Oklahoma is a state situated in the south-central region of the United States, with Texas to the south and west, Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northeast, Arkansas to the east, New Mexico to the west, and Colorado to the southwest.
Oklahoma City
is the capital and largest city of Oklahoma, located in Oklahoma County and extending into Canadian, Cleveland, and Pottawatomie counties. It is the eighth largest city in the US by area, including consolidated city-counties; it is the second largest, after Houston, not including consolidated cities. It is also the second largest by area among US state capitals, after Juneau, Alaska.Oklahoma City has a thriving economy driven by oil, natural gas, petroleum products and related industries. It is home to Tinker Air Force Base and the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center of the US Department of Transportation. It is situated along I-35 and I-40 corridors, making it a major travel hub for those heading south to Texas and Mexico or north to Wichita and Kansas City. The city was founded during the Land Run of 1889 and grew to reach a population of more than 10,000 people within hours of its founding.
It was also the site of the April 19th 1995 attack on Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, in which 168 people died - making it the deadliest terrorist attack in US history. When Oklahoma was admitted to the Union in 1907, Oklahoma City had surpassed Guthrie - the territory's capital - as the center of population and commercial center of the new state. Soon after, the capital was moved from Guthrie to Oklahoma City.
In 1950, Oklahoma City's population was 8.6% black and 90.7% white. It is located three hours away from Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area and is divided geographically and culturally by North Canadian River - which basically divides northern Oklahoma City and southern Oklahoma City. The north side is characterized by very diverse and modern urban neighborhoods near the city center and extensive suburbs further north while southern Oklahoma City is generally more working-class with a growing Latino community at its center. In 2000 census, Oklahoma City's age composition was 25.5% under 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% 65 years or older with a median age of 34 years old.
For every 100 females there were 95.6 males while for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.7 males. The city has experienced a significant increase in population since late 1990s - becoming first city in state to register a population greater than 600,000 residents as well as first city in Great Plains region to register a population of more than 600,000 residents - making it largest municipal population in Great Plains region (Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota). The Museum of Osteology houses more than 300 skeletons of real animals focusing on form and function of skeletal system with exhibits including adaptation, locomotion, classification and diversity of vertebrate kingdom - making it only one of its kind in United States. The Oklahoma City National Monument was created as an inscription on east door says - to honor victims, survivors, rescuers and all those who changed forever on April 19th 1995 - built on land formerly occupied by Alfred P Murrah federal building complex before 1995 bombing attack.
The open-air Symbolic Monument can be visited 24 hours a day for free while adjacent Memorial Museum can be entered for small fee - housing National Memorial Institute for Prevention of Terrorism - nonpartisan nonprofit think tank dedicated to prevention of terrorism. Other major sporting events include thoroughbred horse racing circuits and horse quarters in Remington Park as well as numerous equestrian shows and equine events that take place at state fairgrounds every year with numerous golf courses and country clubs scattered around city too. Walking trails line Bricktown Canal and Oklahoma River in center while city's bicycle trail system surrounds Lake Hefner and Lake Overholser in northwest and west quadrants respectively with most eastern shore area occupied by parks and bike trails including new off-leash dog park and post-war Stars & Stripes park as well as restaurants near lighthouse while Stanley Draper Lake - located in southeastern Oklahoma City - offers true rural but still urban experience.
