The forest
industry languished during the Great Depression, but the war brought renewed activity,
relying on the growing “second forest.” After World War II, social shifts in our population
also affected the forests. The 1940s and 1950s saw urban dwellers leave inner cities in large
numbers. Suburban developments cut into forest land and woodlots became more important
as sources of recreation than income.
Oklahoma is often thought of as a state with only wide open prairies, wheat fields, and ranch
land, but nearly ten million acres—20 percent of the land—is forest. More than six million
forest acres are commercial–capable of growing wood as a crop. More than 90 percent of
Oklahoma forests are owned by individuals, corporate owners, and the forest industry. Six
percent is publicly owned.
Considerable value is also placed on forests in urban and community areas. Three-fourths of
Oklahomans are now considered “urban” residents, which represents a significant change
from the rural roots and image of the state. Forests are also highly valued outside traditional
commercial areas, providing many environmental benefits.
Major forests are located in the Ouachita Mountains and the Ozark Plateau, in the eastern
portion of the state, where rainfall is sufficient for tree growth. Also, the local topography
in these areas is rough, which discourages the removal of forests for agricultural use. The
Ozark Plateau is dominated by oak and hickory trees, while pine trees dominate the higher
elevations of the Ouachita Mountains. There is, however, some mixing of these two types at
Natural Vegetation
all levels. Some sections of the Sandstone Hills, the Red River Plains, and the Prairie Plains
are also covered by forests. The state has 144 native species of trees with common varieties
including shortleaf and loblolly pine, sweetgum, pecan, several types of oak, cottonwood,
and walnut.
Natural Vegetation
Oklahoma is situated in a transition zone between the humid eastern forests and the drier
western grasslands. The state can be divided into three main types of vegetation: grassland,
savannah, and woodlands, and forests. Grass areas are abundant within Oklahoma’s boundar-
ies and are used for grazing. Grasses in the western sections are primarily short and mixed.
In the Panhandle, the soil is often parched and only the surface is moistened by rain. Tall
grasses are found in the eastern section of the state. Savannah and woodland areas exist in
all parts of the state with the exception of the rough terrain of the Ouachita Mountains in
southeastern Oklahoma. The Cross Timbers of central Oklahoma is the largest woodland-
savannah region and supports some the state’s oldest known trees. Juniper-Pinyon is the
least abundant vegetation type, found only in the state’s far northwest corner.
Large expanses of forest are found primarily in eastern Oklahoma where rainfall is abundant.
The Ouachita Mountains are home to the largest forested area in the state, and this is an
extremely important region to the forest products, tree farming, and agritourism industries
in Oklahoma.
Generalized Soils
Soil is a combination of loose rock material, organic matter, air, and water. Oklahoma has
a great diversity of soils ranging from the rich limestone soils of the dark prairie lands to
Generalized Soils
the alluvial soils of river valleys, to thin sandy soils and poor red-clay soils. There are seven
major soil groups in Oklahoma. The following is a breakdown of these groups:
Alfisols are found in central, south central, eastern, and western Oklahoma. They occur in
climates that have a period when evapotranspiration (the rate at which water evaporates
from the soil or is removed by plants) exceeds precipitation. Mollisols are commonly dark
colored, base-rich soils of the grasslands that are found in central, western (including the
central panhandle), eastern, and northeastern Oklahoma. They cover a larger area of Okla-
homa than any other soil type.
Utisols occur only in eastern Oklahoma. They are usually found in warm and humid cli-
mates and are associated with a seasonal deficiency of rainfall. Low fertility and low base
saturation in these soils are the major limitations to agricultural use. Inceptisols occupy a
large portion of western Oklahoma and are found in climates where there is some leach-
ing (filtering out) of soil nutrients. Vertisols occur mostly in southeastern Oklahoma and
extend into Texas. They are clay soils that develop deep, wide cracks that allow the soil to be
moistened from both above and below. Entisols occur mostly in floodplains and on steep
slopes throughout the state. They show little or no evidence of active soil formation. Entisols
found in western Oklahoma are shallow soils that show limited evidence of weathering pro-
cesses. Stony Rockland areas, which are actually surface features and not a soil, are located
in southwestern and south central Oklahoma and can be found in three small areas that
boast a very rocky soil type.
The United States Congress created the Soil Conservation Service in 1935 to protect topsoil
from becoming badly eroded by poor agricultural practices. Oklahomans were among the
first to take advantage of the Soil Conservation Service, establishing the first soil conserva-
tion district in the United States.
Through the years, prior to statehood and even to the present, Oklahoma’s most valuable
resource has been its resourceful and imaginative people. For as many years, they have chosen
numerous and varied official state symbols to recognize their special interests. Many of the
state symbols come with stories as colorful and unusual as the symbols themselves. One of
the more recently adopted state symbols was the selection of Port Silt Loam to represent
the state soil for Oklahoma. This state soil was added to the list of state symbols by the state
legislature in 1987.
Why have a state soil? The citizens of Oklahoma should have a keen awareness that soil is
one of the most valuable resources. Food and much clothing and shelter come from plants
growing in the soil. Individual and group action since statehood shows better care of this
resource is important to the livelihood and well being of Oklahomans. More than 100 mil-
lion tons of topsoil wash or blow away each year. Therefore, naming a state soil provides an
educational purpose. It brings attention to the importance of soils and to the importance of
conservation. Oklahoma has a variable climate and many kinds of geologic materials. These
factors greatly influence the formation of different kinds of soil. More than 2,500 different
kinds of soil are found in Oklahoma. Some soils are naturally fertile, and others are very
limited in productivity. No one individual soil occurs throughout the state.
Port Silt Loam, the state soil, was selected because it occurs in more counties (thirty-three),
and in about one million acres, more than any other particular soil. The Port soil is deep,
well drained, and has a high productivity potential. It is suited for the production of alfalfa,
cotton, wheat, sorghum, oats, and other sown crops. Port soil is usually dark brown to dark
reddish brown, with the color derived from upland soil materials weathered from reddish
sandstones, siltstones, and shales of the Permian Geologic Era. The natural soil supports
a native, undisturbed vegetation of tall prairie grasses, with an overstory of pecan, walnut,
bur oak, and cottonwood trees. This native condition offers a very desirable habitat for most
of Oklahoma’s wildlife species.
Soils are often named after an early pioneer, town, county, community, or stream in the
vicinity where they are found. The name “Port” comes from a small community located
in Washita County. The name “silt loam” is the texture of the topsoil. This texture consists
mostly of silt-sized particles (.05 to .002mm) and when the moist soil is rubbed between the
thumb and forefinger, it is loamy to the feel, thus the term “silt loam.”
974
Mountains and Streams

Oklahoma Geological Survey
Mountains and streams have defined the landscape of Oklahoma in the geological past, and
have helped create a beautiful landscape. Resistant rock masses have been folded, faulted,
and thrust upward to form the mountains, while the streams have persisted in eroding less-
resistant rock units and lowering the landscape to form the broad valleys, hills, and plains
so typical of Oklahoma.
Mountains
Mountains are important not only because they expose much of the mineral wealth needed
for the state’s growth and industrial development, but, along with lakes and streams, they
provide the unexpected beauty of Oklahoma’s recreational areas. Although the three princi-
pal mountain systems—Wichitas, Arbuckles, and Ouachitas—occur in southern Oklahoma,
other mountainous and hilly areas extend across many parts of the state.
Wichita Mountains in the southwest consist of a core of granite, rhyolite, and other
igneous rocks emplaced during the Cambrian Period of geologic time, about 525 mya (mil-
lion years ago). On the northeast they are flanked by thousands of feet of folded and steeply
dipping marine limestones and other sedimentary rocks deposited during Late Cambrian
and Ordovician time (515–425 mya). The relief between the hilltops and nearby lowlands
generally ranges from 400 to 1,100 feet, and the highest elevation, about 2,475 feet above sea
level, is on an unnamed peak four miles east, southeast of Cooperton. The best-known peak,
Mount Scott, with a summit of 2,464 feet, can be reached by car or bus and commands the
most spectacular view of the area. Important mineral resources produced here are granite,
limestone, sand and gravel, and oil and gas. The mountains have been prospected, with
limited success, for gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, aluminum, and iron ores.
Arbuckle Mountains, an area of low to moderate hills in south-central Oklahoma,
contain a core of Precambrian granite and gneiss (a metamorphic rock) formed about
1,300 mya. Most of the Arbuckles consist of 15,000 feet of folded and faulted limestones,
dolomites, sandstones, and shales deposited in shallow seas from Late Cambrian through
Pennsylvanian times (515–290 mya). Relief in the area ranges from 100 to 600 feet, with the
highest elevation, 1,415 feet, in the West Timbered Hills, about seven miles west of Interstate
35. Although low, the relief is still impressive, as it is six times greater than any other topo-
graphic feature between Oklahoma City and Dallas, Texas. Two significant features in the
mountains are the deep road cuts on I–35, and the “tombstone topography,” which looks
like rows of tombstones in a field, and is the result of differential weathering and erosion of
alternating layers of hard and soft limestone. The Arbuckles contain the most diverse suite of
mineral resources in Oklahoma. Limestone, dolomite, glass sand, granite, sand and gravel,
shale, cement, iron ore, lead, zinc, tar sands, and oil and gas are all minerals which are being
produced or have been produced here.
Ouachita Mountains (pronounced “Wa-she-tah”), in southeast Oklahoma, are made
up of rocks deposited in a deep sea that covered the area from Late Cambrian through Early
Pennsylvanian time (515–315 mya). The area was then folded and faulted in such a manner
that resistant beds of sandstone, chert, and novaculite (a fine-grained silica rock, like flint)
now form long, sinuous mountain ridges that tower 500–1,500 feet above adjacent valleys
formed in easily eroded shales. The highest elevation is 2,666 feet on Rich Mountain. Major
individual ridges within the Ouachitas are Winding Stair, Rich, Kiamichi, Blue, Jackfork,
Mountains
0 50 miles
and Blackjack mountains. Mineral resources include limestone, quartzite, sand and gravel,
asphaltite, lead, oil, and gas.
Mountains of the Arkansas River Valley are another group of high hills and mountains
scattered in the Arkansas River Valley of east-central Oklahoma. They include Sans Bois,
Cavanal, Sugar Loaf, Poteau, Beaver, Hi Early, and Rattlesnake mountains, among others.
These mountains typically are broad featured, capped by thick and resistant sandstones
that stand 300–2,000 feet above the wide, hilly plains formed on thick shale units. These
sandstones and shales, deposited in the shallow seas and coastal areas covering eastern
Oklahoma in Early and Middle Pennsylvanian times (330–310 mya), were broadly uplifted
and folded during the Middle and Late Pennsylvanian uplift of the Ouachita Mountains.
The largest mountain area is the Sans Bois Mountains, north of Wilburton and Red Oak. The
highest summit, Sugar Loaf Mountain, is eight miles east of Poteau, and, at 2,568 feet, rises
2,000 feet above the surrounding plains. Principal mineral resources of the area are coal,
oil and gas, clay, building stone, sand and gravel, and volcanic ash.
Ozark Plateau, or the Ozarks of northeast Oklahoma, is best described as a deeply dissected
plateau. Bedrock units in the area are mostly flat-lying limestones and cherts deposited in
shallow seas during the Mississippian Period (365–330 mya).
To the south and southwest, the Ozarks include outcrops of sandstones and shales depos-
ited in shallow seas and coastal areas during Early Pennsylvanian time (330–315 mya). The
Ozarks, including the Brushy or Boston mountains, were broadly uplifted during, and since,
Pennsylvanian time causing streams to be incised into the bedrock. Relief in the Ozarks is
50 to 400 feet, typically, and the highest elevation, 1,745 feet, is on Workman Mountain, eight
miles east, southeast of Stilwell. The beauty of the Ozarks and the abundant clear-water lakes
have spawned many state parks. Important mineral resources being produced are lime-
stone, shale, cement, tripoli, sand and gravel, oil, and gas. In the north is the world-famous
Tri-State lead-zinc mining district (Miami-Picher area), which led the United States in zinc
production almost every year from 1918–1945, and finally was closed in 1970.
Glass Mountains, in north-central Major County, about six miles west of Orienta, are
an area of badlands topography, and are a prominent feature of the Blaine escarpment
that extends southeast to northwest across northwest Oklahoma. Outcropping rocks are
red-brown shales and siltstones, capped by several beds of resistant white gypsum; all were
deposited during the Permian Period (about 270 mya). Much of the gypsum looks like glass
fragments, and hence the name, “Glass Mountains.” “Mountains” is a misnomer; they are
actually prominent mesas, buttes, and escarpments. Flat-lying beds of caprock gypsum and
underlying shales originally extended far to the north and east, but have been eroded back
to the south and west to their present position. The local relief generally ranges from 150 to
200 feet, and the elevation at the top of the high buttes is about 1,585 feet.
Black Mesa, in the northwest corner of the Oklahoma Panhandle, is the highest point in
the state, with an elevation of 4,973 feet. It is a plateau that rises about 600 feet above the
adjacent Cimarron River and North Carrizo Creek. In Oklahoma, Black Mesa is 0.5 to one
mile wide and three miles long, and is the erosional remnant of a finger-like basaltic lava
flow extruded from a volcano in southeast Colorado. The lava flow formed during Tertiary
time, about two to four mya, and occupied what was then a broad valley.
Streams
Oklahoma’s stream systems, in terms of geologic time, are temporary as to location and flow
rates. Eventually, streams will cut deeper, and their tributaries will erode nearby uplands,
thereby shifting their positions. Major drainage systems in Oklahoma were initiated during
the Pleistocene Epoch of geologic time (the last 1.65 million years or so), a time characterized
by erosion in Oklahoma. Pleistocene terrace deposits, one hundred feet to more than 300
feet above modern flood plains, attests to the great erosion and down cutting performed
by major rivers in this period.
Oklahoma’s two major river basins are the Red River and Arkansas River basins. Flowing
into Oklahoma from six neighboring states, all the surface water leaving the state flows into
Arkansas via the Red, Arkansas, and Little rivers, and Lee Creek. The major rivers and their
tributaries flow to the east and southeast across Oklahoma.
Red River and its tributaries drain about 23,000 square miles in the southern third of
the state. The western most headwaters of Red River is a small tributary, Frio Draw, which
begins about thirty miles south of Tucumcari, New Mexico. It flows across the Texas Pan-
handle through Palo Duro Canyon, and then marks Oklahoma’s southern border (517 river
miles) with Texas. From there it flows through Arkansas into Louisiana, where it joins the
Atchafalaya River and enters Atchafalaya Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
At the southwest corner of Oklahoma, the main stem is called Prairie Dog Town Fork Red
River (PDTFRR); it is joined by Buck Creek two miles farther east, and from that point east-
ward, it is officially called Red River. Lake Texoma is the only reservoir on the main stem
of Red River in Oklahoma; it holds the largest volume of water, 2.6 million acre feet, in the
state, and has the second largest surface area of 88,000 acres. The tributaries to Red River
have many other important lakes and reservoirs, such as Altus, Foss, Ellsworth, Waurika,
Arbuckle, McGee Creek, Sardis, Hugo, Pine Creek, and Broken Bow.
Major Oklahoma tributaries to Red River include Salt Fork Red River, North Fork Red River,
and Washita River, all of which contribute flow into Lake Texoma. Other tributaries are
Muddy Boggy Creek, and Kiamichi and Little rivers, each having its own tributary system.
There are also many other rivers and creeks that flow directly into Red River. At the southeast
corner of the state, Red River has an elevation of 305 feet. The lowest elevation in the state,
287 feet, is twenty miles to the north where Little River enters Arkansas.
Arkansas River and its tributaries drain the northern two-thirds of Oklahoma, nearly
47,000 square miles. The source of the Arkansas River is near the town of Leadville, Colo-
rado. The river flows eastward across southeast Colorado and western and central Kansas,
turning south to enter Oklahoma at Kay County, north of Ponca City. It crosses northeast
Oklahoma to leave the state at Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Much of the Arkansas River has a series of locks and dams, the McClellan-Kerr Navigation
System, that link Oklahoma with barge traffic to the Mississippi River. Major lakes and
reservoirs on the main stem of the Arkansas River include (from the southeast) Robert S.
Kerr, Webbers Falls, Keystone, and Kaw. On the Canadian River, a major tributary to the
Arkansas in eastern Oklahoma, Eufaula Lake has the largest surface area in the state, with
105,500 acres, and the second largest volume with 2.3 million acre-feet. Many tributaries to
the Arkansas River have important lakes and reservoirs, such as Canton, Great Salt Plains,
Hefner, Overholser, Thunderbird, Carl Blackwell, Hulah, Skiatook, Oologah, Fort Gibson,
Hudson, Tenkiller Ferry, and Wister.
Major tributaries to the Arkansas River include the Canadian, North Canadian (named
Beaver River in the Panhandle, above Wolf Creek), and Deep Fork rivers, all flowing into
Eufaula Lake. Others are the Cimarron, Salt Fork, Caney, Verdigris, Neosho (Grand), and
Illinois rivers, each having its own tributary system. Many other rivers and creeks flow
directly into the Arkansas River. The lowest elevation, 385 feet, is where the river flows into
Arkansas at Fort Smith.
Scenic Rivers of Oklahoma have such exceptional beauty and recreational value that
six of them have been officially designated as “scenic rivers,” and are protected by the state
legislature. One scenic river is in the Red River System—the upper part of Mountain Fork,
which flows into Broken Bow Lake in the Ouachita Mountains. The other five scenic rivers
are in the Arkansas River System, in the Ozark Plateau, and include parts of the Illinois River
and parts of Flint, Baron Fork, Lee, and Little Lee creeks.
Salt Plains and Saline Rivers are an unusual feature of the Oklahoma landscape. Natural
dissolution of bedded salt (deposited during the Permian Period, about 270 mya) occurs at
shallow depths in several parts of northwest and southwest Oklahoma. The resultant high-
salinity brine seeps to the surface in some of the state’s rivers. In the Arkansas River drain-
age, Great Salt Plains on Salt Fork covers about twenty-five square miles and is the largest
salt flat. Others are Big Salt Plain and Little Salt Plain on Cimarron River, and Ferguson Salt
Plain just north of Watonga in Blaine County. In the Red River drainage, the Caney, Kiser,
and Robinson Salt plains are on Elm Fork in northern Harmon County, south of Erick. All
of these Oklahoma salt plains discharge brines to the Arkansas and Red River systems, thus
degrading the river waters and making them generally unsuitable for industrial, municipal, or
irrigation uses in parts of western and central Oklahoma. The saline river waters are diluted
Rivers and
Lakes
Groundwater
by fresh-water inflow downstream from the salt plains, and thus the water is mostly usable
by the time it reaches Keystone Lake and Lake Texhoma. Although the salt plains degrade
the river waters, like most of nature’s checks and balances they are a necessary part of the
environment for the area’s inhabitants, and they provide yet another aspect of the beautiful
geological areas of the state of Oklahoma.
Water
Oklahoma contains thirty-four major reservoirs with a combined surface area of 543,450
acres and storing more than 13 million acre-feet of water. The state’s largest lake in surface
area is Eufaula (105,000 acres); Lake Texoma is second (88,000 acres). The state’s largest
lake in conservation storage is Texoma (2.6 million acre-feet of water); Eufaula is second
(2.3 million ac-ft). Evaporation and percolation preclude immediate use of approximately
80 percent of Oklahoma’s water. Average annual lake evaporation ranges from forty-eight
inches in the extreme east to sixty-five inches in the southwest, numbers that far exceed the
average yearly rainfall in those areas.
Groundwater is the prevalent source of water in the western half of the state, accounting for
almost 90 percent of the total irrigation water use in Oklahoma. Underneath the state are
twenty-three major groundwater basins containing 320 million acre-feet of water in storage,
though only one-half of that amount may be recoverable.
According to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, irrigation is the number one use of
water in Oklahoma; water supply is a close second, followed distantly by livestock watering.
The majority of the state’s surface water (approximately 60 percent) is used for public water
supply, followed by thermoelectric power generation and irrigation. The largest total amount
of freshwater withdrawn for irrigation purposes was in Texas County, followed by Cimarron
and Beaver counties, all in the Oklahoma Panhandle. The largest amount of water withdrawn
for water-supply purposes is in Cleveland County, followed by Comanche and Oklahoma
counties. Livestock withdrawals are largest in Texas County, followed by Cimarron and
Alfalfa counties. The largest total amount of freshwater withdrawn for thermoelectric-power
generation purposes is in Muskogee County, followed by Rogers and Seminole counties.
979
Wildlife
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is the state agency responsible for man-
aging fish and wildlife. The Wildlife Department receives no general state tax appropriations
and is supported by hunting and fishing license fees and federal excise taxes on hunting
and fishing equipment. The mission of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
is to manage Oklahoma’s wildlife resources and habitat to provide scientific, educational,
aesthetic, economic, and recreational benefits for present and future generations of hunters,
anglers, and others who appreciate wildlife.
In support of this statement, the agency is committed to: (1) conserving wildlife resources,
habitat, and biodiversity through scientific research, propagation, and management; (2)
balancing wildlife needs with those of people; supporting and promoting traditional uses
of wildlife through regulated fishing, hunting, and trapping consistent with sound manage-
ment principles; (3) informing and educating citizens so they will recognize the value of
wildlife resources and support department regulations and programs; (4) protecting wildlife
resources through increased awareness of and aggressive enforcement of wildlife laws and
regulations; (5) identifying and acknowledging diverse public interests in wildlife resources
and implementing responsible programs consistent with those interests; (6) promoting ethi-
cal private land and water practices; (7) maintaining and improving accessibility to wildlife
on private and public waters and lands; (8) serving as advocate and legal representative for
wildlife resources and habitat in environmental issues and actions that may impact these
resources; (9) protecting unique, threatened and endangered species and preserving their
habitats; (10) ensuring excellence in the pursuit of our mission through the hiring and con-
tinued training of qualified and experienced professionals; (11) and managing available funds
efficiently and seeking innovative revenue sources for the accomplishment of this mission.
The department is organized into five major divisions: administration, fisheries, information
and education, law enforcement and wildlife.
The Administration Division performs a great variety of tasks to support the agency’s
employees carrying out the department’s mission. The division sections include account-
ing, licensing, information technology, human resources, communications, and property.
The department’s Fisheries Division manages this important recreational resource, and
meets the challenge by focusing on management, research, and production.
The Information and Education Division informs Oklahoma citizens about department
programs, policies, and regulations.
The Law Enforcement Division enforces laws and regulations that protect Oklahoma’s wildlife
resources. Observance of wildlife laws protect the resource while providing opportunities
for fair and equitable usage by the sporting public.
To manage the state’s wildlife resources and their habitats the department’s Wildlife Divi-
sion provides hunting and other outdoor-recreational opportunities, through public lands
acquisition and management, cooperative and technical assistance for private landowners,
research and surveys, and education.
Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission

The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing board of the Okla-
homa Department of Wildlife Conservation. Commissioners serve eight-year terms and
are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate. The commission
establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for the Wildlife Department,
and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife conservation activities. The commission
also governs all department operations and financial transactions and meet the first Monday
of each month to conduct business.
Department Funding
The department remains a non-appropriated, user-pay/user-benefit agency that is funded
either directly or indirectly by hunting and fishing license sales. In fiscal year 2012 the depart-
ment operated with an estimated $47.26 million in revenue. Specifically, major revenue
sources are: annual license sales, $17.3 million; federal sportfish and wildlife restoration grant
revenue, $14.15 million (grant income is based on a formula that includes a certified num-
ber of hunting and fishing licenses sold in the state); lifetime license fund interest income,
$4.56 million; other wildlife sales, $6.3 million; agriculture and oil leases, $2.7 million; and
miscellaneous income including donations, $2.11 million.
Agency Expenditures
Annual expenditures in FY 2012 were approximately $44,733,556. Expenditures by area
include $10.52 million for fisheries (23.5 percent of total budget); $12.4 million for wildlife (27.7
percent of total budget); $10.96 million for law enforcement (24.5 percent of total budget);
$6.08 million for administration (13.6 percent of total budget); $2.45 million for information
and education (5.5 percent of total budget); and, $2.32 million for capital expenditures (5.2
percent of total budget).
Impact of Hunters and Anglers

on Oklahoma’s Economy
Hunters and anglers have a tremendous impact on the state’s economy. In FY 2011 hunters
in the state numbered 243,821. Total expenditures for hunters was $680,712,580. Hunting
activities resulted in 12,090 jobs, generated $254,285,204 in salaries and wages, $65,987,436
in state tax revenue, and a $941 million ripple effect on the state’s economy.
Anglers in FY 2011 numbered 729,191. Total expenditures for anglers was $821,069,868. Fish-
ing resulted in 11,342 jobs, generated $301,144,447 in salaries and wages, $77,341,322 in state
tax revenue, and a $1 billion ripple effect on the state’s economy.
A Legacy of Conservation
The department was initially created as a one-man agency in 1909. The first hunting license
was also created at a cost of $1.25 to fund the department, setting the precedent of a non-
appropriated, user-pay/user-benefit agency. In 1956, state voters passed a constitutional
amendment establishing the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation as the con-
stitutional agency it is today. The amendment was enacted in 1957, and the first board of
commissioners was created to oversee the department’s operation.
Recent Accomplishments
2010
• Big game hunting season expanded when the holiday anterless deer season was extend-
ed to one 10–day season and antler point requirements on bull elk were reduced. More-
over, additional cow elk hunting days were added in portions of the state.
• Over 1,600 students participated in the “Archery in Schools” state shoot.
• Almost 4,000 Paddlefish were processed and studied at the state’s Paddlefish Research
and Processing Center. Prior to the center’s opening, the Wildlife Department had only
collected information from 240 fish since the late 1970s.
• The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) approved a memoran-
dum of agreement with OG&E to offset impacts of a northwest Oklahoma wind farm on
lesser prairie chickens. The agreement secures $4.9 million for projects such as conser-
vation easements to protect undeveloped property, and management agreements to
restore property with critical habitat for lesser prairie chickens.
• Oklahoma black bear archery season opened and closed in one day, when hunters
reached the quota of twenty bears on October 1 in southeastern Oklahoma. A total of
thirty-two black bears were harvested on October 1, which is thirteen more than were
harvested in approximately one month’s time in 2009.
2011
• The ODWC launched several research initiatives and joined with conservation groups to
study possible causes of quail population decline in the state.
• The seventh-annual Oklahoma Wildlife Expo hosted record-breaking crowds of 59,000
visitors over the three-day event.
• ODWC acquired 8,000 new acres of public land in Love County to establish the Cross
Timbers Wildlife Management Area.
2012
• The ODWC ramped up efforts to conserve the lesser prairie chicken in northwestern
Oklahoma, working with other groups to keep the bird off the federal Endangered Spe-
cies List. Efforts included a negotiated financial settlement with a wind energy company
for habitat preservation and formulation of the Oklahoma Lesser Prairie Chicken Con-
servation Action Plan.
• ODWC renewed its commitment to continue working with the National Wild Turkey
Federation on efforts to enhance turkey populations and generate interest among Okla-
homans in the outdoors.
• A cooperative agreement with a timber company allowed ODWC to add 22,000 acres to
the Honobia Creek Wildlife Management Area in southeastern Oklahoma.
Did you Know?

• Oklahoma ranks at the top of all states when it comes to diversity of plant and
animal life.
• The Selman Bat Cave Wildlife Management Area in northwest Oklahoma is home to
more that one million Mexican free-tailed bats. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation offers guided evening tours on the area each summer.
• There are over 1.5 million acres of wildlife management areas in every corner of the state
to explore.
• The four fish hatcheries run by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
annually raise and stock about 12 million fish each year.
• One in three Oklahoma citizens hunt or fish and one in three Oklahoma citizens enjoy
watching wildlife.
• Each year Oklahoma hunters donate about 16 tons of venison to the Hunters Against
Hunger program. That is enough meat to provide nutritious meals for nearly 133,000
families across the state.
• The number of Oklahoma anglers in 2011 could fill the University of Oklahoma football
stadium to capacity eight times! The number of Oklahoma hunters could fill the Okla-
homa State University football stadium three and a half times.
• Opening day of deer season is the state’s biggest single-day recreational attraction. It
draws more participants than the busiest day of the Oklahoma State fair or the Tulsa
State Fair.
Photograph courtesy the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
A Touch of Luck: As the Apollo 10 crew walks along a corridor

on the way to Launch Complex 39B, mission commander (and
Oklahoman) Thomas P. Stafford pats the nose of Snoopy, the
mission’s mascot, held by Jamye Flowers, astronaut Gordon
Coopers’ secretary.
983
Astronomical Phenomena for

Oklahoma, 2013 and 2014
Wayne Harris-Wyrick—Director, Kirkpatrick Planetarium
Eclipses
An eclipse occurs whenever the sun, Earth, and the Moon align in space. If the Moon is
between the sun and Earth, a solar eclipse occurs. Whenever the Moon completely covers the
sun as seen from some part of Earth, we experience a total solar eclipse. Total solar eclipses
are rather common. One or two occur almost every year somewhere on our planet. They are
quite rare, however, for any given location. A total solar eclipse is visible only over a rather
narrow path on Earth’s surface, although everyone for hundreds of miles either side of the
path of totality experiences a partial eclipse. During a partial solar eclipse, the Moon only
covers a piece of the sun’s disk. They are more common from a given location, but much
less spectacular. The central path of a total solar eclipse may miss Earth in such a way that
some parts of our planet experience a partial solar eclipse even though no total eclipse is
visible anywhere on the planet.
On some occasions, Earth experiences an annular solar eclipse. Since the Moon’s distance
from Earth varies slightly, it sometimes looks slightly smaller than the sun. The Moon is
always nearly four hundred times smaller than the sun in actual size, but being four hundred
times closer, it normally appears slightly larger. If a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is
farthest from Earth, it won’t quite cover the sun. An “annulus”, a ring of fire from the sun’s
edge, surrounds the Moon like a celestial donut in the sky. The rarest type of eclipse is a
combination annual-total solar eclipse, known as a hybrid solar eclipse. During such an
event, the Moon moves ever so slightly closer to Earth and what starts as an annular eclipse
becomes a total eclipse during the event. Or it may begin as a total eclipse then become an
annular eclipse as the Moon inches away from Earth. All four of these solar eclipse types
occur over the two-year period, and one of those, a partial, will be visible from Oklahoma.
If Earth passes between the sun and Moon, our planet blocks the sunlight striking the Moon’s
surface, and we see a lunar eclipse. Because the sun is much larger then Earth, there exists
a part of Earth’s shadow where sunlight is only partially blocked. This is known as Earth’s
penumbra, and if the Moon is only eclipsed by Earth’s penumbra, a penumbral eclipse, the
slight darkening of the Moon during a penumbral eclipse may go completely unnoticed by
the casual observer. The Moon may pass only partially into the deep part of Earth’s shadow,
the umbra, so that we experience a partial eclipse. Over the next two years, two total, one
partial and two penumbral eclipses take place.
A lunar eclipse, whether penumbral, partial or total, is visible from most parts of Earth where
it’s night at the time of the eclipse. Five lunar eclipses occur over the two-year period, and
all of those but the partial eclipse will be visible from Oklahoma. However, two of those will
be the weak, penumbral type.
The Moon’s color and brightness both change dramatically during an eclipse. The overall
brightness decreases by a factor of several hundred or more. During a total lunar eclipse,
the color changes can appear rather bizarre. The brilliant white Moon may become copper-
colored or turn deep blood red. No wonder such sights frightened ancient civilizations.
A Solar eclipse can only occur at new Moon, when the Moon is directly between Earth and
sun. A lunar eclipse can only occur at full Moon, when Earth is directly between the Moon
and the sun. For most new and full Moon phases, the three objects, sun, Earth and Moon,
do not line up exactly and no eclipse occurs. This is due to the fact that the Moon’s orbit is
tilted compared to the Earth’s orbit around the sun.
Lunar and solar eclipses generally occur in pairs two weeks apart. But occasionally, the
Moon and sun line up in such a way that there is a lunar eclipse both preceding and follow-
ing a solar eclipse. That occurs in 2013, starting with a partial lunar eclipse on April 25. We
in Oklahoma will not be able to witness any part of that partial eclipse, although viewers
in the Indian Ocean will. The associated solar eclipse, an annular type, occurs on May 10,
visible from the same regions of our planet. The second associated lunar eclipse, a weak,
penumbral version happens on May 25. It will be visible from Oklahoma, but the Moon will
just barely graze the edge of Earth’s penumbral shadow, and the average human eye won’t
be able to detect this.
A second penumbral eclipse occurs on October 18, 2013, but the slightly eclipsed Moon will
rise already at the deepest part of the eclipse, and the reddened Moon at moonrise will totally
obscure the weak eclipse. Its associated solar eclipse is the rare, hybrid type taking place on
November 3. It’s dramatic to watch the “ring of fire” fade into a total solar eclipse, and if you
want to experience this, you’ll need to be in the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of Africa.
A total lunar eclipse occurs on April 29, 2014, and the entire eclipse will be visible from
Oklahoma. Maximum eclipse occurs at 2:45 am It’s associated solar eclipse, and annular
one, takes place on April 29, but you’ll need to be in Antarctica or eastern Australia to see it.
The second lunar eclipse of 2014, another total one, occurs on October 8. Oklahomans will
witness the moon gong into the eclipse, but the moon sets right around the time of mid-
eclipse, which occurs at 5:45 am Its associated solar eclipse, the only one visible from Okla-
homa over the time period, is a partial one on October 23. The maximum eclipse occurs at
4:48 pm when a little more than half of the sun will be covered by the Moon.
For more detailed information on eclipses, see NASA’s eclipse page at eclipse.gsfc.nasa.
gov/eclipse.html
Seasons
A common misconception holds that seasons come about because of the varying distance
between Earth and the sun. Actually, Earth is closest to the sun in early January and at its
most distant in early July. Seasons occur because our planet’s north-south axis leans over
a bit compared to our orbit around the sun. During summer, the North Pole slants toward
the sun. We receive more direct sunlight, and because the sun passes higher overhead, we
enjoy longer days. During winter, the North Pole tilts away from the sun. We receive less
direct energy from the sun, and the shorter days mean colder temperatures (see the section
Determining the Sun’s Position and Number of Hours of Sunlight per Day). Technically,
each season starts at a particular instant of time.
Year Spring Summer Fall Winter
2013 Mar 20, 1:02 am Jun 20, 7:04 pm Sep 22, 10:44 am Dec 21, 5:11 am
2014 Mar 20, 6:57 am Jun 21, 12:52 am Sep 22, 4:30 pm Dec 21, 11:03 am
Moon Phases
The table below lists the phases of the Moon for 2013 and 2014. A full Moon rises more or less
at sunset. A new Moon is between Earth and the sun, and not visible. The quarter phases
occur between the new and full phases. A Blue Moon refers to the second full Moon in the
same calendar month, Like December 2013. They happen, on average, once every two and
one-half years. Since February has only 28 (or 29) days in it, and the full lunar cycle takes
29–1/2 days, February occasionally contains only three of the four lunar phases. The next
three-phase February occurs in 2014. About every two or three decades, February’s missed
full Moon occurs on January 31, the second one in January, and the next full Moon also skips
February, making another Blue Moon in March, a double Blue Moon year. The next double
Blue Moon won’t happen until 2018.
2013 2014
New Full New Full
Jan 11 Jan 26 Jan 30 Jan 15
Feb 9 Feb 25 Feb 28 Feb 14
Mar 11 Mar 26 Mar 30 Mar 16
Apr 9 Apr 25 Apr 28 Apr 14
May 9 May 24 May 28 May 14
Jun 8 Jun 23 Jun 26 Jun 12
Jul 7 Jul 22 Jul 26 Jul 12
Aug 6 Aug 20 Aug 25 Aug 10
Sep 5 Sep 19 Sep 23 Sep 8
Oct 4 Oct 18 Oct 23 Oct 8
Nov 3 Nov 17 Nov 22 Nov 6
Dec 2 Dec 16, 31* Dec 21 Dec 6
* Blue Moon
Meteor Showers
On any dark, clear night away from artificial lights, you occasionally see a brief streak of light
zip across the sky. We often call them “falling stars” or “shooting stars.” They are actually
meteors, tiny bits of space rock that enter our atmosphere at speeds up to 150,000 miles
per hour. At such speeds they heat the surrounding air to incandescence from friction and
pressure, creating the streak of light we see.
Several times a year we see greater numbers of meteors for a few nights. These events are
called meteor showers. Meteor showers come from comets. Comets are huge, dirty snowballs
that orbit our sun like the planets. When a comet enters the inner part of the solar system,
the sun’s heat will vaporize the outer layer of the comet’s icy body, freeing the trapped dirt
and rock. The debris remains in the comet’s orbital path around the sun.
As it revolves around the sun, Earth may cross a comet’s orbital path. Earth will encounter
the comet’s orbit on or near the same day each year. Our planet slams into the debris trail,
and we see a meteor shower.
Several meteor showers occur throughout the year. Meteor showers are named for the
constellation they appear to radiate from. The list below contains the most active meteor
showers. A typical shower produces only one meteor every minute or two, so perhaps
“meteor drizzle” is a better term.
The Leonid meteor shower occurs on November 17. Its parent comet, Tempel-Tuttle, orbits the
sun every 33 years. The debris is heavily concentrated behind the comet, so every 33 years we
see a spectacular Leonid meteor shower. The comet passed by in 1966. That year the Leonids
set the record for meteor shower activity with as many as 140 visible per second for a brief
period of time. The Leonids in 1998 peaked at around 1000 per hour. In 1999 through 2002,
Leonid meteor shower displayed dramatic activity, but has decreased steadily ever since.
While none of these showers were as active as the 1966 Leonids, they displayed numerous
and bright fireballs. However on the last outbound leg, the comet and its debris trail passed
very close to Jupiter. Jupiter’s massive gravity altered the orbital path of the comet and its
debris, possibly ending Leonid meteor storms forever. That may not be the end of meteor
showers from Comet Tempel-Tuttle, though. In another one hundred years or so, the comet
will again pass near Jupiter, bending its course back close to Earth’s orbit. Since the meteor
shower will appear to come out of a different constellation, it will have a new name.
Meteor Shower Date # per hour Parent Comet

Quadrantids January 3 50 2003 EH!
Lyrids April 22 25 Thatcher
Eta Aquarids May 6 20 Halley
Delta Aquarids July 29 20 Unknown
Perseids August 12 50 Swift-Tuttle
Orionids October 21 25 Halley
Leonids November 17 15 Tempel-Tuttle
Geminids December 14 50 Phaethon
Ursids December 22 20 Tuttle
Generally, the best viewing time for a meteor shower is from midnight to six a.m. The far-
ther away from city lights, the more meteors you can see. A full or third quarter moon (see
Moon Phases) will also hinder meteor observations. The date listed for each shower is the
evening before the a.m. peak. For example, to see the Perseid shower, stay up past midnight
on August 11 to the early morning hours of the 12.
Planet Visibility
The closer a planet orbits the sun, the faster it moves. Mercury and Venus orbit so rapidly,
changes in their positions can be noted almost night to night. While Mars moves more slowly
than either Mercury or Venus, an “optical illusion” occasionally makes Mars appear to really
zip across the night sky. When Earth and Mars are on the same side of the sun, Earth’s orbital
motion makes Mars appear to move much faster than normal, sometimes even backward.
This is much like passing a slower moving car on the highway. From your point of view, that
slower car appears to be moving in reverse. The same apparent reverse motion also happens
with all of the planets beyond Earth, but for Mars the effect is most obvious. While Mars,
Jupiter, and Saturn never actually backtrack in their orbits around the sun, they do appear
to back up once in a while, what astronomers call retrograde motion.
It’s generally not difficult to distinguish planets from stars. You’ve never sung the song
“Twinkle, Twinkle Little Planet” because planets don’t twinkle, stars do. Also, the visible
planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are brighter than most or all of the stars
in the night sky. Bright non-twinkling “stars” are most likely planets.
Mercury
Mercury makes very brief appearances, often no more than a week or two at a time, alternat-
ing between short morning appearances with equally brief evening appearances and always
deep in the sun’s twilight glow. It begins 2013 all but lost in the morning twilight. Mercury
makes good evening appearance in mid-February and a better one from late May through
mid-June. Sandwiched between is a morning appearance in late March through mid-April.
Mercury is in the morning again in early August, a disappointing evening appearance in early
October and a final 2013 morning appearance in mid-November. 2014 evening appearances
of Mercury occur in late January, mid-May and mid-September. Morning appearances occur
most of March, mid-July and the best of the year in early November.
Venus
Like Mercury, Venus alternates between morning and evening appearances, never being
seen the late night hours. Venus begins 2013 in the morning sky, but diving into morning
twilight. It reappears in the evening sky in mid-April, where it stays for the rest of the year
and throughout most of 2014, until early October where it shifts back to the morning for the
rest of the year.
Mars
Mars begins the two-year period diving rapidly into the evening twilight, disappearing in
late March and reappearing in the morning sky in early June. By the end of the year, Mars
moves into the midnight sky. It slowly moves into the evening sky by February of 2014 and
stays there for the rest of the year.
Jupiter
Jupiter, our solar system’s largest planet, could swallow 1400 Earths. Jupiter and the other
outer planets move very slowly as they orbit the Sun, so slowly that these planets may spend
an entire year, perhaps even a decade, within the same constellation.
Jupiter begins 2013 in the evening sky where it is visible for most of the night. It slides into
the morning sky by August and spends the rest of the year there. It virtually repeats this
pattern in 2014.
Saturn
Saturn, moving even slower than Jupiter, can stay in the same constellation for a year or
more. Saturn spends the entire two year period in the constellation of Virgo-Libra border.
It begins 2013 in the morning sky, moving into the evening sky in March where it stays until
it disappears into the sunset twilight in September of 2013, only to reappear in the morning
sky a few weeks later and repeat the same cycle all over.
Uranus and Neptune

Uranus and Neptune are both so far from the sun they seem to barely creep along in the sky,
moving very little over the course of two years. Uranus, just barely visible to the unaided
human eye from a dark location, begins 2013 in the evening sky. It disappears into the eve-
ning twilight by early March, reappears in the morning sky a few weeks later and remains
there until it slowly slides into the evening sky in June where it remains all the rest of 2013.
Apparitions of Uranus in 2014 are a duplicate of 2013.
Neptune begins 2013 in the evening sky, disappears from there in early February and enters
the morning sky by early April. It then slips into the evening sky by mid-August remaining
an evening object throughout 2013 and duplicates that in 2014.
Pluto
In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union, the governing body of astronomers
worldwide, voted on a definition of the word “planet” that dropped Pluto from that clas-
sification. One astronomer described is as correcting a seventy-six year old mistake made
when Pluto was discovered in 1930. The new definition of planet is: the object must be round,
or nearly so, due to its gravity. It can’t be a star—a round astronomical body that sustains
nuclear reactions in its core—but it has to orbit one. It has to gravitationally dominate all
other objects in its region of the solar system. That is, it has to be large enough that its grav-
ity essentially sweeps up everything in that region of the solar system. This clause is what
caused Pluto’s demotion.
There are lots of things that share Pluto’s region of the solar system. Pluto is less massive
than the combined total mass of other objects in its orbital region. Pluto may not even be
the largest object orbiting the sun in that part of the solar system, known as the Kuiper Belt.
As the official definition of “planet” states, Pluto hasn’t gravitationally “cleared the neigh-
borhood around its orbit.”
Pluto is now considered the prototype of a new class of solar system objects called “Dwarf
Planets.” Dwarf Planets meet all of the criteria of being a true planet except for that of gravi-
tationally dominating all other objects in its region combined. There are 5 known Dwarf
Planets in our solar system: Pluto, Makemake, Haumea, Eris (all in the Kuiper Belt) and Ceres,
the largest member of the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. Current astronomical
discoveries include more than a dozen other objects orbiting the sun that may eventually
qualify as dwarf planets. Some astronomers believe there may be a hundred or more dwarf
planets in our solar system. Dwarf Planets that orbit beyond Neptune have been grouped
into a special classification: Plutoids, to honor the former planet and its discoverer, Clyde
Tombaugh.
Why Pluto Is Not A Planet: An Analogy

When Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh, he was looking for a ninth planet.
He discovered an object at the expected distance from the sun, moving at the right speed
as it orbited the sun. Astronomers around the world declared it to be a planet. At first they
thought it might even be about the size of Earth.
But all of that was before computers and modern instruments. The more astronomers stud-
ied Pluto, the more they realized that it wasn’t really much like the other planets. It turned
out to be very small: seven moons, including our own, are larger than Pluto. It had a weird
orbit: long and skinny and tilted quite a bit compared to the other planets, both more like a
comet than a planet. Its composition turned out to be more like a comet too: frozen methane,
ammonia, carbon dioxide and water ice dominate its surface.
Think of it this way: suppose you have something that is hard, long, and skinny and round
and if you sharpen one end of it, you find a dark material inside that can leave marks on
paper. You decide to call it a pencil. You soon realize that pencils come in several variations:
some are round, some are hexagonal; they come in different colors and sizes. Some even
write in different colors.
Then one day you find something a bit different. It’s round, has a thin paper covering over
a thick center that’s soft, but if you sharpen one end, you can draw on paper, so you call it
a pencil. You call it a pencil because that’s all you know that draws on paper. But later you
find more of these, in all different colors and soon you have more of them than you do the
other things you have been calling pencils. Eventually you realize that these are really dif-
ferent kinds of objects, so you no longer call them pencils, but instead call them crayons.
That’s what happened to Pluto. Almost from its discovery, astronomers began to notice that
it was really different from the other planets, more different than they were from each other.
In 2006, astronomers decided to reclassify Pluto, correcting a mistake they had made 76
years earlier. So the simple answer is that Pluto is no longer a planet because, really, it was
never a planet. We just didn’t know it at the time.
Conjunction
A conjunction occurs whenever two or more objects in our solar system appear close together
in our sky. Many millions of miles separate the bodies in space, but from our viewpoint on
Earth they seem to be very close. Two planets very rarely “line up,” appearing as one bright
object, but several conjunctions occur over the two-year period including some very close
ones. While the table below lists times when two or more bodies within our solar system
appear close together as seen from Earth, the planets move constantly, changing their rela-
tive positions nightly. On an even longer time frame, the stars themselves slowly move in
their individual orbits around the Milky Way galaxy. Every night, every hour, every minute
presents an absolutely unique astronomical sight, never exactly the same as any other
instant of time, ever.
Objects Date Time Comments

Moon/Jupiter Jan 11, 2013 9:00 pm Hyades star cluster nearby
Mars/Mercury Feb 8, 2013 6:00 pm Neptune nearby
Mars/Jupiter Jul 21, 2013 6:00 am
Mars/Beehive Cl. Sep. 8 2013 5:00 am Impressive with binoculars
Moon/Venus Sep 8, 2013 12:00 pm Visible in daylight
Moon/Mars Jul 5, 2014 9:00 pm
Moon/Saturn Jul 7, 2014 9:00 pm
Venus/Jupiter Aug 18, 2014 6:30 am Closest in daylight
Venus/Beehive Cl. Aug 18, 2014 6:30 am
Jupiter/Beehive Cl. Aug 20, 2014 6:00 am
The table above lists the good conjunctions to watch for in 2013–2014. For conjunctions to
be listed, the two objects appear no more than two Moon diameters, one degree, apart.
Only those conjunctions with the pair at least six degrees above the horizon, roughly the
width of a fist held at arm’s length, and the sun is at least six degrees below the horizon, are
listed. “Time” indicates the best time to view the conjunction, not necessarily the closest
approach of the two bodies. “AM” generally means looking in the morning before sunrise,
and “PM” means after sunset in the evening. The closest spacing between the two objects
may occur in daylight or when they are below the horizon. Conjunctions involving Neptune
will require binoculars or a telescope due to its faintness. While Uranus is just within the
visibility of the unaided human eye from a dark location, it is so faint you might need a pair
of binoculars to see it.
Paper Strip Solar System Model

The planets of our solar system are so far apart in relationship to their sizes that no model
can accurately recreate both the size of the planets and their spacing to the same scale. Either
the spacing must be dramatically reduced relative to the scale of planetary diameters, or
the planets themselves are too small to be seen without a microscope. Here is a model of
the solar system that you can carry in your pocket. And although you won’t be able to see
the planets to the proper size scale, its size is personalized to you.
Materials: Cash Register paper roll, Pen, Scissors
Cut a strip of paper equal to your height (or your child’s height), which is roughly the same as
their fingertip-to-fingertip length of outstretched arms. This will represent your solar system,
from the sun to the outermost parts. Label one end Sun and label the other end the Kuiper
Belt. The Kuiper Belt is the outermost region of our solar system, the location of Pluto and
the other Plutoids, and the source of large comets such as Halley’s Comet.
Fold the strip in half so that the Sun and the Kuiper Belt ends touch, and crease it at the fold.
Open it up and draw a line at the fold. Label that line Uranus.
Fold the Kuiper Belt end of the paper strip to Uranus and crease. Label that line Neptune.
Fold the Sun end of the paper strip to Uranus and crease. Label the line Saturn.
Fold the Sun to Saturn and crease. Label the line Jupiter.
Fold the Sun to Jupiter and crease. Label it Asteroid Belt (A.B. in illustration) or Ceres,
the largest member of the asteroid belt. This is what you should have at this point:
The Paper Strip Model of the Solar System

4th fold 3rd fold 1st fold 2nd fold
Sun Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Kuiper Belt

A.B.
Now it gets crowded. Fold Sun to Asteroid Belt and crease. Draw line and label it Mars. Fold Sun
to Mars and then fold new edge to Mars again, crease all, making 3 new crease lines. Unfold
and draw lines at new creases. Label them (from Sun outward) Mercury, Venus, and Earth.
On this scale, the Sun is roughly the size of the pen tip used to write the names. It is the only
object you could see on this scale without a powerful microscope.
Determining the Sun’s Position and the

Number of Hours of Sunlight Per Day
Because of Earth’s daily rotation, the sun, moon, and the stars appear to move slowly across
the sky. They “rise” in the east and “set” in the west. Of course they do not really move; we
do. Earth rotates from west to east, so the sun, moon, planets, and the stars appear to move
from east to west. Really, we are moving out from under them.
Over the course of a year, Earth orbits the sun, creating our seasons. This causes the sun’s
daily motion across the sky to vary at different times of the year. During summer, the sun
passes nearly overhead. In winter, the sun arcs low across the sky in the south. The number
of hours of daylight also varies with the seasons. Indeed this varying height of the sun,
caused by Earth’s tilt, and the subsequent varying number of daylight hours is the cause of
our seasons. If Earth were not tilted, we would not have seasons and the amount of daylight
would be constant.
The chart Altitude and Azimuth of the Sun (following page) gives the sun’s location in the sky
for any day and time, and can be used to calculate the number of daylight hours.
Altitude represents the height of the sun above the horizon, measured in degrees. The horizon
is zero degrees. The point straight up at the center of the sky (the zenith) is altitude ninety
degrees. Halfway up is forty-five degrees (see How to Measure Distances and Time Using
the Stars). Azimuth represents the sun’s compass direction, also measured in degrees. Due
north is zero degrees, due east is ninety degrees, due south is 180 degrees, and due west is
270 degrees.
The graph shows the sun’s altitude and azimuth throughout the day for the twenty-second
of each month. Other days can be inferred easily from the chart. The sun’s daily path is sym-
metrical in the morning and afternoon, so only half of the graph is shown.
At noon, the sun is due south (during daylight savings time, this occurs at 1:00; the sun does
not care about saving daylight!). From the chart, the sun at noon would be zero degrees
from south, or at azimuth 180. For morning hours, subtract the azimuth reading from 180;
for afternoon hours add the reading to 180.
For example, on December 22, two hours before noon, the sun is at altitude twenty-six
degrees, and is thirty degrees east of south or azimuth 150 (180 –30). At 2:00, the sun would
be thirty degrees west of south, azimuth 210 degrees (180 +30).
On March 22 and September 22, the sun rises six hours before noon, and sets six hours after
noon, so both of those days are exactly twelve hours long (those happen to be the vernal and
autumnal equinoxes, the first day of spring and fall, respectively). On June 22, the summer
solstice, the sun rises a bit over seven hours before noon, so that day is nearly fourteen and
one-half hours long, the longest day of the year.
Light Pollution
Today, people who live in or near large cities have lost the beauty of the night sky. From
within or near even small cities and towns, many stars are washed out by the increasing use
of outdoor lighting at night. The graceful arch of the Milky Way across the night sky is visible
only well away from urban lighting.
While there is a great need for nighttime lighting, there are adverse effects created by the
many sources of outdoor light. Glare, light trespass, and light clutter contribute to inferior
nighttime environment, reducing visibility and safety. Light, and the energy used to create
it, are wasted if put where it is not needed, such as beaming upward into the night sky. It is
simply wasted light, energy, and money.
Light that shines directly into a driver’s eyes from a streetlight does not aid the driver in see-
ing at night. This glare actually deteriorates the driver’s ability to see, and could lead to an
accident. A security light that sprays bright light over a large area may make it impossible to
see into the dark shadows, and may help create the very problem it was meant to solve. Good
lighting, properly directed, provides safety, security, and reduces cost and energy waste.
Altitude and Azimuth of the Sun June
1 80
for the 22nd Day May–July
of each Month 2 70
at 35˚ North Latitude
April–August
3 60
March–September
4
Hours 50
Before or After February–October
Noon
5 40
January–November
30
6 December
Altitude (in degrees)
20
7 10
120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Azimuth (in degrees from south) • East (AM) or West (PM)

Astronomers suffer most severely from poorly designed and improperly aimed lighting.
We have all seen billboards illuminated at night from upward-pointing lights. This lighting
arrangement makes the beams of light visible for miles to drivers, calling attention to the
billboard’s message. While this may be a smart advertising ploy, it is terrible for astronomers
trying to glean information from faint cosmic objects.
Many cities around major professional observatories have implemented outdoor lighting
bans or strict lighting controls to aid astronomers. There are ways you can help in the fight
against light pollution.
1. Use only as much light as you need, and put it where you want it. Excess light creates glare
and dark shadows, both of which reduce safety and security. Use fixtures with recessed
sockets, the type in which the lamp is not directly visible. This reduces glare and prevents
stray light from getting up into the night sky.
2. Use the right kind of light. Incandescent light bulbs are not very cost effective. Vapor lights
are generally cheaper. But not all vapor lights are equally good for astronomy. Mercury vapor
lights shine with a bright blue-white light. High-pressure sodium vapor lights give off a yel-
lowish glow. Both are commonly used in streetlights and home security lights.
Low-pressure sodium vapor lights are the best alternative for astronomy. They glow a deep
yellow-orange color. That color makes objects look a bit odd, but this type of light has several
advantages. They cost half as much as high-pressure sodium vapor lights and a third as much
as mercury vapor lights to operate. Over the course of a year that savings could amount to
millions of dollars for a typical city.
Since low-pressure sodium vapor lights emit a single color of light, it is very simple for
astronomers to filter that light out. If all outdoor lighting consisted of low vapor sodium
lights, astronomers would have no loss of ability to observe the heavens.
For more information about light pollution and proper lighting, visit the International Dark-
Sky Association, www.darksky.org.
How To Find Directions

Directions are easily found at night, if the sky is clear and if you know the constellations. Look
at the four seasonal star charts on previous pages. On all four charts the constellation Ursa
Minor is in the north. We commonly call Ursa Minor the Little Dipper. The star that marks
the end of the Little Dipper’s handle is Polaris, the North Star. That star is almost directly
over Earth’s north pole. As our planet rotates, causing the stars to appear to rise, move, and
set Polaris stays in the same spot, over Earth’s north pole. Because of that special location,
Polaris is the one star visible from the northern hemisphere that does not appear to move
at all. It always marks the direction North.
In the daytime, we cannot use Polaris to determine North. But we can use the one star
visible in the daytime, our sun. Our sun is always due south at solar noon. At that time, all
shadows point due north. The problem is that solar noon does not occur when your clock
says 12:00. Your location within your time zone affects exactly what the clock reads at solar
noon. Because Earth orbits the sun in an ellipse, not a circle, the time from one solar noon
to the next is not always exactly twenty-four hours.
To locate North, find a convenient pole (fence pole, flag pole, etc.) or push a straight stick
upright in the ground. When clock time reaches 11:15 am, start measuring the length of the
pole or stick’s shadow. The shadow gets shorter for the first few measurements, but eventu-
ally the shadow begins to lengthen. The shortest shadow occurs exactly at solar noon, and
points due north.
To make such an activity more fun, try using people instead of sticks or poles. Go outside in
the morning. While one student stands on a sidewalk or blacktop, have another trace out
the location of the first student’s feet. This is necessary so that the student can stand in the
same place later. Trace out the standing student’s shadow on the ground.
Come back to the same spot in the afternoon. Have the student place his feet in the exact
same spot, as marked by the traced footprints. Once again trace the student’s shadow. You
now have a record of the different locations of the sun in the sky!
For young children, the concept of Earth’s rotation is extremely difficult. After all, we do
not feel any motion, although in Oklahoma we are moving at 850 miles per hour as Earth
rotates. And we can easily see that the sun “moves” across the sky during the day and the
Moon “moves” at night.
How to Measure Distances

and Time Using the Stars
Distances in the sky are measured in degrees, just as the altitude and azimuth of the sun.
Estimates of such distances can be made with your hand. Make a fist and stretch your arm
out full length. The span across your knuckles from the first finger to the pinky equals ten
degrees. Ten degrees is about equal to the span across the top of the Big Dipper’s bowl. Stretch
your fingers out wide and your hand spans about eighteen degrees, roughly two-thirds the
width of the Big Dipper, or the distance diagonally across Orion (see star maps). The space
between your knuckles is about three degrees, the length of Orion’s belt. These measures
can be used to estimate position in the sky. At 10:00 am, December 22, the sun is twenty-six
degrees above the horizon, or about 2.5 “fists” (see “Determining the Sun’s Position”). The
highest the sun gets in Oklahoma is eighty degrees, or eight “fists” high.
The diagram above indicates some distances using a few familiar constellations. Hand
measurements let you quickly judge height or separation of objects in the sky. These hand
measurements can be used to estimate the passage of time, too. Earth rotates once every
day. In that twenty-four-hour period, Earth rotates through 360 degrees, or fifteen degrees
per hour. By the time a star has moved the width of your outstretched hand, just over an hour
has passed. Your closed fist measures about half an hour, and movement across your first
two knuckles equals ten minutes. To measure the passage of time, note the location of some
star, planet or the Moon near a tree, housetop, utility pole or other convenient marker, or find
one near the eastern horizon. Periodically gauge its movement with your hand. Cowboys in
the past measured time this same way when herding cattle at night.
Meteorites
Often while working in a field or yard, people stumble across an odd rock that just doesn’t
look or feel like other rocks in the area. These are often mistaken for a meteorite. Actual
meteorite finds are quite rare, except in those areas near a known asteroid impact like the
Barringer Crater near Flagstaff, Arizona.
Two common mistakes lead to most incorrect identifications of a terrestrial rock being a
meteorite. Most people are not familiar with the variety of rocks that may be found in the
area. Much of western Oklahoma is covered with red sandstone. Any other type of rock,
especially dark-colored ones, may be mistaken for a meteorite by someone unaware that
other types of rock might also exist in the area.
Often, rocks appear on the surface of a field where few if any other rocks are found, per-
haps even in a small depression. Rocks buried underground can work their way up to the
surface. You see a similar effect by opening a can of mixed nuts. The small peanuts are all at
the bottom and the larger Brazil nuts and pecans lie on top. As the can of nuts is handled,
the smaller peanuts fall through spaces between larger nuts, and the larger ones “float” to
the top, even though they are much heavier than the smaller nuts. Large, dense rocks may
work to the surface the same way.
Meteorites come in one of three types. Iron meteorites consist almost entirely of iron and
nickel, and are thought to originate in the cores of large asteroids. Early in the life of our solar
system, these large asteroids differentiated, that is iron, nickel, iridium, platinum, and other
metals sunk to the center, just as in Earth, while the object remained in a liquefied state.
The asteroids cooled and solidified with a metallic core and a rocky surface. Later, massive
collisions with each other broke them apart, freeing the pure metallic parts, the source of
iron meteorites. The outer, rocky material provides the source for stony meteorites, while
the interface between the two regions is the source for stony-iron meteorites. All meteorites
contain at least small amounts of nickel and iron, just as these metals can be found at the
surface of Earth.
Most meteorites possess properties that distinguish them from terrestrial rocks. Meteor-
ites tend to be far denser than ordinary rock; typically two to three times their density. All
meteorites share at least some affinity for a magnet, and most are highly attracted to one.
Meteorites never have a spongy or porous structure on the surface or in the interior.
As a meteorite flies through the atmosphere at tremendous speeds, it creates great friction
with the air molecules around it. The heat generated by the friction heats the air to incandes-
cence, the glowing trail behind a meteor in the night sky. The surface of the meteorite gets
quite hot too, but the meteorite came from space where its temperature may have been below
–2000 F. for millions or billions of years. The flight of a few seconds through our atmosphere
cannot warm the interior, and within a minute or two, the meteorite is freezing to the touch.
The heat of passage through the air creates a black “fusion crust” on the meteorite, although
it will weather to a rusty brown color within a few months or years. The surface of the mete-
orite is often slightly melted by the heat of atmospheric entry, leaving small indentations
resembling thumbprints, or flow lines where melted material flowed over the meteorite. The
interiors of most meteorites shine like metallic silver. Meteorites are almost never round or
rough, but have irregular shapes and a smooth surface.
In many locations around Oklahoma, iron smelting occurred in the past. It may have been
a railroad foundry works, an old army base or blacksmith shop. Bits of old iron slag exist in
many of these places, and are often mistaken for a meteorite. They generally will have little
or no attraction for a magnet, but will show metallic luster on the inside.
If You Suspect You Have Found a Meteorite

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory suggests that you ask the following:
Is the object solid, not porous? Yes or No
Is the object of irregular shape? Yes or No
Is the object very heavy for its size? Yes or No
Is the object black or brown on the outside? Yes or No
Does the interior look shiny and metallic? Yes or No
Is the object different from the country rocks? Yes or No
If you answered, “Yes” to all these questions you almost certainly have a meteorite. If you
answered “No” to most of the questions, it’s probably not. With only one or two “No”s, it may
still be a meteorite. Only sensitive chemical tests can answer the question for certain. Your
local planetarium or university can usually recommend a testing facility. Inquiries may be
made at the University of Oklahoma Department of Geology and Geophysics at 405/325–3253.
Does Life Exist Elsewhere in the Universe?

Life first appeared on Earth around 3.8 billion years ago; at least the oldest known fossils
date from that time. Earth itself was formed 4.6 billion years ago, along with all the rest of
the solar system. But for the first few hundred million years of its existence, Earth was a
molten ball of magma. Almost as soon as Earth cooled to a reasonable temperature, the
first simple, one-celled life forms came into existence. All other life on Earth evolved from
those first living cells. Today, life exists everywhere on Earth where the temperature is below
the boiling point of water, and even in some places where water is hotter than that. In every
environment on Earth where water exists, life does, too.
Mars formed at the same time Earth did. Today, Mars is a frozen world, where temperatures
rarely climb above the freezing point of water. It has one percent as much atmosphere as
Earth, and no ozone layer to protect the surface from deadly cosmic rays and UV radiation.
Landers and rovers on the surface of Mars, in conjunction with orbiters taking high resolu-
tion images of the surface, have changed the standard scientific view of Mars. At one time
Mars was very Earth-like. Geological evidence suggests that it had a thick atmosphere,
rivers, lakes, and oceans. The surface water on Mars may have existed for geologically long
periods of time. There are even caves on Mars and perhaps underground water exists in deep
aquifers. In short, it was a perfect place for life to exist. And it reached those life-supporting
conditions before Earth did. Did life form on Mars? No one knows yet, but if Earth is any
example, it’s certainly possible, if water existed for a long enough time.
In the young solar system, numerous asteroids constantly slammed into the various planets.
That’s what kept Earth and the other planets molten for so long after formation. Remnants of
that early bombardment still exist today—asteroids that occasionally slam into our planet.
Oklahoma has only one known surface asteroid impact site, near Ponca City, although there
are several other confirmed or suspected ones that are now buried.
Earth’s gravity is strong enough that asteroid impacts don’t knock debris into space. But Mars
is a lot smaller, possessing only one-third the gravity of Earth. Asteroid impacts can and do
knock pieces of Mars into space. And some of those have landed on Earth.
In 1996, a team of NASA scientists made a remarkable claim. A meteorite from Mars found in
Antarctica contained the fossilized remains of Martian bacteria, or so the scientists claimed.
The rock itself formed by geological processes that generally occur in a wet and warm cli-
mate, a perfect place to support life. Some sixteen million years ago, an asteroid slammed
into Mars, knocking some of the Red Planet’s rocks into space. One of those Martian rocks,
containing the alleged fossils, landed in Antarctica. After years of analysis of the evidence,
relatively few scientists now believe that the objects found are indeed fossilized bacteria,
but the debate isn’t over yet.
An important question remains: did life form on Mars before it did on Earth? Many biologists
believe that is indeed feasible. And since Mars reached life-supporting conditions before Earth
did, it is possible that an asteroid struck Mars 3.8 billion years ago and blasted a piece of rock
containing live bacteria into space. That Martian rock eventually crashed to Earth. There is
a real possibility that all life on Earth was seeded by life forms that first appeared on Mars.
One might wonder if it’s possible that any living entity could survive years in space with no
atmosphere, water or protection from cosmic rays and UV radiation. Experiments from our
Apollo Moon program indicate that the answer may be yes.
Prior to the first manned landings on the Moon, NASA sent several Surveyor spacecraft that
soft-landed on the lunar surface. These were NASA’s way of testing lunar landing procedure,
making sure we could safely land people there. Apollo 15 landed very near one of the Surveyor
spacecraft and NASA directed the astronauts to retrieve the camera on board for return to
Earth. When scientists studied the camera, they found to everyone’s surprise, it contained
dormant but living bacteria from Earth. The bacteria had survived for three years in condi-
tion almost identical to what a Martian meteorite would face in traveling from Mars to Earth.
Experiments have proven that bacteria buried inside a sufficiently large rock in space can
survive by forming an endospore, a live but dormant state. Recent studies of that same
Martian meteorite from Antarctica, known as ALH 84001, prove that conditions in the rock’s
interior would have gotten no hotter than 105 degrees, not hot enough to kill any hitchhiking
bacteria. On Earth, biologists have found bacteria living inside rock two miles below Earth’s
surface. Would a wet Mars be any different?
Recently, scientists have found that a type of microbe called tardigrades, or water bears,
can survive high doses of UV radiation and a strong vacuum, as in space. Tardigrades are
commonly found in lichens or mosses, in soil, on mountaintops and in the sediment in the
ocean. Their mossy homes can occasionally completely dry out yet some species can survive
as long as a decade without moisture. Scientists put two different moss-dwelling species
of tardigrades and their eggs on a European Space Agency’s mission to the International
Space Station. While orbiting Earth, the tardigrades were exposed to the vacuum of space
for 10 days. Some were shielded from the sun’s light; others were bathed in strong solar
ultraviolet radiation. Both species of tardigrades survived exposure to space vacuum very
well, although the samples exposed to both vacuum and solar radiation had significantly
reduced survival rates.
The answer to the question of life on Mars, extant or extinct, probably won’t be answered
for at least another twenty or thirty years, when we land the first humans there. But there
is no scientific reason to doubt the possibility that life did form on an ancient Mars. If so,
there’s a very real possibility that Martian microbes hitching a ride on a meteorite from the
Red Planet seeded life on Earth.
Spacecraft sent to study Mars have found water—lots of it—enough to fill all of the Great
Lakes several times over. The water currently exists in the form of ice, but the deeper lay-
ers may be liquid. We also know that in at least on some areas of Mars, sedimentary rocks
formed in oceans, like much of the sandstone and limestone rocks in Oklahoma. There is
an as yet unanswered question of whether those oceans lasted for a few thousand years or
a few million years. Some evidence from recent studies of Mars indicates that liquid water
existed at least for tens if not hundreds of thousands of years. If longer times frames are
involved, life may have evolved there. On Earth, where water exists, so does life. Was Mars
once inhabited, even if only by microbes, perhaps still inhabited? New missions to Mars will
likely answer that question within a few decades.
Not all the data from satellites orbiting Mars is supportive of potential Martian life. The Martian
geological crust is far more rigid than scientists had believed; the rocks making the crust of
Mars can’t flex much; the crust is frozen solid. That implies that any subsurface liquid water
must be deeper below the surface and scarcer than previously assumed.
Mars isn’t the only extraterrestrial location in our solar system that may harbor life. Jupiter’s
Moon Europa is, like Mars, a frozen world. Its surface is covered with a sheet of ice. But unlike
Mars, Europa enjoys an extra source of heat beyond that coming from the sun. Jupiter, the
largest planet with the strongest planetary gravitational field, possesses three other large
moons: Io, Ganymede, and Callisto. Europa orbits Jupiter between Io and Ganymede, the
largest moon of our solar system. Europa is squeezed and pulled between the gravity of
Jupiter, Io, and Ganymede. This flexing heats the moon’s core to temperatures high enough
that the ice melts into a liquid ocean below the frozen surface.
At the bottom of Earth’s oceans, where volcanic activity continually creates new ocean floor,
energy from geothermal volcanic vents heats localized areas well above the near freezing
temperatures of the typical sea bottom. At these locations, bizarre life forms flourish, life
forms found nowhere else on our planet. Many biologists believe that all life on Earth may
have come from single-celled microbes that first evolved at these mid-ocean rifts. Similar
geological processes likely exist on Europa, and it’s entirely within the realm of biological
possibility that some form of life exists on the ocean floors of Europa.
Recently, the Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn discovered water geysers coming from the
tiny moon Enceladus. It is so small that most astronomers assumed that it, like our much
larger Moon, was geologically dead and frozen. But some force, perhaps tidal squeezing from
Saturn and its rings, heats the interior, as with Europa. Continued studies have revealed that
the plumes contain salt water and organic compounds like those found on comets and on
the young Earth. Remember, on Earth, where there’s liquid water, there’s life. The possibility
exists on Enceladus.
Potential homes for extraterrestrial life exist outside of our solar system as well. As of this
writing, astronomers have discovered more than 500 planets orbiting other stars with
numerous multi-planet systems. New discoveries are announced regularly. Most of these
extra-solar planets are the size of Jupiter or larger, and are not considered likely abodes
of life. Smaller, Earth-like planets probably also exist out there, but our technology is not
yet sufficiently advanced to detect them. The most Earth-like planet yet discovered is little
more than twice the size of Earth and it is in the proper distance range from its parent star
where water could exist in liquid form. And as is possibly the case with Europa, moons of
large planets may harbor life.
All life needs is temperatures capable of sustaining liquid water and a chemical environ-
ment complex enough to contain the necessary chemicals of life. Water is composed of
two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. Hydrogen is the most abundant element
in the universe while oxygen is the third most common, and their combination, water, is
the most common compound in the universe other than molecular hydrogen. The second
most widespread element, helium, is a noble gas and is not involved in chemical reactions.
In order after oxygen are carbon, neon (another noble gas), iron, and nitrogen. If these ele-
ments sound familiar they are the basic building blocks of life on Earth, with the exception,
of course, of the noble gases.
In at least one case, astronomers detected water vapor in the atmosphere of a large extra-solar
planet. If the planet has water, any moons it has will also possess water. And our technology
is improving all the time; soon we will be able to detect Earth-sized planets. Within a few
years, we may find that we humans are merely one member of a vast cosmic civilization.
The Brightest Star

What is the brightest star we can see from Earth? Actually, astronomers have two different
definitions of star brightness, or magnitude to use the technical term. So before you respond
to that question let’s define stellar magnitude.
“Absolute magnitude” refers to the actual energy output of the star, its luminosity. Generally
speaking, hotter stars emit more energy than cooler stars and bigger stars emit more energy
than smaller stars. That’s not quite as straight forward as it seems: a large but cool star may
or may not put out more light than a smaller but hotter star. The devil’s in the details.
“Apparent magnitude” refers to the brightness of a star as seen in our sky, but that’s actually
affected by two parameters: the star’s luminosity and its distance from us. Just as a distant
street light appears fainter than a nearby one, a closer star will appear brighter in our sky
than an identical one farther away. Absolute Magnitude is actually defined as the apparent
magnitude at a fixed distance of ten parsecs, so distance is taken out of the absolute mag-
nitude scale. A moderate star that is quite close may have a high apparent magnitude but
a low absolute magnitude.
And to make matters even more confusing, the magnitude scale is backward. The modern
stellar magnitude scale has its origins with the Greek astronomer Hipparchus in 129 B.C.
when he produced one of the first known star charts. As a means of classifying stars, he
divided them into brightness categories. The brightest stars, a few dozen in all, he described
as “stars of the first magnitude.” Somewhat less bright stars he declared were of the second
magnitude, and so on. He divided all stars into one of six magnitude groups. So the bright-
est stars were Magnitude 1 and the faintest stars visible to the human eye were Magnitude
6. Thus, the bigger the number, the fainter the star.
In 1856, astronomers, after having developed instruments far more sensitive than their eyes,
decided they needed to quantify this brightness scale more precisely. With their instru-
ments, they determined that “stars of the First Magnitude” were, on average, a hundred
times brighter than star of the sixth magnitude. A five-magnitude jump (6th magnitude to
1st magnitude) meant a change in brightness by a factor of one hundred. So they defined
the magnitude scale in such a way that a change of one magnitude, from 1 to 2 or from 4 to
5 meant a change in brightness by a factor of 2.5 (technically, the 5th root of 100 or roughly
2.512). A difference in magnitude by one number between two stars means an increase of 2.512
times in brightness, with the smaller magnitude rating corresponding to the brighter star.
So what star seen in the skies over our planet has the lowest apparent magnitude number,
the brightest as seen from Earth? Our sun, of course! It shines at apparent magnitude -26.
But that’s a trick question. What is the brightest nighttime star? It is likely that your answer
when you first read the question at the beginning of this section is the same as it is now
after the discussion of the astronomical magnitude scale. It is also likely that your answer
is wrong. It is a common misconception that what we usually call the North Star is the
brightest star in the sky. Actually, it’s not even in the top ten. The North Star, whose proper
name is Polaris, may be the best known star, so people often mistakenly believe it to be the
brightest star. It’s not. Polaris has an apparent magnitude of 2.02; it’s not even a star “of the
First Magnitude.” It is actually the 48th brightest nighttime stars visible from Earth, the 33rd
brightest as seen from Oklahoma.
The brightest star seen from Earth, the star with the lowest apparent magnitude, is Sirius at
-1.44. It is one of a handful of stars so bright that the magnitude scale had to be extended into
negative numbers. The scale factor is unchanged: a decrease in one magnitude, say, from
0 to -1, still means a brightness increase of 2.512. Sirius may be unfamiliar to you because it
shines in the evening sky during our winter and spring months, when it is typically cold or
cloudy, so it’s not so well known to the casual sky observers of the northern hemisphere. If
you lived in Australia, Sirius would be up during your summer and fall and therefore more
familiar to you.
What star in the sky has the highest luminosity, that is to say, has the lowest absolute magni-
tude rating? It’s difficult to say. We can directly measure the apparent magnitude of any star
visible to us. But converting that to an absolute magnitude isn’t always easy. Our ability to
measure star distances may be no more accurate than 10%, even less so for very distant stars.
Between stars, what astronomers call interstellar space, is not completely empty; there are
tiny but varying amounts of dust and gas which can absorb and scatter starlight, making it
tricky to measure exactly the amount of light coming from the star. And even with our best
telescopes, we can only see a tiny fraction of the stars within our Milky Way galaxy, much
less with stars in other galaxies.
One of the most luminous known stars is Eta Carina. Eta Carina isn’t visible from Oklahoma;
it’s too far south to ever rise in our sky. This star is 100 to 150 times more massive than our
sun. It ejected a shell of gas in 1843, one of several known explosions. That gas shell hides
our direct view of the star but astronomers estimate its absolute magnitude at -12. By com-
parison, the absolute magnitude of Sirius is only +1.5. Our sun’s absolute magnitude is +4.8,
quite mediocre as stars go.
The Pistol Star, near the center of our Milky Way galaxy is another candidate for the brightest
known star. Due to its distance and the dusty nature of its environs, the Pistol Star is harder
to study, but it appears to be very close to Eta Carina in luminosity, probably a bit brighter.
A recent discovery shattered the record of those two stars. The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC)
is a small satellite galaxy of our Milky Way. The LMC is home to one of the most massive and
prolific star forming regions ever seen, known as the Tarantula Nebula after its resemblance
to that arachnid. Within the Tarantula Nebula sits the R136 cluster, forming stars at a furious
rate. Its largest member, the star R136a1, currently holds the record of the most massive and
luminous star ever found, with a current mass of about 265 solar masses and a birth weight
of as much as 320 times that of the Sun (massive stars suffer from a rapid loss of material
as a stellar wind). It shines with the incredible equivalent of 10,000,000 times the power of
our sun. Prior to this discovery, astrophysicists believe that no star larger than 150 time the
mass of the sun could survive with out tearing itself apart. Apparently astronomers still have
a lot to learn about their main topic of study.
The Ultimate Fate of Oklahoma (and Earth)

At various times in its distant past, Oklahoma has been frozen, ocean front property, ocean
bottom property, dinosaur playground and the land where the buffalo roam. At some time
in its distant future, Oklahoma will become molten magma before turning into a frozen
wasteland. These last two conditions will be shared with the entire planet Earth.
Earth, our sun, and all the other planets, dwarf planets, comets, asteroids, moons, and inter-
planetary dust formed four billion, six hundred million years ago from a cloud of interstellar
gas—mostly hydrogen and helium with a smattering of oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and other
gasses—and dust—composed primarily of silicon, carbon, iron, and small amounts of other
atoms. The moon came along shortly after that when a rogue planet the size of Mars collided
with the young and still molten Earth. The debris from that collision cooled and eventually
become our Moon.
The oldest evidence of life on Earth comes from a time 3.8 billion years ago. The Earth had
barely cooled to the point that the surface was not constantly molten or covered by massive
volcanoes, at least in a geological sense of time. Water became ubiquitous on the surface
of our planet, a necessary ingredient for life. But periodically since then, Earth has experi-
enced Ice Ages, where much of the planet’s land masses were covered with glaciers. During
a massive glaciation period lasting from roughly 750 million years ago to 580 millions ago,
most of our planet, even a significant fraction of the surface of our oceans, froze in what
geologists call Snowball Earth. Pockets of unfrozen ocean apparently remained, allowing
a safe haven for life.
Around 544 million years ago, the ancient supercontinent Laurentia, which included what we
today call North America and South America, began to separate. South America and North
America were joined where what is now the Gulf of Mexico. The land that now makes up
Oklahoma and Texas began to pull apart, creating what geologists call a rift valley. From 500
to 430 million years ago, as South America continued to move toward its current location,
the rifting between Texas and Oklahoma ceased and this part of our country was covered in
a vast shallow sea that waxed and waned. The vast amount of plant material that covered the
floor of this shallow sea eventually became Oklahoma’s oil, coal, and natural gas deposits.
The sea became a haven for terrestrial life; the rift began slowly closing up. Starting around
280 million years ago, the land of southern Oklahoma lifted up, creating the Arbuckle and
Wichita Mountains. Throughout this period, large reptiles and eventually dinosaurs roamed
the land that would become Oklahoma.
Eventually the geology of North America settled down to what we have today. The central
part of the country, including Oklahoma, became covered with short-and tall-grass prairies,
home to incredible herds of buffalo, technically American Bison. The first Native Americans
left important archeological evidence of the lifestyles of stone-age people in Oklahoma.
Our sun provides the life-giving warmth and light that makes all life possible by way of nuclear
reactions deep in its core. Every tiny fraction of a second, four hydrogen atoms are converted
into one helium atom in a round-about series of reactions that also releases energy as defined
by Albert Einstein’s famous equation E=mc2. Our sun currently releases the equivalent of a
million hydrogen bomb explosions every second from it 28–million-degree core.
Jump to the future, some two billion years from now. Our sun, which has been slowly
growing larger and more luminous, has now increased so much in size and brightness, it
has made the surface of Earth unlivable. The oceans have evaporated away and our once
verdant planet can not support life of any kind. As the sun grows larger still, flares on its
surface increase in strength and the flow of material away from the sun, the solar wind, has
increased to gale strength. This would cause planet-wide aurora, except that the magnetic
field of Earth died as the interior cooled below the melting point of iron, like what occurred
on the much smaller Moon five billion years earlier. The increase in radiation we receive
from the growing sun will eventually melt the surface rock of our planet.
As the sun continues to grow, it loses whole layers of itself out into space. This mass loss may
ultimately save earth from total destruction by our parent star. As the sun’s mass decreases,
so does its gravitation pull on Earth and the other planets. Earth slowly pulls away, ultimately
to where Mars is now. The expanding sun eventually engulfs Mercury and Venus, the two
innermost planets. Whether or not Earths survives or is also swallowed and vaporized by
in the sun’s deep nuclear furnace, like Mercury and Venus, depends upon how fast the sun
grows and how fast it loses mass. Astronomer’s best current guess is that the sun wins out
and Earth vanishes into the 100–million-degree core of the sun.
Mars, or perhaps the Moons of Jupiter, have become able to support life, so perhaps humanity
moves there. But that would be only a short respite. Eventually the sun runs completely out
of fuel, after shedding about half its mass creating a beautiful, ephemeral planetary nebula,
visible across the neighboring regions of our Milky Way galaxy. Once the energy source is
gone, the solar system freezes and the lights go out.
But a perhaps even more depressing fate awaits Earth in the far distant future, well beyond
when the sun peters out. The latest cosmological observations indicate that not only is our
universe expanding from the force of the Big Bang 14.7 billion years ago, the rate at which
it is expanding is increasing. Some unknown force is pushing everything apart, a kind of
universal antigravity. As the galaxies separate, this force, astronomers have dubbed it “Dark
Energy” just to give it a name, becomes stronger.
We don’t know the source of Dark Energy, but some scientists believe that it is a property of
space itself. If that is so, it will grow exponentially stronger as space grows bigger. Eventu-
ally not only will galaxies be pushed apart, the stars within galaxies, four hundred billion
or so in our Milky Way galaxy alone, will began to separate. Our galaxy will dissipate as the
stars move away and our sky will go dark. Actually it will already be dark as the sun will have
gone out a trillion years earlier. Soon the stars, planets, and any remaining life forms will be
broken apart into individual atoms.
And the mysterious Dark Energy won’t yet be finished. As space expands and the strength
of the Dark Energy increases, it will eventually surpass the atomic and nuclear forces hold-
ing atoms together. The very structure of our universe will be ripped asunder and all that
will eventually remain are those non-divisible entities in our universe: photons (particles
of light), electrons, quarks, and gluons (the constituents that make up the atomic nucleus).
And perhaps with such incredible forces acting on them, maybe even these “fundamental”
particles will be torn apart and existence itself will cease altogether in our universe.
For now, just enjoy the wonderful scenery and great weather of our home state.
Astronomy Clubs, Planetariums, Observatories, and

Astronomical Products
For those interested in further information on astronomical phenomena, the best sources
are local astronomy clubs and planetariums. Astronomy clubs allow you to meet people who
share a common interest. Clubs also provide opportunities to view astronomical objects
through a telescope. Should buying a telescope be in your plans, clubs provide opportuni-
ties to “test drive” different telescopes before you buy one.
It’s hard to beat the ability of a planetarium for teaching about the night sky. These domed
theaters simulate the night sky beautifully, providing better views of the heavens than our
light-polluted cities. Most offer a regular schedule of public performances, as well as school
field trips with programs geared around public school curriculum. Some planetariums also
include educational exhibits.
Oklahoma has few observatories, and most of those are privately owned. While membership
in an astronomy club often provides access to a telescope, public-use observatories usually
have larger instruments in a permanent, stable installation. They often have equipment for
viewing celestial objects in a way astronomy clubs can’t offer. Since universities or plan-
etariums operate most public observatories, professional astronomers who offer greater
insight or detailed explanations to questions often run the programs. Those listed below offer
public viewing, but call ahead. The schedule may be limited or offered by reservation only.
Telescopes dealers not only maintain a selection of astronomical telescopes and binoculars,
they often provide free handouts on various aspects of astronomy. If a telescope is in your
future, it’s worth sending for catalogues.
Astronomy Clubs Planetariums

Astronomy Club of Tulsa Kirkpatrick Planetarium
PO Box 470611, Tulsa, OK 74147 2100 NE 52 St, Oklahoma City, OK 73111
918/688–MARS 405/602–3761
Leonardo’s Star Quest Astronomy Club Oklahoma Baptist University
200 E Maple Street, Enid, OK 73701 Shawnee, OK 74801 • º405/878–2028
580/233–2787 • www.leonardos.org Tulsa Air and Space Museum
Norman North High School 3624 N 74 E Ave, Tulsa, OK 74115
Astronomy Club 918/834–9900
1809 Stubbeman Drive, Norman, OK 73169 •
405/366–5954 Observatories
Odyssey Astronomy Club University of Oklahoma
Route 2 Box 154, Wanette, OK 74878 Physics and Astronomy Dept.
405/899–4016 400 W Brooks, Norman, OK 73019
405–325–3961
Telescope Dealers RMMC Observatory
Astronomics PO Box 470611, Tulsa, OK 74147
680 SW 24 Ave, Norman, OK 73169 918–636–6682
405–364–0858 Cheddar Ranch Observatory
Steve’s Pro Shop PO Box 22804, Oklahoma City, OK 74123
709–B S Air Depot Blvd, Midwest City, OK
73110 • 405–732–1350
General
Index
General Index 1007
Symbols
2-1-1 Oklahoma Coordinating 10th Circuit Court of Appeals 210
Council 227
A
ABLE Commission 230 Air Quality Advisory Council 259
Abstractors Board, Oklahoma 227 Air Service 4
Accountability, Office of Air, Space, & Oklahoma 17–49
(education) 252 Astronauts 32
Accountancy Board, Oklahoma 227 New Frontiers, Feature Introduction 18
Accrediting Agency, State 228 Oklahoma’s Air Force Bases 39
Pioneers 19
Adelson, Tom 101
Adjutant General Alarm and Locksmith Industry
see Military Department 289 Committee 230
Administration, Citizens Advisory Alcohol and Drug Counselors,
Panel 228 Oklahoma Board of Licensed 230
Adoption and Medical Assistance, Alcohol and Drug Influence, Board of
Interstate Compact on 228 Tests for 230
Adult Offender Supervision, Interstate Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement
Compact for 228 Commission 230
Aeronautics Commission, Aldridge, Cliff A. 100, 101
Oklahoma 228 Alfalfa, county of 382–383
African American Centennial Plaza Allen, Mark 100, 102
Design Committee 229 Allen, Thomas C. 21
Agencies, Boards, and Commissions Amber Alert/Plan Committee,
(ABCs) 225–348 Oklahoma 231
Aging Issues, Citizens Advisory American Recovery and Reinvestment
Panel for 229 Act 231
Agricultural and Livestock Anatomical Board of the State of
Production 946–948 Oklahoma 231
Agricultural Regions (map) 942 Anderson, Patrick 100, 102
Agricultural Trade Statistics 949 Animal Diseases, Governor’s Task
Agriculture, Food, and Forestry; Force on Foreign 231
Department of 229 Anthony, Bob 69, 77
Forestry Cost-share Advisory Appeals, 10th Circuit Court of 210
Committee 229 Apportionment Commission, Bipartisan
State Bureau of Standards 229 Commission on Legislative 279
Agriculture Mediation Board 230 Aragon, Major General (retired)
Agriculture Overview 941–943 Rita 80, 92
Agriculture, Secretary of 80, 81 Archeological Survey, Oklahoma 231
Agriculture, U.S. Department of Architects and Landscape Architects,
Cooperative Extension Service 369 Board of Governors of Licensed 231
Risk Management Division 369 Archives and Records
Air Force, Department of the 368 Commission 232
Area of state 3 Meteor Showers 985

Arkansas-Oklahoma Arkansas River Moon Phases 985
Compact Commission 232 Paper Strip Solar System Model 990
Armes, Don 131, 133 Planet Visibility 986
Seasons 984
Army, Department of the 368
The Brightest Star 999
Arts Council, Oklahoma 232 The Ultimate Fate of Oklahoma (and
Astronauts 32 Earth) 1000
Astronomical Phenomena for Why Pluto Is Not A Planet: An Analogy 988
Oklahoma 983–1002 Astronomy Clubs, Planetariums,
Conjunction 989 Observatories, and Astronomical
Determining the Sun’s Position and the Products 1003
Number of Hours of Sunlight Per
Athletic Commission, Oklahoma
Day 990
Does Life Exist Elsewhere in the State 233
Universe? 996 Atoka, county of 384–385
Eclipses 983 Attorney General 233
How To Find Directions 993 Attorney General, Office of the 71
How to Measure Distances and Time Using Attorneys, U.S. 366–367
the Stars 994 Auditor and Inspector, Office of
Light Pollution 991 State 72
B
Ballenger, Roger 100, 102 Biggs, Scott R. 131, 135
Banking Department, Oklahoma Billy, Lisa J. 131, 135
State 233 Bingman, Brian 100, 101
Bankruptcy Clerks, U.S. 364 Biofuels Development Advisory
Bankruptcy Judges, United States 364 Committee 234
Banning, J. Herman 21 Biological Survey, Oklahoma 234
Banz, Gary W. 131, 134 Blackwell, Gus 131, 136
Bar Association, Oklahoma 233 Blaine, county of 390–391
Barber Advisory Board, State 234 Blind, Oklahoma School for the 303
Barnes, Cassius McDonald 759 Blind & Physically Handicapped,
Barnes, Judge Deborah 207 Library for the 303
Barresi, Janet 69, 76 Blind, Services for the
Barrington, Don 100, 103 see Rehabilitation Services, Oklahoma
Bartlesville 551 Department of 302
Bartlett, Dewey Follett 764 Boggs, Larry 100, 104
Bass, Randy 100, 103 Boll Weevil Eradication Organization,
Beaver, county of 386–387 Oklahoma 234
Beckham, county of 388–389 Bond Advisor, Oklahoma State 235
Behavioral Practitioners Advisory Bond Commissioner 235
Board, Oklahoma Licensed 234 Bond Oversight, Council of 235
Bell, Judge Robert Dick 205 Boren, David Lyle 765
Bellmon, Henry Louis 764, 765 Boxing Commission, Oklahoma
Bennett, John 131, 134 Professional 235
Branan, Cliff 100, 104
General Index 1009
Braniff, Paul R. 25 Budget 6

Breast Cancer Prevention and see Budget, Policy, and Communications
Treatment Advisory Committee 235 Division; Office of Management and
Brecheen, Josh 100, 105 Enterprise Systems 285
Bridenstine, Jim 352 Buettner, Judge Kenneth L. 205
Brinkley, Rick 100, 105 Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Corridor
Broken Arrow 545 Advisory Committee 235
Brooks, Corey 100 Building Bonds Commission,
Brown, Bill 100, 107 Oklahoma 235
Brown, Mike 131, 136 Burrage, Sean 100, 107
Brumbaugh, David 131, 137 Business License Information
Bryan, county of 392–393 Office 236
Bus Service 4
C
Caddo, county of 394–395 Ft. Gibson 371
Campaign Compliance 259 Ft. Sill 371
Canadian, county of 396–397 Centennial Botanical Garden Authority,
Canadian River Commission 236 Oklahoma 238
Cannaday, Ed 131, 137 Center for the Book, Oklahoma 281
Canteen Services, Board of Central Services, Department of
Directors for 247 see Capital Asset Management Division,
Office of Management and Enterprise
Capital Investment Board,
Services 284
Oklahoma 236
Cerebral Palsy Commission 238
Capitol Improvement Authority,
Chambers of Commerce,
Oklahoma 236
Oklahoma 552
Capitol-Medical Center Improvement
Charity Games
and Zoning Commission 237 see Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement
Capitol Preservation Commission, Commission 230
State 237 Cherokee, county of 400–401
Carbon Sequestration Advisory Chief Medical Examiner 238
Committee 237 Child Abuse Examination,
Career and Technology Education, Board of 239
Oklahoma Department of 237, Child Death Review Board 239
744–746 Children and Oral Health, Governor’s
Carter, county of 398–399 Task Force on 239
Cartwright Memorial Library (Law), Jan Children and Youth,
Eric 281 Commission on 239
Casey, Dennis 131, 138 Child Abuse Examination, Board of 239
Cash Management and Investment Child Death Review Board 239
Oversight Commission 237 Early Childhood Intervention, Interagency
Catastrophic Health Emergency Coordinating, Council for 239
Planning Task Force, Oklahoma 237 Joint Oklahoma Information Network
Cauthron, Robin J. 356 (JOIN) 239
Juvenile System Oversight, Office of 239
Cemeteries, National
Office of Planning and Coordination for Number of Tornadoes by County

Services to Children and Youth 239 (map) 963
Post Adjudication Review Advisory Climatological Survey, Oklahoma 240
Board 239 Climate Services 241
Children, Interstate Commission for the K–12 Educational Outreach 241
Placement of 239 OK-FIRST Project 241
Children, Interstate Compact on the Cline, Terry 80, 87
Placement of 238 Coal, county of 408–409
Chiropractic Examiners, Board of 239 Coast Guard Institute 371
Choctaw, county of 402–403 Coates, Harry E. 100, 108
Choctaw District, U.S. Forest Coats, Sanford C. 366
Service 369 Cobb, Geraldyn “Jerrie” 29
Christian, Mike 131, 138 Coburn, Tom 351
Cimarron, county of 404–405 Cockroft, Josh 131, 139
cities and towns Colbert, Justice Tom 192
Communities Not Incorporated 572–575 Cole, Tom 354
Incorporated Cities and Towns 557–572 College Savings Plan, Board of
Major Cities 3 Trustees 241
Major Cities of Oklahoma 541–560
Comanche, county of 410–411
Oklahoma Chambers Of Commerce 552–
553 Combs, Justice Douglas L. 193
Oklahoma Cities with Populations Over Commerce and Agriculture 925–950
30,000 542–551 Commerce and Tourism,
Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission Secretary of 80, 82
Advisory Council, Oklahoma Commerce in Oklahoma 927–929
American 240 Fortune 500 Companies in Oklahoma
Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, (table) 932–936
Gross State Product by Industrial Sector
Oklahoma American 240
(table) 930
Classification Task Force, State 240 in brief 8
CLASS Task Force, Governor’s 240 Selected Oklahoma Indicators (table) 929
CLEET Wage and Salary Employment, Non Farm
see Law Enforcement Education and (table) 931
Training, Council on 279 Commerce, Oklahoma
Cleveland, Bobby 131, 139 Department of 241
Cleveland, county of 406–407 Small Business Regulatory Review
Client Assistance Program 250 Committee 241
Climate 12, 959–964 Community Hospitals Authority 241
Drought 963 Compassionate Care Task Force 241
Flooding 963 Compensation and Unclassified
Oklahoma’s Weather Network 964 Positions Review Board,
Other Climatic Features 961
Oklahoma 241
Precipitation 959
Compsource Oklahoma 241
Annual Precipitation History (chart) 960
Condit, Donnie 131
Normal Annual Precipitation (map) 959
Temperatures 961 Congressional Districts (map) 353
Normal Annual Temperatures Congressional Leadership Offices,
(map) 962 State 98
Tornadoes 962
General Index 1011
Congressmen, History of County Election Boards 685–687

Oklahoma 839–840 County Energy District Authority 248
Congress, United States 352 County Government in
Conservation Commission, Oklahoma 375
Oklahoma 242 County Government Personnel
Constitution and Government of Education and Training,
Oklahoma 4 Commission on 248
Construction Industries Board 244 County Seats (map) 379
Consumer Credit, Commission on 244 courts
Consumer Services of the Corporation Assembly of Presiding Judges 220
Commission 245 Civil Appeals, Judges of the 205
Contingency Review Board 245 Civil Appeals Judicial Districts (map) 204
Civil Appeals overview 203
Continuity Policy Coordination
Council on Judicial Complaints 222
Committee, Governor’s 245 Court on the Judiciary 219
Coody, Ann 131, 140 Court System, Oklahoma 189
Cooksey, Marian 131, 140 Criminal Appeals History 855
Cooperative Extension Service at Criminal Appeals, Judges of the 200
Oklahoma State University 245, 369 Criminal Appeals Judicial Districts
Cooper Jr., Leroy Gordon 32 (map) 198
Corey Brooks 106 Criminal Appeals overview 199
Corporation Commission, Dispute Resolution Advisory Board 222
General Jurisdiction 211
Oklahoma 77–79, 245
Judges of the Court of Tax Review 219
Commissioners Since Statehood 775
Judges of the District Courts 211–222
Consumer Services 245
Judges of the Worker’s Compensation
Corrections Centers, Federal Court 220
El Reno Correctional Institute 369
Supreme Court Judicial Districts
Federal Transfer Center 369
(map) 190
Corrections Compact, Interstate 247 Cox, Doug 131, 141
Corrections, State Department of 246 Craig, county of 414–415
Correctional Industries, Oklahoma 247
Institutions (Correctional Centers) 323–
Crain, Brian A. 100, 108
325 Credit Union Board, Oklahoma
Internal Affairs 247 State 248
Investigations Division 247 Creek, county of 416–417
Probation and Parole Offices 324 Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact
Work Centers (Corrections) 325 Council, National 248
Cosmetology, State Board of 247 Crime Victims Compensation
Costello, Mark 69, 75 Board 248
Cotton, county of 412–413 Crop Weather Review 944–945
counties Cruce, Lee 760
Trends in County Populations (chart) 954 Custer, county of 418–419
County Clerk Addresses and Phone
Numbers 376–378
D
Dahm, Nathan 100, 109 Dairy Compact Southern 248
Dairy Promotion Commission, Digitizing the County Records of

Oklahoma 248 Oklahoma, Task Force on 249
Dank, David 131, 141 Disability Concerns, Office of 249
David, Kim 100, 109 Client Assistance Program 250
Davis, J.M. Memorial Commission 248 Disability Issues, Citizens Advisory
Deaf, Oklahoma School for the 303 Panel for 250
Deering, Major General Myles L. 80, Disability Services Rate Review
89 Committee, Advantage Waver and
Deferred Compensation Plan, Public Developmental 250
Employees Dispute Resolution Advisory
see Public Employees Retirement System, Board 222
Oklahoma 300 District Attorneys 223
DeGiusti, Timothy D. 356 District Attorneys Council 250
Delaware, county of 420–421 District Court Clerks, U.S. 365
Demographics 957 District Court Magistrates, U.S. 365
Cultural Regions (map) 958 District Judges, U.S. 356–362
Population 957 Senior Judges 362–363
Trends in County Populations (chart) 954 Doak, John 69, 74
Vernacular and Cultural Regions 957
Doerflinger, Preston 80, 86
Vernacular Regions (map) 957
Vital Statistics 957
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Denney, Lee 131, 142 Advisory Council 250
Dentistry, Oklahoma Board of 249 Donnie Condit 139
Derby, David 131, 142 Dorman, Joe 131, 143
Detainers, Interstate Douglas, Patrice 69, 78
Agreement on 249 Dowdell, John E. 357
Developmental Disabilities Council, Drinking, Governor’s Task Force on
Oklahoma 249 Prevention of Underage 250
Developmental or Physical Disabilities Driver’s License Compact 250
Advisory Board, Group Homes for Driving Information 4
Persons with 249 Drought 963
Development Finance Authority, Drug Abuse
see Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Oklahoma Services, Department of 288
see Finance Authority, Oklahoma
Development 260
Drug Court, Juvenile 251
Dewey, county of 422–423 Drug Dog Advisory Council 251
DeWitt, Dale 131, 142 Dyslexia Teacher Training Pilot Program
Diabetes Center, Comprehensive 249 Advisory Committee 251
E
Eagan, Claire V. 357 East Central Oklahoma Gas
Early Childhood Intervention, Authority 251
Interagency Coordinating, Echols, Jon 131, 144
Council for 239 Eclipses 983
East Central Oklahoma Building Economic Environment 6
Authority 251 Agriculture in brief 7
General Index 1013
Commerce in brief 8 Election Results 595–609

Industry in brief 8 Election Tables (Vote for President and
Petroleum and Natural Gas in brief 9 Governor) by county 646
Poverty in brief 9 Oklahoma Vote in Presidential
Property Valuation 6 Elections 589
State Budget 6 Registration by Party in Oklahoma Since
Taxes in brief 9 1960 590–591
Transportation in brief 10 Total Votes Cast for President and Governor
Workforce in brief 10 by party 587–588
Edmond 547 Vote for Governor, last General Election,
Edmondson, James Howard 764 County-by-County 645
Edmondson, Justice James 193 Voting Districts of Cities and Towns 688–
703
Education 705–746
Career and Technology Education 744– Elective State Officers Since
746 Statehood 770–774
Higher Education 734 Electronic and Information
Public Instruction, Superintendent of 76 Technology Accessibility Advisory
Public Schools 707–735 Committee 254
State Board of 251 Elevation 3
State Department of 251 Elevator Inspection Bureau 278
Educational Personnel, Interstate Ellis, county of 424–425
Agreement on Qualification of 252 Ellis, Jerry 100, 110
Educational Quality and Accountability El Reno Correctional Institute 369
Board 252, 253 Emergency Management
Educational Television Authority, Advisory Council 254
Oklahoma 253 Emergency Management Compact 254
Education Commission of the States, Oklahoma Department of 254
The 251 Emergency Response Systems
Education Oversight Board 252 Development Advisory Council 254
Office of Accountability 252 Employees Insurance and Benefits
Education, Secretary of 80, 83 Board, Oklahoma 254
Elected Officials of Oklahoma Employment Security Commission,
Attorney General, Office of the 71 Oklahoma 254
Auditor and Inspector, Office of State 72 Employment Service, Local
contact list 69
Offices 255–256
Governor, Office of the 66
Insurance Commissioner 74
Energy Compact of the Southern
Labor, Commissioner of 75 States 256, 257
Lieutenant Governor, Office of the 70 Energy Council, the 257
Public Instruction, Superintendent of 76 Energy Initiative Board,
Treasurer, Office of the State 73 Oklahoma 256
Election Board, State 253 Energy Resources Board Advisory
Election Information 583–704 Committee, Oklahoma 258
Changes in Voter Registration and Political Energy Resources Board,
Affiliation 586 Oklahoma 257
Contests of Candidacy and Election 585 Energy, Secretary of 80, 84
County Election Boards 685–687
County Registration by Party 592–594
Election Dates 585–586
Engineers and Land Surveyors,State Water Quality Management Advisory

Board of Registration for Council 259
Professional 258 Environmental Quality,
Enid 549 Department of 258
Enid State School (Northern Oklahoma Environment, Natural 12–14
Resource Center of Enid) 326 Environment, Secretary of 80, 85, 258
Enns, John 131, 144 Equalization, State Board of 259
Environmental Protection Authority, Ethics Commission 259
Oklahoma 258 Examiners for Nursing Home
Environmental Quality Board 259 Administrators
Air Quality Advisory Council 259 see Long-Term Care Administrators,
Hazardous Waste Management Advisory Oklahoma State Board of
Council 259 Examiners for 283
Executive Branch 65–94
F
Faith Based and Community Initiatives, Department of Labor 371
Office of 260 Department of Transportation 371
Fallin, Governor Mary 67–68, 69, 767 Department of Treasury 371
Federal Corrections Centers 369
Federal Aviation Administration 371
General Services Administration 368
Federal Bureau of Investigation 370 Military 368
Federal Government 349–372 National Weather Service 369
National Oceanic and Atmospheric U.S. Forest Service 369
Administration 369 Veterans Affairs 371
Oklahoma Congressional Districts
Federal Transfer Center 369
(map) 353
United States Attorneys 366–367
Ferguson, Thompson Benton 760
United States Bankruptcy Judges 364 Fields, Eddie 100, 110
United States Congress 352–355 Film and Music Office, Oklahoma 260
United States District Court Clerks 365 Finance and Accountability, Joint
United States District Court Legislative Oversight Committee on
Magistrates 365 Local Government
United States District Judges 356–361 see Accountability, Joint Legislative
United States District Judges, Senior Oversight Committee on Local
Judges 362–363 Government Finance and 260
United States Senate 351 Finance and Revenue, Secretary of 80,
Federal Highway Administration 371 86
Federal Information Center 368 Finance Authority, Oklahoma
Federal Installations and Agencies Development 260
Department of Agriculture 369 Finance Authority, Oklahoma
Department of Commerce 369
Industrial 260
Department of Health and Human
Services 370
Finance, Office of State 283
see Management and Enterprise Services,
Department of Housing and Urban
Office of 261
Development 370
Department of Interior 370 Fire Ant Research and Management
Department of Justice 370 Advisory Committee 261
General Index 1015
Fire Extinguisher Industry Forestry Cost-share Advisory

Committee 261 Committee 229
Firefighters Pension and Retirement Forests 12
System, Oklahoma 262 Forests and Vegetation 970–973
Firefighter Training, Oklahoma Generalized Soils (including map) 971
Council on 261 Natural Vegetation (including map) 971
Fire Marshal Commission, State 261 Forest Service, U.S.
Firemen’s Building Authority, Oklahoma Choctaw District 369
Kiamichi District 369
State 262
National Grasslands 369
First Ladies of Oklahoma 768 Ouachita National Forest 369
Fischer, Judge John F. 208 Tiak District 369
Fish and Game Formulary Advisory Council
see Wildlife Conservation, see Nursing, Oklahoma Board of 293
Department of 321
Fortune 500 Companies in Oklahoma,
Fisher, Dan 131, 145 Major (table) 932–936
Flags of Oklahoma, Historical 61–64 Fourkiller, William 131, 146
Flooding 963 Frantz, Frank 760
Floyd, Kay 131, 145 Fraud Unit, Anti- 263
Food Service Advisory Council, Fraud Unit, Insurance 263
Oklahoma 262 Friot, Stephen P. 358
Ford, John W. 100, 111 Frizzell, Gregory K. 358
Forensic Center, Oklahoma 262 Frontier Country 51
Forensic Review Board 263 Funeral Board, Oklahoma 263
Foresters, State Board of
Registration for 263
G
Gang Intervention Steering Committee, Geology 965–969
Oklahoma Statewide 263 Generalized Topography 967
Garfield, county of 426–427 Major Geological Provinces (including
Garriott PhD, Owen Kay 33 map) 965
Minerals (including map) 968
Garrison, Earl 100, 112
Physiographic Regions (including
Garvin, county of 428–429 map) 966
Gary, Raymond Dancel 763 Glenn, Larry 131, 146
General Facts 3–6 Goodman, Judge Jerry L. 208
General Services Administration 368 Goree, Judge Brian Jack 205
Geographer, Office of State 264 governors
Geographic Information Council, Fallin, Governor Mary 67–68
State 264 Latest Vote for Governor, County-
Geographic Information, State by-County 645
Office of 264 Office of the Governor 66–68
Geographic Names, Oklahoma Since Statehood 760
Board on 264 Territorial Governors 758–760
Geography 12 Governor’s Cabinet 80
Geological Survey, Oklahoma 265 Grady, county of 430–431
Grand River Dam Authority 265 Greer, county of 434–435

Grant, county of 432–433 Griffin, A.J. 100, 112
Grasslands 13 Grimes, William C. 759
Grau, Randy 131, 147 Gross State Product by Industrial Sector
Great Plains Country 52 (table) 930
Green Country 53 Groundwater (map) 978
Green, Mark 366 Guardian, Office of Public 266
Greenwood Area Redevelopment Gurich, Justice Noma D. 194
Authority 266
H
Haise Jr., Fred Wallace 33 Health Care Workforce Resources Task
Hall, David 765 Force, Governor’s 268
Hall, Elise 131, 147 Health Disparities Task Force,
Halligan, Jim 100, 113 Governor’s Elimination of 268
Hall of Fame Members, Health Information and Privacy
Oklahoma 915–919 Collaboration Advisory Board,
Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Women’s 920, Oklahoma 268
921 Health Information Exchange Trust,
Hamilton, Rebecca 131, 148 Oklahoma (OHIET) 268
Hardin, Tommy 131, 148 Health Information Security and Privacy
Harmon, county of 436–437 Council, Oklahoma 268
Harper, county of 438–439 Health Insurance High Risk Pool 268
Haskell, Charles Nathaniel 760 Health Reinsurance Program Board,
Haskell, county of 440–441 Oklahoma Small Employer
Hazard Mitigation Team, State 266 see Insurance Department 274
Hazardous Waste Management Health, State Department of 266
Advisory Council 259 Advisory Bodies to State Board and State
Health and Human Services, Department of Health 267
Secretary of 80, 87 Healthy and Fit School Advisory
Health and Human Services, U.S. Committee 268
Dept. of Healthy Communities Advisory
Indian Health Service 370 Committee, Oklahoma 268
Health Care Authority Board, Healthy Schools Advisory Committee,
Oklahoma 268 Oklahoma 269
Health Care Authority, Oklahoma 267 Heaton, Joe 358
Health Care Commission, Interstate Henke, Katie 131, 149
Advisory 268 Henry, Governor Brad 766
Health Care for the Uninsured Herrington, John Bennett 34
Board 268 Hickman, Jeff 131, 149
Health Care Indemnity Fund Task Higher Education 734
Force 268 Annual Student Enrollments by Field of
Study 736
Health Care Workforce Resources
Enrollment 735
Board 268 Fiscal Year Operating Budget 737
General Index 1017
Institutions 741–743 Homeland Security, Oklahoma

Percent of State Populations Older Than Office of 270
25 Years Holding Bachelor’s Degrees Homeland Security Funding, Governor’s
(table) 734 Committee On 270
State Regents 739 Homeland Security, Regional Planning
State System 738
and Coordination Advisory
Higher Education, Regents for Councils for 271
see Regents for Higher Education,
Oklahoma State 302
Homeless, Governor’s Interagency
Highway Administration, Federal 371 Council on 271
Highway Construction Materials Horse Racing Commission,
Technician Certification Board 269 Oklahoma 271
Highway Patrol Hoskin, Chuck 131, 150
see Safety, Department of Public 303 Hospital Advisory Committee 271
Highways Hospital Advisory Council 271
see Transportation, Department of 315 Hospitals Authority, University 271
Highway Safety Hospitals, Veterans
see Transportation, Department of 315 Administration 371
Historical Records Advisory Board 269 House of Representatives, State
Historical Society, Oklahoma 269 Committees 183–185
Historic Preservation Review Contact Reference List 131–132
House of Representatives Since
Committee, Oklahoma 269
Statehood 776–816
History, Oklahoma 747–924 Leadership for the House 129
A Brief History of Oklahoma 749–757
Representatives by District 130
Historic Age 750 Speaker of the House 133
Indian Territory maps 752 Housing and Urban Development, U.S.
Land Openings, 1889–1906 (map) 757 Oklahoma City Field Office 370
Prehistoric Age 749 Tulsa Field Office 370
Statehood 756 Housing Finance Agency,
Territorial Days 751 Oklahoma 272
Historical Markers in Oklahoma 910–914 Hudecki, Phyllis 83
Municipal Government History and HUD (Housing and Urban
Facts 537
Development) 370
Holidays in Oklahoma, Official 5 Hughes, county of 442–443
Holloway, William Judson 762 Hulbert, Arthur 131, 150
Holt, David 100, 113 Human Services, Department of 272
Home Inspector Examiners, Human Services Centers 326
Committee of 270 Hunting and Fishing
Homeland Security see Wildlife Conservation,
Department of 321
I
Illegal Immigration Issues, Task Force on Incarcerated Parents Task Force,
Oklahoma 273 Children of 273
Immigration and Naturalization Incentive Approval Committee 273
Service 370
Incentive Review Committee Comprehensive and Regional

(Tax) 273 Universities 741
Independent Living Council, Two-Year Colleges 742
Statewide 273 Institutions, State Government 323–
Indian Health Service 370 327
Indicators, Selected Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner 74
(table) 929 Insurance Department 274
Indigent Defense System, Insurance Fund, State
Oklahoma 273 see Compsource Oklahoma 241
Industrial Finance Authority, Oklahoma Insurance Portability and
see Finance Authority, Oklahoma Accountability, Governor’s Task
Industrial 260 Force on Health 275
Industry Integrated Justice Information Systems
In Brief 8 Steering Committee, Oklahoma 293
Industry Advisory Committee 274 Interior, U.S. Department of
Information Fusion Center Governance National Park Service 370
Board, Oklahoma 274 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 370
Information Technology Internal Revenue Service 371
and Telecommunications, Interstate Cooperation, Oklahoma
Secretary of 80, 89 Commission on 275
Inhofe, Jim 351 Investigation, Oklahoma State
Inman, Scott 131, 151 Bureau of 275
Institutions of Higher Education 741– Ivester, Tom 100, 114
743
J
Jackson, county of 444–445 Jolley, Clark 100, 116
Jackson, Mike 131, 151 Jones, Gary 69, 72
Jason Smalley 176 Joplin, Judge Larry E. 206
Jazz Hall of Fame Board of Directors, Jordan, Fred 131, 152
Oklahoma 276 Joyner, Charlie 131, 153
J. D. McCarty Center for Children with judges
Developmental Disabilities 10th Circuit Court of Appeals 210
see Cerebral Palsy Commission 238 Assembly of Presiding Judges 220
Jefferson, county of 446–447 Council on Judicial Complaints 222
Jenkins, William Miller 759 Court of Civil Appeals (current) 205
Court of Criminal Appeals (current) 200–
Johnson, Constance N. 100, 114
202
Johnson, Dennis 131, 152 Court of Criminal Appeals (history) 855
Johnson, Judge Arlene 200 Court of Tax Review 219
Johnson, Judge Charles A. 201 Dispute Resolution Advisory Board 222
Johnson, Rob 100, 115 District Courts 211–222
Johnston, county of 448–449 Judicial Nominating Commission 221
Johnston, Henry Simpson 761 Supreme Court (current) 192–197
Joint Oklahoma Information Network Supreme Court (history) 851–854
(JOIN) 239 United States Bankruptcy Judges 364
General Index 1019
United States District Court Federal Bureau of Investigation 370

Magistrates 365 Immigration and Naturalization
United States District Judges 356–361 Service 370
United States District Judges, Senior U.S. Marshal, Eastern District 370
Judges 362–363 U.S. Marshal, Northern District 370
United States District Judges Since U.S. Marshal, Western District 370
Statehood 846 Juvenile Affairs, Board of 276
Worker’s Compensation Court 220 Juvenile Affairs, Office of 276
Judicial Branch 187–224 Juvenile Centers (Office of Juvenile
Judicial Compensation, Board of 276 Affairs) 326
Judicial Complaints, Council on 276 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
judicial district maps Prevention, State Advisory
Civil Appeals 204 Group on 277
Criminal Appeals 198
Juvenile Justice Reform Committee,
Supreme Court 190
Oklahoma 277
Judicial Nominating Commission 221,
Juveniles, Interstate Compact for 277
276
Juvenile System Oversight,
Justice, Ron 100, 116
Office of 239
Justice, U.S. Department of
K
Kansas-Oklahoma Arkansas River Kiamichi District, U.S. Forest
Commission 277 Service 369
Kauger, Justice Yvonne 194 Kiamichi Economic Development
Kay, county of 450–451 District of Oklahoma 277
Keating, Francis Anthony 766 Kingfisher, county of 452–453
Kern, Sally 131, 153 Kiowa, county of 454
Kern, Terence C. 362 Kirby, Dan 131, 154
Kerr, Robert Samuel 763 Kouplen, Steve 131, 154
Kiamichi Country 54
L
Laboratory Services Advisory Land Surveyors
Council 259 see Engineers and Land Surveyors,
Labor, Commissioner of 75 State Board of Registration for
Labor, State Department of 278 Professional 258
Labor, U.S. Department of Langston University–Oklahoma City
Occupational Safety and Health and Langston University–Tulsa,
Administration (OSHA) 371 Board of Trustees for 279
Lamb, Todd 69, 70 Lankford, James 355
Land Office, Commissioners of Latimer, county of 456–457
the 278 Latitude of Oklahoma 3
Landscape Architects Law Enforcement Education and
see Architects and Landscape Architects, Training, Council on 279
Board of Governors of Licensed 231
Law Enforcement Retirement System, Life and Health Insurance Guaranty

Oklahoma 279 Association, Oklahoma 281
Lawton 546 Lincoln, county of 460–461
LeFlore, county of 458–459 Linked Deposit Review Board,
Legislative Bond Oversight Commission Oklahoma 281
see also Bond Oversight, Council of 235 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board,
Legislative Branch 95–186 Oklahoma 282
Legislative Compensation, Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Board on 280 Research, Marketing and Safety
Legislative Service Bureau 98, 280 Commission 282
legislature Literacy Resource Office,
House Committees 183–185 Oklahoma 281
Legislature overview 97–98 Livestock Production, Agricultural
Representatives by District, State 130
and 946–948
Representatives Contact Reference
List 131–186
Location and Size 953–956
Location and Latitude of Oklahoma 3
Representatives, profiles of 129
Location of Oklahoma (graphic) 953
Representatives Since Statehood
State Dimensions (map) 956
(history) 776–816
Townships and Ranges (map) 955
Senate Committees 127–128
Senate Since Statehood (history) 818–837 Lockhart, James 131, 155
Senators by District, State 99 Logan, county of 462–463
Senators Contact Reference List 100 Lone Chimney Water Association 282
Speaker of the House of Longitude and Latitude
Representatives 133 map 954
Leonard, Tim 362 Longitude of Oklahoma 3
Lewis, Judge David 200 Long-Range Capital Planning
Libraries In Oklahoma, Public 328– Commission 282
334 Long-Term Care Administrators,
Libraries, Oklahoma Oklahoma State Board of
Department of 280 Examiners for 283
Jan Eric Cartwright Memorial Library Long-Term Care Facility Advisory
(Law) 281 Board 283
Oklahoma Center for the Book 281 Lopez, Dave 80, 82
Oklahoma Literacy Resource Office 281
Lottery Commission 283
State Records Center 281
Love, county of 464–465
Library for the Blind & Physically
Loveless, Kyle 100, 117
Handicapped 303
Lucas, Frank 354
Lieutenant Governor, Office of the 70
Lucid PhD, Shannon Wells 35
Lumpkin, Judge Gary L. 201
M
Main Street Center, Oklahoma 283 Budget, Policy, and Communications
Major, county of 466–467 Division 285
Management and Enterprise Services, Capital Asset Management Division 284
Central Accounting and Reporting
Office of 283
Division 285
General Index 1021
Central Purchasing Division 284 Medical Examiner, Office of the

Employee(s) Group Insurance Division 284 Chief 287
Human Capital Management Division 284 Medical Licensure and Supervision,
Information Services Division 286 State Board of 286
Legal Division 285
Medical Trust, Oklahoma State
Manufactured Home Advisory
University 287
Committee 286
Medicolegal Investigations,
Marginal Quality Water Technical Work
Board of 287
Group 319
Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Market Assistance Program Association,
Services, Department of 288
Voluntary 286 Services Centers 326
Marland, Ernest Whitworth 762 Mental Health, Interstate
Marlatt, Bryce 100, 117 Compact on 287
Marshall, county of 468–469 Mental Health Plan Transformation
Marshals, United States Advisory Board, Governor’s 315
Eastern District 370
Mental Retardation
Northern District 370
see Developmental Disabilities Council,
Since Statehood 849
Oklahoma 249
Western District 370
Merit Protection Commission 288
Martin, Robert 758
Mesonet, The Oklahoma 241
Martin, Scott 131, 155
Meteorites 995
Martin, Steve 131, 156
If You Suspect You Have Found A
Matthews, Kevin 131, 156 Meteorite 996
Mayes, county of 470–471 Meteor Showers 985
Mazzei, Mike 100, 118 Mid-America Industrial Park
McAffrey, Al 100, 118 see Ordnance Works Authority,
McBride, Mark 132, 157 Oklahoma 294
McCall, Charles A. 132, 157 Mid-South Industrial Authority 289
McCarty Center for Children with Midwest City 548
Developmental Disabilities Midwestern Oklahoma Development
see Cerebral Palsy Commission 238 Authority 289
McClain, county of 472–473 Miles-LaGrange, Vicki 359
McCullough, Mark 132, 158 Military and Veterans Affairs
McCurtain, county of 474–475 Secretary of 80, 92
McDaniel, Curtis 132, 158 Military Children, Interstate
McDaniel, Jeannie 132, 159 Compact on Education
McDaniel, Randy 132, 159 Opportunity for 289
McIntosh, county of 476–477 Military Children, Oklahoma
McKeever, Dr. Stephen (W.S.) 91 State Council for Educational
McNiel, Skye 132, 160 Opportunity for 289
McPeak, Jerry 132, 160 Military Department 289
Medicaid, Governor’s Task Military (in Oklahoma)
Force on 286 Air Force, Department of the 368
Medical Authority, Oklahoma State Army, Department of the 368
University 286 National Guard 368
Medical Cost Reduction Navy, Department of the 368
Committee 286
Military Planning Commission, Motorcycle Safety and Education,

Oklahoma Strategic 289 Advisory Committee for 290
Military, Secretary of the 80, 89 Motor Vehicle Commission,
Miller, Ken 69, 73 Oklahoma 290
Minerals 968–969 Mountains and Streams 974–978
in brief 13 Mountains (map) 975
map 968 Rivers and Lakes (map) 977
Nonfuel Mineral Production (table) 968 Mullin, Markwayne 352
Mines, Department of 290 Mulready, Glen 132, 162
Oklahoma Miner Training Institute 290 Municipal Government 535–576
Ming, C. Michael 80, 84 History and Facts 537
Mining Commission, Oklahoma 290 Municipal Power Authority,
Mining Compact Commission, Oklahoma 291
Interstate 290 Murphey, Jason 132, 162
Mining/Petroleum Overview 937–940 Murphy, Dana L. 69, 79
Nonfuel Mineral Production (table) 937 Murray, county of 478–479
Value of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murray, Johnston 763
Production 938
Murray, William Henry 762
Minority and Disadvantaged Business Museums, Oklahoma 857
Enterprises, Office for 241 Music Hall of Fame Board,
Mitchell, III, Judge E. Bay 207 Oklahoma 291
Monroney Aeronautical Center 371 Muskogee 550
Moon Phases 985 Muskogee City-County Port
Moore 547 Authority 298
Moore, Lewis H. 132, 161 Muskogee, county of 480–481
Morgan, Dorothy K. Pressler 23 Mutual Aid Compact, Oklahoma
Morrissette, Richard 132, 161 Intrastate 291
N
Nanotechnology Initiative, Chickasaw National Recreation Area 370
Oklahoma 291 Native American Cultural and
Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Educational Authority of
Control, Oklahoma State Oklahoma 292
Bureau of 291 Native American Liaison,
National Grasslands, U.S. Forest Service Oklahoma 292
Black Kettle District, Roger Mills Natural Environment 12–15
County 369 Natural History, Sam Noble Oklahoma
Rita Blanca District, Cimarron County 369 Museum of 292
National Guard 368 Nature, Wildlife and 951–1004
National Guard Relief Program Review Navy, Department of the 368
Board, Oklahoma 292 Nelson, Jason 132, 162
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Newberry, Dan 100, 119
Administration New Economy Workforce,
National Weather Service 369 Council for 309
National Park Service 370 Newell, Tom 132, 163
General Index 1023
Newspapers, Daily and Weekly 335– Northeast Oklahoma Public Facilities

340 Authority 293
Nigh, George Patterson 764, 765 Nowata, county of 484–485
Noble, county of 482–483 Nursing Facility Funding Advisory
Nollan, Jadine 132, 164 Committee, Oklahoma 293
Nonresident Violator Compact 292 Nursing Home Insurance Access, Task
Norman 544 Force on 293
North Central Oklahoma Municipal Nursing, Oklahoma Board of 293
Power Pool Authority 292
O
Observatories 1003 Oklahoma Today Magazine 315
OCAST (Oklahoma Center for the Okmulgee, county of 490–491
Advancement of Science and Operation Homefront Task Force 294
Technology) 305 Optometry, Board of Examiners
Occupational Safety and Health In 294
Administration (OSHA) 371 Ordnance Works Authority,
O’Donnell, Terry 132, 164 Oklahoma 294
OETA Organ Donor Education and Awareness
see Educational Television Authority, Program Advisory Council 294
Oklahoma 253 Ortega, Charles 132, 164
Offender Supervision, Oklahoma State Orthotics and Prosthetics, Advisory
Council for Interstate Adult 293 Committee on 295
Office of Planning and Coordination for Osage, county of 492–493
Services to Children and Youth 239 OSBI (Oklahoma State Bureau of
OHIET 268 Investigation)
OIJIS (Oklahoma Integrated Justice see Investigation, Oklahoma State
Information Systems) Steering Bureau of 275
Committee 293 Osborn, Leslie 132, 165
Oil and Gas Wells, Commission on Osteopathic Examiners, State
Marginally Producing 294 Board of 295
Oil Compact Commission, Osteoporosis, Advisory Panel on 295
Interstate 294 Osteoporosis, Interagency
Oilseed Commission, Oklahoma 294 Council on 295
OK-FIRST Project 241 Ottawa, county of 494–495
Okfuskee, county of 486–487 Ouachita National Forest 369
Oklahoma City 542 Ownbey, Pat 132, 165
Oklahoma, county of 488–489
P
P–20 Data Coordinating Page, Clarence E. 27
Committee 295 Pardon and Parole Board 295
Paddack, Susan 100, 119 Parman, Larry V. 80, 81
Party Affiliation of Governor, U.S. Plumbers, Licensing of

Delegation, and State Legislature see Construction Industries Board 244
Since Statehood 841–845 Plumbing Examiners, Oklahoma State
Pauls Valley State School (Southern Committee of 297
Oklahoma Resource Center of Pauls Podiatric Medical Examiners, Oklahoma
Valley) 326 State Board of 298
Pawnee, county of 496–497 Pogue, William Reid 35
Payne, county of 498–499 Police Pension and Retirement System,
Payne, James H. 360 Oklahoma 298
Peanut Commission, Oklahoma 295 Pollution Control
Pedorthics, Advisory see Environmental Quality,
Committee on 296 Department of 258
Pension Commission, Oklahoma Polygraph Examiners Board 298
State 296 Ponca City, Board of Trustees of
Perfusionists, State Board of University Center at 298
Examiners of 296 Pontotoc, county of 502–503
Perryman, David L. 132 population
cities and towns 571
Personnel Management, Office of
demographics 957
see Human Capital Management Division,
in brief 3
Office of Management and Enterprise
Services 284 Port Authorities
City of Tulsa-Rogers County Port
Personnel Management, U.S.
Authority 298
Office of 368 Muskogee City-County Port Authority 298
Pest Control Compact 297 Post Adjudication Review Advisory
Pest Control Insurance Fund Executive Board 239, 299
Committee 297 Post, Wiley 19
Peterson, Pam 132, 166 Pottawatomie, county of 504–505
Peters, Ron 166 Poverty 9
Petroleum and Natural Gas 937–940 Precipitation 959
Economic Overview 9
In Brief 9
President Pro Tempore of the
Value of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senate 101
Production 938 prisons
Pettit, Alex 89 Corrections, State Department of 246
Institutions, Correctional 323
Pharmacy, Board of 297
Pharmacy Connection Council, Private Security Licensing
see Law Enforcement Education and
Oklahoma 297 Training, Council on 279
Phillips, Leon Chase 762 Private Vocational Schools, Oklahoma
Physical Fitness and Sports, Governor’s Board of 299
Council on 297 Probation and Parole Offices 324
Physician Manpower Training Proctor, Eric 132, 168
Commission 297 Property Valuation 6
Pittman, Anastasia 132, 167 Pruett, R.C. 132, 168
Pittsburg, county of 500–501 Pruitt, Scott 69, 71
Planetariums 1003 Psychologists, State Board of
Planet Visibility 986–1002 Examiners of 299
General Index 1025
Public Defenders Public Safety

see Indigent Defense System, see Safety, Department of Public 303
Oklahoma 273 Public Schools In Oklahoma 707–735
Public Education Statistics, Attendance and Teacher Information 730–
Oklahoma 725 732
History of Comparative Data 727 Consolidations of School Districts by
Number of School Districts Voting County 733
Millage 725 County-by-County Education Revenue and
School District Net Valuations 725 Expenditures (table) 729
Total General Fund Expenditures By District Index 711–724
Function 726 Dropout and Graduation Rate 708
Total General Fund Revenue Received 725 Historical Expenditures Per Pupil in Average
Public Employees Relations Board 300 Daily Attendance 709
Public Employees Retirement System, Public School Funding 709
Standardized Test Scores 708
Oklahoma 300
State Expenditures Per Pupil 710
Public Instruction, Student Statistics 707
Superintendent of 76 Teacher and Administrator Statistics 708
Public Libraries In Oklahoma 328–334 Pushmataha, county of 506–507
Q
Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Quinn, Marty 132, 168
Center and Nature Park, Board of
Trustees for 300
R
Racing with Pari-mutuel Wagering, Recreation and Development
Interstate Compact Committee on Revolving Fund Advisory Board,
Licensure of Participants in Live Oklahoma 301
Horse 300 Red Carpet Country 56
Radiation Management Advisory Red River Compact Commission 302
Council 259 Reese, Jim 80, 81
Radioactive Waste Compact Refinery Authorization Review
Commission, Central Interstate Low- Panel 302
level 301 Regents for Higher Education,
Radio Stations, Oklahoma 342–348 Oklahoma State 302
Rail Compact, Interstate Midwest Rehabilitation Council, Oklahoma 303
Regional Passenger 301 Rehabilitation Services, Oklahoma
Rail Service 4 Department of 302
Rapp, Judge Keith 208 School for the Blind, Oklahoma 326
Real Estate Appraiser Board 301 School for the Deaf, Oklahoma 327
Real Estate Commission, Reif, Justice John F. 192
Oklahoma 301 Renegar, Brian 132, 169
Records Center, State 281 Renfrow, William Cary 759
Recreation 14
Representatives Since Statehood, Robertson, James Brooks Ayers 761

House of 776–816 Roberts, Sean 132, 171
Respiratory Care Advisory Roger Mills, county of 508–509
Committee 303 Rogers, county of 510–511
Retirement System Roosa, Stuart Allen 37
see Public Employees Retirement System, Rousselot, Wade 132, 171
Oklahoma 300 Rural Action Partnership Program,
see Teachers’ Retirement System of Advisory Team for the 303
Oklahoma 313
Rural Area Development Task
Revenue Forecasting, Task Force on Force 303
Dynamic 303 Rural Development, Center for 303
Reynolds, Mike 132, 169 Rural Economic Development
Rhodes Scholars, Oklahoma 922–923 Loan Program Review Board,
Ridley, Gary 80, 92 Oklahoma 303
Ritze, Mike 132, 170 Russell, David L. 360
Rivers and Lakes (map) 977 Russ, Todd 132, 172
Roberts, Dustin 132, 170
S
Safety and Security, Secretary of 80, Science and Technology, Oklahoma
90 Center for the Advancement of
Safety, Department of Public 303 (OCAST) 305
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Science and Technology,
Natural History 292 Secretary of 80, 91
Sanders, Mike 132, 172 Scott, Eula “Pearl” Carter 28
Santa Claus Commission 304 Scott, Seneca 132, 173
Scenic Rivers Commission, Sears, Earl 132, 174
Oklahoma 304 Seasons 984
School and County Funds Seay, Abraham Jefferson 758
Management, Oklahoma Seay, Frank H. 363
Commission On 305 Secretary of State 80, 81, 306
School for the Blind, Oklahoma 326 Secretaries of State Since Statehood 769
School for the Deaf, Oklahoma 327 Securities Commission,
School Health Coordinators Pilot Oklahoma 307
Program Steering Committee 305 Self-Directed Care Services Advisory
School of Science and Mathematics, Committee 307
Oklahoma 305 Self-Directed Services Program
School Readiness Board, Oklahoma Committee (DHS) 307
Partnership for 305 Seminole 512–513
Schulz, Mike 100, 120 Senate, State
Schwartz, Colby 132, 173 Committees 127–128
Science and Technology Council, Contact Reference List 100
Leadership for the Senate 99
Governor’s 305
President Pro Tempore of the Senate 101
Senate Since Statehood (history) 818–837
Senators by District 99
General Index 1027
Senate, United States 351 Space Industry Development

Sequoyah, county of 514–515 Authority 310
Shaken Baby Prevention Education Spaceport Territory Advisory
Initiative Task Force 307 Council 310
Shannon, T.W. 132, 133 Sparks, John 100, 123
Sharp, Ron 100 Speaker of the House of
Shaw, Wayne 100 Representatives 133
Sheep and Wool Utilization Research Special Advocate, Court
and Market Development Appointed 310
Commission 307 Special Education Competency
Shelton, Mike 132, 174 and Transition Task Force,
Sherrer, Benjamin 132, 175 Rethinking 310
Sherrer, Gary L. 80, 85 Speech-Language Pathology
Shoemake, Jerry 132, 175 and Audiology, Board of
Shortey, Ralph 100, 121 Examiners for 310
Shorthand Reporters, State Board of Stafford, Thomas Patten 36
Examiners of Certified 308 Standridge, Rob 100, 124
Shumate, Jabar 100, 122 Stanislawski, Gary 100, 124
Simpson, Frank 100, 122 State Bureau of Standards 229
Small Business Compliance Advisory State Dimensions (map) 956
Panel 259 State Emblems 57
Small Business Regulatory Review State Employee Charitable
Committee 241, 308 Contributions, Oversight
Smalley, Jason 132 Committee for 310
Smith, Judge Clancy 200 State Employee Compensation,
Social Security Administration 371 Governor’s Task Force on 311
Social Services State Facility Capital Needs
see Human Services, Department of 272 Committee 311
Social Workers, Oklahoma State State Officers Since Statehood 770–
Board of Licensed 308 774
Soldier Relief, Special State Questions By Topic 610–644
Committee on 308 State Records Center 281
Solid Waste Management Advisory Statewide Independent Living
Council 259 Council 303
Sorghum Commission, Oklahoma 308 Statewide Nine-One-One Advisory
Southern Community, Council on Board 311
the 309 Steele, George Washington 758
Southern Global Strategies Stephens, county of 516–517
Council 309 Stiles, Aaron 132, 176
Southern Growth Policies Board 308 Stillwater 550
Southern Oklahoma Development Streams 976
Association (SODA) 309 Student Loan Authority,
Southern Technology Council 309 Oklahoma 311
South Western Oklahoma Development Student Tracking and Reporting
Authority (SWODA) 310 Coordinating Committee 311
Substance Abuse Justices of the Supreme Court

see Mental Health and Substance Abuse (current) 192–197
Services, Department of 288 Justices of the Supreme Court
Suicide Prevention Council, (history) 851
Oklahoma 311 Surplus Property Distribution,
Supreme Court 191 Federal 312
Commissioners of the Supreme Court Surplus Property Sales (State) 311
(history) 853 Sykes, Anthony 100, 125
Judicial Districts (map) 190
T
Tax Commission, Oklahoma 312 Tillman, county of 520–521
Taxes 9 Time Zones 3
Tax Reform, Advisory Task Force on Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust
Oklahoma Corporate Income 313 Fund 314
Tax System, Oklahoma Legislative Tobacco Tax Advisory Committee,
Oversight Committee On the Cigarette and 314
Streamlined Sales 313 Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation
Taylor, Justice Steven W. 195 Advisory Committee 315
Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Tornadoes in Oklahoma 962
Commission 313 Number of Tornadoes by County
Teacher Education and Certification (map) 963
Interstate Contract, National Total Votes Cast in General
Association of State Directors of Elections for President and Governor
see Educational Personnel, Interstate (tables) 587–588
Agreement on Qualification of 252 Tourism and Recreation Department,
Teacher Preparation, Oklahoma Oklahoma 315
Commission for 313 Townships and Ranges (map) 955
Teachers’ Retirement System of Transformation Advisory Board,
Oklahoma 313 Governor’s Mental Health Plan 315
Teachers’ Retirement System Task Force, Transportation, Department of 315
Governors 314 Coast Guard Institute 371
Technology Applications Review Board, Federal Aviation Administration 371
State Governmental 314 Federal Highway Administration 371
Transportation Safety Institute 371
Television Stations, Oklahoma 341
Temperatures 961 Transportation overview 10
Normal Annual Temperatures (map) 962 Transportation Safety Institute 371
Territorial Governors 758 Transportation, Secretary of 80, 92
Texas, county of 518–519 Trapp, Martin Edwin 761
Textbook Committee, Oklahoma Trauma Systems Improvement and
State 314 Development Advisory Council,
Thompson, Michael C. 80, 90 Oklahoma 316
Thomsen, Todd 132, 177 Travel Office, State 316
Thornbrugh, Judge Tom 209 Treasurer, Office of the State 73
Tiak District, U.S. Forest Service 369 Treasury, U.S. Department of
Internal Revenue Service 371
General Index 1029
Social Security Administration 371 Tulsa, county of 522–523

Treat, Greg 100, 125 Tulsa-Rogers County Port Authority,
Trebilcock, John 132, 177 City of 298
Tribal Government 577–582 Turner, Mike 132, 178
Tuition Aid Grant Program, Oklahoma Turner, Roy Joseph 763
(OTAG) 316 Turnpike Authority, Oklahoma 316
Tulsa 543
U
Underage Drinking, Joint Interim U.S. District Court Clerks 365
Committee on 317 U.S. District Court Magistrates 365
Uniform State Laws, Commissioners to U.S. District Judges 356–362
National Conference on 317 Senior Judges 362–363
United We Ride Council, Governor’s Use Committee, State 317
Oklahoma 317 Used Motor Vehicle and Parts
University Hospitals Authority Commission, Oklahoma 317
see Hospitals Authority, University 271 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 370
Unmanned Aerial System Council, U.S. Forest Service 369
Governor’s 317 U.S. Marshals
U.S. Attorneys 366 Eastern District 370
Since Statehood 847 Northern District 370
U.S. Bankruptcy Clerks 364 Since Statehood 849
Western District 370
V
VA Hospitals 371 Virtual Charter School Board,
Vaughn, Steve 132, 178 Statewide 318
Vegetation 13 Virtual Internet School Pilot Program
Vernacular and Cultural Regions 957 Coordinating Committee 318
maps 958 Visual and Performing Arts, Oklahoma
Veterans Affairs, Oklahoma School for the 319
Department of 317 Board of Trustees 318
Veterans Centers 327 Vital Statistics, demographics 957
Veterans Affairs (VA) Viticulture and Enology Center 319
Cemetery, Ft. Gibson National 371 Vocational Technical Education
Cemetery, Ft. Sill National 371 see Career and Technology Education,
Employment and Training Service 371 Oklahoma Department of 237
Hospitals 371 Voluntary Market Assistance
Regional Office 371
Association
Veterans Employment and Training see Market Assistance Program Association,
Service 371 Voluntary 286
Veterinary Medical Examiners, Volunteerism, Oklahoma Office of 319
Board of 318 Volunteer Service Credit Bank
Virgin, Emily 132, 179 Program 319
Voter Registration and Political Vulnerable Adult Intervention Task

Affiliation, Changes in 586 Force (DHS) 319
Voting Districts of Cities and
Towns 688–703
W
Wage and Salary Employment, Non- Wheat Utilization, Research, and
Farm (table) 931 Market Development Commission,
Wagoner, county of 524–525 Oklahoma 321
Walker, Ken 132, 179 White, Ronald A. 360
Walters, David Lee 766 Why Pluto Is Not A Planet: An
Walton, Jack Callaway 761 Analogy 988
War on Terror Memorial Design Wichita Mountains Wildlife
Committee 319 Refuge 370
War Veterans Commission of Wildland Fire Protection Compact,
Oklahoma 319 South Central Interstate 321
War Veterans Commission of Oklahoma, Wildlife 979–982
Task Force to Study the 319 in brief 15
Washington, county of 526–527 Wildlife Conservation,
Washita, county of 528–529 Department of 321
Water 978 Williams, Cory T. 132, 181
Groundwater (map) 978 Williams, Danny C. 367
in brief 14 Williams, Robert Lee 760
Water Quality Management Advisory Will Rogers Memorial
Council 259 Commission 321
Water Quality Standards Wilson, Jim 126
Implementation Advisory Winchester, Justice James R. 196
Committee, State 319 Wiseman, Judge Jane P. 209
Water Resources Board, Women, Oklahoma Commission on the
Oklahoma 319 Status of 322
Waters and Water Rights Study Wood, Justin F. 132, 181
Group 320 Woods, county of 530–531
Waterways Advisory Board 320 Woodward, county of 532–533
Waterworks and Wastewater Works Work Centers (Corrections) 325
Advisory Council 259 Worker’s Compensation, Advisory
Watson, Weldon 132, 180 Council on 322
Watt, Justice Joseph M. 196 Workers’ Compensation Court,
Weather Hazards of Oklahoma 962 Judges 220
Weather Network, Oklahoma’s 964 Worker’s Compensation Electronic Data
Welfare Interchange Advisory Committee,
see Human Services, Department of 272 Oklahoma 322
Well Drillers and Pump Installers Worker’s Compensation Group
Advisory Council 320 Self-Insured Association Guaranty
Wesselhoft, Paul 132, 180 Fund Board 322
West, Lee R. 363
General Index 1031
Worker’s Compensation Individual Workforce and Economic Development,

Self-Insured Guaranty Fund Governor’s Council for 322
Board 322 Workforce Solutions Staff Team 322
Worker’s Compensation Physician Wright, Harold 132, 182
Advisory Committee 322 Wyrick, Charles 100, 126
Worker’s Compensation Self-Insurance
Guaranty Fund Board 322
Photograph courtesy the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Skylab 3 astronaut Owen Garriott (born in Enid, Oklahoma) spacewalks near the Apollo
Telescope Mount on the space station in 1973. He had just deployed an experiment
designed to collect interplanetary dust particles and study their impact.

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Commerce &

National Economic Conditions

Per Capita Personal Income

Selected Oklahoma Indicators

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

Source: 2011 U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis

Fortune 500 Companies

Company Name Business Type Location # Employees

Company Name Business Type Location # Employees

Company Name Business Type Location # Employees

Company Name Business Type Location # Employees

Value of Petroleum and Natural Gas Production,

Oklahoma Oil and Gas

Oklahoma Activity Rotary Rigs

Source: Baker Hughes

Petroleum and gas information provided by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

Oklahoma Annual Crude Oil Production

Source: Oklahoma Tax Commission

Oklahoma Average Annual Crude Oil Price

Source: Oklahoma Tax Commission

Oklahoma Annual Natural Gas Production

Source: Oklahoma Tax Commission

Oklahoma Average Wellhead Annual Natural Gas

Source: Oklahoma Tax Commission

2010 Crop Weather Review

Agricultural and Livestock Production

1987 1997 2007

Value of Land and Buildings (based on sample of farms)

Estimated Market Value of All Machinery and Equipment

1987 1997 2007

Farms by Value of Sales

Total Farm Production 2,359,468 3,576,456 5,223,365

Livestock and Poultry

1987 1997 2007

Selected Crops Harvested

Agricultural Trade Statistics, 2010

Location and Size

Longitude and Latitude

103° 102° 101°

Trends in County Populations

Townships and Ranges

Vernacular and Cultural Regions

Zdorkowski and Carney, 1985

Southwest Zelinsky, 1980

Normal Annual Precipitation

Annual Precipitation History

Other Climatic Features

Normal Annual Temperatures

Oklahoma’s Weather Hazards

Number of Tornadoes by County

Oklahoma’s Weather Network

Major Geological Provinces

Major Geological Provinces

Northern Shelf Areas

Source: Oklahoma Geography 1954

Clay Common clay R OG E R

Source: Oklahoma Geological Survey/U.S. Geological Survey, 2005

Nonfuel Mineral Production, 2008

* Data withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data.

“River of Rocks” at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, near Lawton, Oklahoma.

Forests and Vegetation

Mountains and Streams

Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission