Air,

Space, &
Oklahoma
Celebrating Aviation
and Aerospace in
the Sooner State
 Susan McVey, Director
Board of Directors
Jana C. Barker Elgin Hannibal B. Johnson Tulsa
Jon Douthitt Claremore Ann Ritchie Enid
Don Evans  Oklahoma City
Judy Haught  Elk City
William R. Young, Administrator  Office of Public Information

Oklahoma Almanac
Copyright ©2013—Oklahoma Department of Libraries
200 NE 18 Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105–3298
Editor—Connie G. Armstrong
Cover and Book Design—William R. Struby
Further Assistance in Research and Data Gathering—Steve Beleu, Cliff Broadworth,
Drenda Fisher, Kristi Hawkins, Michael O’Hasson, Kitty Pittman, Gary Phillips, and
William R. Struby.
Special Thanks—Laura Martin at the Oklahoma Historical Society Research Division, Altus
Air Force Base, the National Aeronautics and Space Agency, the Oklahoma Aeronautics
Commission, Tinker Air Force Base, the United States Air Force, and Vance Air Force
Base.

Prepared and issued by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries as authorized by 65 O.S.

2011§3–110. Three thousand five hundred (3,500) paperback copies have been printed. Printing
costs were approximately $19,150.00. Copies deposited in the Publications Clearinghouse of the
Department of Libraries.  (5/13)

International Standard Book Number 978–1–880438–12–1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Oklahoma Almanac / edited by Connie G. Armstrong
54th ed., 2011 revision. • Formerly The Directory of Oklahoma
1. Elections—Oklahoma—Statistics—Periodicals.
2. Oklahoma—Registers—Periodicals.
I. Oklahoma Dept. of Libraries.
II. Armstrong, Connie G.
JK7131.A36 2003
353.9766–dc21
Oklahoma
Almanac
2013–2014
Fifty-Fourth Edition
Contents
Foreword viii

Oklahoma In Brief 1
General Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Economic Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Natural Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Air, Space, & Oklahoma 17

New Frontiers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Pioneers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Astronauts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Did You Know?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Oklahoma’s Air Force Bases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Sooner State Gazette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Welcome to Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
State Emblems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Fourteen Flags Over Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Executive Branch 65
Governor Mary Fallin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Oklahoma Elected Officials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Governor Fallin’s Cabinet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Legislative Branch 95
Oklahoma State Senate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Oklahoma State House of Representatives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Judicial Branch 187

Oklahoma Court System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Supreme Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Court of Criminal Appeals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
 v

Court of Civil Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203

10th Circuit Court of Appeals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Courts of General Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
District Attorneys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223

Agencies, Boards, & Commissions 225

Profiles of Agencies, Boards, and Commissions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
State Government Institutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Public Libraries In Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Daily and Weekly Newspapers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Oklahoma Television Stations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Oklahoma Radio Stations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342

Federal Government 349

United States Senate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
United States Congress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
United States District Judges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
United States District Judges, Senior Judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
United States Bankruptcy Judges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
United States District Court Magistrates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
United States Attorneys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Federal Installations and Agencies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368

County Government 373

County Government in Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
County Clerk Addresses and Phone Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
County Profiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380

Oklahoma Municipal Government 535

Municipal Government History and Facts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 537
Major Cities of Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 541
Oklahoma Cities with Populations Over 30,000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 542
Oklahoma Chambers of Commerce. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 552
Incorporated Cities and Towns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 557
Communities Not Incorporated. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 572
vi  Oklahoma Almanac

Tribal Government 577

Tribal Government Offices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 579

Election Information 583

Election Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 585
Total Votes Cast in General Elections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 587 to 589
Registration by Party in Oklahoma Since 1960. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 590
County Registration by Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 592
Election Results 1996–2012. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 595
Summary of State Questions By Topic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 610
County-by-County Vote for Governor
General Election, November 2, 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 645
County Election Tables, Vote for President and Governor. . . . . . . . . . 646
County Election Boards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 685
Voting Districts of Cities and Towns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 688

Education 705
Public Schools In Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 707
Public School District Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 711
Oklahoma Public Education Statistics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 725
County-by-County Education Revenue and Expenditures. . . . . . . . . . 729
Oklahoma Public Schools
Attendance and Teacher Information, Since 1924. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 730
Consolidations of School Districts by County, 1946 and 2011. . . . . . 733
Higher Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 734
Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education . . . . . . 744

Oklahoma History 747

A Brief History of Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 749
Governors of the Territory and State of Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 758
First Ladies (and Gentleman) of Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 768
Secretaries of State, Since Statehood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 769
Elective State Officers, Since Statehood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770
Corporation Commissioners, Since Statehood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 775
House of Representatives, Since Statehood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 776
State Senate Since Statehood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 818
 vii

History of Oklahoma Congressmen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 839

Party Affiliation of Governor, U.S. Delegation,
and State Legislature, Since Statehood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 841
United States District Judges, Since Statehood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 846
United States Attorneys, Since Statehood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 847
United States Marshals, Since Statehood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 849
Justices of the Supreme Court, Since Statehood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 851
Court of Criminal Appeals History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 855
Oklahoma Museums. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 857
Historical Markers in Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 910
Oklahoma Hall of Fame Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 915
Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 920
Oklahoma Poets Laureate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 921
Oklahoma Rhodes Scholars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 922

Commerce & Agriculture 925

Commerce in Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 927
Oklahoma Gross State Product by Industrial Sector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 930
Oklahoma Non-Farm Wage and Salary Disbursements. . . . . . . . . . . . . 931
Fortune 500 Companies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 932
Mining/Petroleum Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 937
Agriculture Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 941
2010 Crop Weather Review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 944
Agricultural and Livestock Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 946

Wildlife & Nature 951

Location and Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 953
Demographics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 957
Climate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 959
Geology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 965
Forests and Vegetation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 970
Mountains and Streams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 974
Wildlife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 979
Astronomical Phenomena for Oklahoma, 2013 and 2014. . . . . . . . . . 983

General Index 1005

 Foreword
Oklahomans are natural sky watchers. We experience an abundance of
sky in the Sooner State, whether we’re viewing from the prairies, valleys,
or mountaintops. We can’t ignore such a big blue dome, and we marvel at
blazing sunsets and billowing clouds. Living in a temperamental weather
zone certainly contributes to our fascination with the sky. If we’re not scan-
ning the heavens praying for rain, we’re wary of those threatening storm
clouds on the horizon. We know too well the damage and heartache they
can bring.

Sky watchers are also dreamers, and human beings have fantasized about
touching the heavens since time immemorial. In our own grand land, the
Spiro Mounds builders reached toward this seemingly unattainable goal
more than ten centuries ago.

By the time Oklahoma became a state, touching the sky wasn’t just a
dream; it was a real possibility. Aviation was in its infancy when the 46th
star entered the union on November 16, 1907—only four years after the
Wright Brothers’ historic flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Oklahoma and aviation were destined to grow up together, so it’s not

surprising that Oklahomans would make important contributions to this
emerging industry. As you read our special section, “Air, Space, & Okla-
homa,” in this latest edition of the Oklahoma Almanac, you’ll learn about
these pioneers, and you’ll also discover how the industry has left its mark
on Oklahoma.

If our special section inspires further investigation, additional discovery

is always available at your local Oklahoma public library. There you will
discover books and other resources that can fly you far beyond your own
backyard. After all, reading gives all of us wings!
Susan McVey
Director, Oklahoma Department of Libraries
Oklahoma City  •  May 2013
Oklahoma
In Brief
 3

General Facts
Organized as a Territory  May 2, 1890.

Admitted to the Union  November 16, 1907, as the forty-sixth state.

State Name  Oklahoma means “Red People” in the Choctaw language.

Population  3,814,820 (Resident Population, U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 estimate), 3,751,351
(2010); and 3,450,654 (2000). Oklahoma has the second largest American Indian popula-
tion of any state, with California ranking first. Many of the more than 300,000 American
Indians living in Oklahoma today are descendants of the original sixty-seven tribes
inhabiting Indian Territory. According to the Census 2011 estimate, in Oklahoma 75.8
percent of the population is white; 8.9 percent American Indian and Alaska Native; 7.7
percent African American; and 1.8 percent Asian. Additionally, persons of Hispanic or
Latino origin make up 9.2 percent of the population.

Major Cities (2012 U.S. Census Est.)

Oklahoma City 599,199 Moore 57,810
Tulsa 393,987 Midwest City 56,080
Norman 115,562 Enid 49,854
Broken Arrow 102,019 Stillwater 46,560
Lawton 98,376 Muskogee 38,981
Edmond 84,885 Bartlesville 36,245
Source—U.S. Census Bureau at www.census.gov

Area  There are 68,679 square miles of land and 1,224 square miles of water; a total
of 69,903 square miles, divided into seventy-seven counties. Besides Minnesota, Okla-
homa is larger than any other state east of it, and except for Washington and Hawaii, is
smaller than any state to the north, west, and south.

Elevation  The highest point in Oklahoma is in the extreme northwest on Black Mesa
in Cimarron County (4,973 feet); the lowest point is located in the extreme southeast,
east of Idabel in McCurtain County (287 feet).

Location  Bordered by Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkan-
sas. Closer to the equator than to the North Pole.

Latitude  33° 39’–37° North  Longitude  94° 29’–103° West

Time Zones  Oklahoma is on Central Standard Time from the first Sunday in
November until the second Sunday in March. The rest of the year, Daylight Savings
Time is in effect. The only exception is the city of Kenton in the far western tip of the
Panhandle which is on Mountain Standard Time, one hour earlier all year. Time moves
forward one hour in spring and back one hour in fall.
4  Oklahoma Almanac

Driving Information  Oklahoma is crossed by three major interstate highways:

I–35, I–40, and I–44. Additionally, US–412 extends from the state’s eastern border with
Arkansas near Siloam Springs, west through the Panhandle to the border with New
Mexico. The speed limit on turnpikes is 75 mph, or 120 kph; on interstate highways, 70
mph, or 112 kph; and on other highways, 65 mph (104 kph), or 55 mph (88 kph).

Air Service  Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, and Tulsa International
Airport are served by major and regional domestic airlines. The Lawton-Fort Sill Regional
Airport is served by American Eagle. Also, Fort Smith, Arkansas; Wichita, Kansas; and
Dallas, Texas, are served by major airlines.

Rail Service  Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer offers daily service between Oklahoma City,
Norman, Purcell, Pauls Valley, Ardmore, and Fort Worth, where travelers may connect
to other Amtrak routes. Call 800/USA-RAIL or www.amtrak.com.

Bus Service  Contact the public transit branch of the Oklahoma Department of
Transportation at 405/521–2584 for bus schedule information. Greyhound and Jef-
ferson bus lines operate within the state. Greyhound can be reached at 800/231–2222;
Jefferson at 800/767–5333.

Constitution and Government

Oklahoma’s present constitution, dating from 1907, provides for amendment by initiative
petition and legislative referendum. The legislature consists of a Senate of forty-eight
members, elected for four-year terms; and a House of Representatives with 101 mem-
bers, elected for two-year terms. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected for
four-year terms. The governor can only be elected for two terms in succession. Elec-
tors are all citizens eighteen years or older, with the usual qualifications, i.e., resident
of Oklahoma. There are restrictions on convicted felons running for office. The state
is represented in the U.S. Congress by two senators elected to six-year terms, and five
representatives elected for two-year terms.
Source—Secretary of State, State Election Board
 Oklahoma In Brief  5

Official Holidays in Oklahoma, 2013–2014

25 O.S. 1991, sec. 82.1 (as amended)

Holiday Definition 2013 2014***

New Year’s Day 1 of January
st Jan 1 Jan 1
Martin Luther King Jr. Day 3rd Monday in January Jan 21 Jan 20
President’s Day 3rd Monday in February Feb 18 Feb 17
Memorial Day Last Monday in May May 27 May 26
Independence Day 4th of July July 4 July 4
Labor Day 1st Monday in September Sep 2 Sep 1
Veteran’s Day (Usually) 11th of November Nov 11 Nov 11
Thanksgiving Holiday* 4th Thursday in Nov. & day after Nov 28/29 Nov 27/28
Christmas Holiday** 25th of December Dec 24/25 Dec 24/25
*HB 2480, April 23, 1996, designated the day after Thanksgiving an official holiday.
** HB 2607, November 1, 1998, designated the Monday before Christmas if Christmas is on a Tuesday, the
Friday after Christmas if Christmas is on a Thursday as an official holiday; and such other days as may be
designated by the President of the United States or the Governor of Oklahoma.
*** At press time Governor Mary Fallin had not signed an executive order for 2014 state holidays.

Additional Holidays (Optional Closing)

25 O.S. 1991, sec.82.2 (as amended)

Holiday Date
Vietnam Veterans Day...............................................3rd Thursday of March
Youth Day...................................................................3rd Sunday in March
Jefferson Day..............................................................13th of April
Oklahoma City Bombing Remembrance Day.........19th of April
Oklahoma Day...........................................................22nd of April
Senior Citizens’ Week................................................Beginning 1st Sunday in May
Senior Citizens’ Day..................................................Wednesday of Senior Citizens’ Week
Mother’s Day..............................................................2nd Sunday in May
Jim Thorpe Day..........................................................22nd of May
Purple Heart Week ....................................................Last week of May
Juneteenth National Freedom Day..........................3rd Saturday in June
Indian Day..................................................................1st Saturday after full moon in September
Grandparents’ Week..................................................Beginning 2nd Sunday in September
Cherokee Strip Day....................................................16th of September
Oklahoma Historical Day..........................................10th of October
Will Rogers Day..........................................................4th of November
Native American Day................................................3rd Monday in November
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.............................7th of December
Citizenship Recognition Day  On such day as may be fixed by the governor and each day
in which the state election is held throughout the State of
Oklahoma; and such other days as may be designated by
the President of the United States or the Governor of the
State of Oklahoma.
6

Economic Environment
Property Valuation
Locally Assessed 2011–12 2012–13 Increase/Decrease
Real Estate & Improvements $19,374,046,614 $19,991,593,394 $617,546,780
Personal Subject to Tax $4,961,899,643 $5,345,707,425 $383,807,782
Total Locally Assessed $24,335,946,257 $25,337,300,819 $1,001,354,562
Homestead Exemptions
Allowed $778,562,754 $920,976,120 $142,413,366
Net Assessed Locally $23,557,383,503 $24,416,324,699 $858,941,196
Public Service Assessments $2,987,828,227 $3,005,837,463 $18,009,236
Net Assessed Valuation $26,545,211,730 $27,422,162,162 $876,950,432
Locally Assessed 2009–10 2010–11 Increase/Decrease
Real Estate & Improvements $18,257,758,157 $18,895,851,280 $638,093,123
Personal Subject to Tax $4,759,254,206 $4,716,613,521 ($42,640,685)
Total Locally Assessed $23,017,012,363 $23,612,464,801 $595,452,438
Homestead Exemptions
Allowed $867,587,961 $733,104,350 ($134,483,611)
Net Assessed Locally $22,149,424,402 $22,879,360,451 $729,936,049
Public Service Assessments $2,663,313,351 $2,814,358,496 $151,045,145
Net Assessed Valuation $24,812,737,753 $25,693,718,947 $880,981,194
Source—State Board of Equalization

State Budget
Year Ending June 30, 2012
Total Revenue  $17,089,928 • Total Expenditures  $16,703,049.
Source—Office of Management and Enterprise Services
(2014 Executive Budget, Historical Document.)

Year Ending December 31, 2012

Gross General Obligation Debt  $203,715,000
Gross Contractual Obligation Debt  $0
Gross Public Lease Purchase Obligation  $9,375,000
Gross Lease Purchase Debt Privately Placed  $13,176,000
Total Gross Tax-Supported Debt  $2,105,928,000
Total Reductions to Gross Tax-Supported Debt  ($183,194,000)
Total Net Tax-Supported Debt  $1,922,734,000.
Source—State Bond Advisor, 2012 Annual Report, www.state.ok.us/~ok-bonds. For notes about the
debt information in the preceding paragraph, see www.ok-bonds.state.ok.us/AnnRpt12.pdf
 Oklahoma In Brief  7

Agriculture
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 millions lbs. As
of December 1, 2010, Oklahoma held 2,340,000 hogs, 7,287,000 pigs, and 60,000 sheep
and 48,000 lambs. The total number of chickens (excluding broilers) in Oklahoma, on
December 1, 2010, was 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 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 hun-
dredweight, 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 hundred-
weight, 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 average 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.
8  Oklahoma Almanac

Topographically and geographically, Oklahoma’s agriculture is diverse, ranging from the

semi-arid high plains of the Panhandle with its heavy concentration of cattle feedlots
and ranches, hog farms, and large-scale crop farms, to the flat, heavily irrigated south-
west section devoted primarily to cotton, wheat, peanuts, and some cattle. Then there
are the wheat and cattle farms of western and northern Oklahoma; the cross-timbered
central sections where the emphasis is on dairying and diversified farming of crops
such as peanuts and hay; the wetter eastern pastures and timbers; and the pine-rich
southeastern section where timber, cattle, and poultry predominate.
Sources—Oklahoma Agricultural Statistics 2011; 2007 Census of Agriculture

Commerce
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 Okla-
homa standards, but well below national rates. In 2011 Oklahoma’s average unemploy-
ment 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.
Source—Oklahoma Economic Report 2012, Oklahoma Employment Security Commission

Industry 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 min-
ing 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 employ-
ments 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
 Oklahoma In Brief  9

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.
Source—Oklahoma Economic Report 2012, Oklahoma Employment Security Commission

Petroleum and Natural 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 will work. The Baker Hughes rig count is an important indica-
tor 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 have increased in 2011 to
175, up from 130 in early 2010.
Source—Oklahoma Corporation Commission

Poverty
The national average of people in poverty in 2011 was 14.3 percent, an increase from the
13.5 percent rate in 2009. The estimate for Oklahomans living below the poverty level
in 2011 was 16.3 percent, a slight decrease from the estimated 16.4 percent in 2009. The
number of Oklahoma children under the age of eighteen living below the poverty level
in 2011 was 108,053. In families with children and no husband present, the number
of children living below the poverty rate was 60,010. In families with no mother, the
number of children living below the poverty rate was 12,675. Poverty rates for 2011 from
surrounding states include Arkansas, 18.4; Colorado, 12.5; Kansas, 12.6; Louisiana, 18.4;
Mississippi, 21.6; Missouri, 14.3; New Mexico, 19.0; and Texas, 17.0.
Source—U.S. Census

Taxes
For the tax years 2011–2012, income tax on personal income ranged from .05 percent on
the first $2,000 of taxable income to 5.5 percent for more than $15,000 if married filing
jointly and head of household. (The rate is .05 percent on the first 1,000 to 5.5 percent
over $8,700 if single or married filing separately.) The top tax rate on the 2011–2012
Oklahoma Individual Tax Form was 5.5 percent. The personal exemption is $1,000 per
exemption. The corporate tax rate was 6 percent.
10  Oklahoma Almanac

Only county governments with the local millage rates to meet local budgets levy real
estate and tangible property taxes. County assessors must assess property at a single rate
between 11 and 13.5 percent, and personal property between 10 percent and 15 percent.
There is a general homestead exemption of $1,000 deducted from the gross assessed
value of the homestead property.
Sales and use tax in Oklahoma is 4.5 percent. Many cities levy an additional tax of 1
percent to 5 percent. In addition, counties have the authority to levy a county sales tax
not to exceed 2 percent. Counties can now levy a county use tax as well. Items not sub-
ject to sales tax are motor vehicles, mobile homes, travel trailers, gasoline, prescription
drugs, water service, and others.
Source—Oklahoma Tax Commission, www.oktax.state.ok.us

Transportation
As of 2010, a total of 112,878 miles of public roads existed across Oklahoma. Of those,
the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is responsible for 12,261 miles
of non-toll highways and 673 miles of non-toll interstate roads. In addition, ODOT
maintains 6,728 bridges on the highway system. Three major interstates make-up the
highest traveled routes in the state. They are I–35, I–40, and I–44. The state also has ten
toll roads, equaling 606 miles.
Other mileages across the state include 85,234 miles of county roads; 14,313 miles of city
roads, and 284 miles of park roads. There are twenty-two railway companies across the
state using a total of 3,718 miles of track. Of those, the state owns 762 miles.
As of 2012, there were 140 public-use airports in the state, including 110 that are owned
by a public entity such as a city or town. There are forty-nine regional business airports
in Oklahoma, forty-three of these airports have jet-capable runways that are at least
5,000 feet long.
Source—Department of Transportation, www.okladot.state.ok.us
Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, www.ok.gov/OAC

Workforce
As of December 2012, Oklahoma’s civilian labor force was estimated at 1,816,631 with
1,723,542 employed and 93,089 unemployed. Oklahoma’s unemployment rate fell to 5.1
percent in December, down from 5.6 percent in 2011.
In December 2012 Oklahoma’s estimated leading employment areas were: Trade,
Transportation, and Utilities, 291,400 jobs; Education and Health Services, 224,900;
Government, 350,000; Professional and Business Services, 177,800; Leisure and Hos-
pitality, 152,400; Manufacturing, 135,300; Financial, 80,200; Construction, 68,900; and
Services,57,500.
The average wage per job in Oklahoma for 2012 was $39,996, while the estimated aver-
age median household income for 2012 was $44,287. The Bureau of Economic Analysis
reported the national state per capita income for individuals in 2012 was $42,693. Okla-
homa’s reported per capita income for 2012 was $39,006, ranking thirty-second in the
nation. Other states in the region included Colorado, $45,135; Texas, $41,471; Kansas,
 Oklahoma In Brief  11

$41,835; Missouri, $39,049; New Mexico, $35,079; and Arkansas, $34,723. Coming in
first nationally was Connecticut at $58,908. Coming in last was Mississippi at $33,073.
Source—Oklahoma Department of Commerce, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census, and
the U.S. Department of Labor
Photograph courtesy the United States Air Force

Tulsa’s flying ace, Brigadier General Robinson Risner, is credited with destroying eight
MiG-15s and damaging another while assigned to the 336 Fighter Squadron. On
September 21, 1952, then Major Risner scored double kills. He achieved Ace status on
September 15, 1952, when he downed a fifth MiG-15.
12

Natural Environment
Climate
Bright and sunny. The northwestern part of the state is cooler and drier than the south-
east. The mean annual temperature ranges from 62 F along the Red River to about 58
F along the northern border. It then decreases westward to 56 F in Cimarron County.
Temperatures of 90 F or greater occur, on average, about 60–65 days per year in the
western panhandle and the northeast corner of the state. In the southwest, the average
is about 115 days, and in the southeast about 85 days. Statewide-averaged precipitation
ranges from about 17 inches in the far western panhandle to about 56 inches in the far
southeast. Snowfalls usually do not remain on the ground more than a few days, rang-
ing from two inches a year in the southeast to thirty inches in the western Panhandle.
The growing season ranges from 175 days in the Panhandle to more than 200 days in
the south central part of the state.
Source—Oklahoma Climatological Survey, www.ocs.ou.edu

Forests
A variety of soils, climate, and topography creates a rich diversity in Oklahoma’s forest
land. In the southeast, high rainfall and mountainous terrain support an expanse of pine
and oak. In the northeast, Ozark hardwoods predominate. Through central Oklahoma,
post oak and blackjack oak of the Cross Timbers mix with tallgrass prairies, pastures,
and cropland. The streams and cypress swamps in the southeast coastal plain change
to bottomland hardwoods, including cottonwood and willow, in the Panhandle.
In the southwest, oak shinnery and mesquite spreading onto rangeland offer a differ-
ent “agroforest” environment. Eastern red cedar is spreading rapidly in some areas.
Considered a pest as it spreads into rangeland and forest land, it is also becoming
the basis for a new forest products industry. Through the northwest and Panhandle,
limited rainfall isolates trees to water courses. In the far reaches of Cimarron County,
pinyon pine, juniper, and even a remnant stand of ponderosa pine are reminiscent of
the Rocky Mountains.
The economic impact of forestry statewide is estimated at more than $1.5 billion. In
eastern Oklahoma, forestry accounts for 18 percent of manufacturing employment,
and 12 percent of the value of shipments. When supporting industries are included,
forestry accounts for 30 percent of the region’s manufacturing employment. Timber is
fifth in value of all agricultural commodities in Oklahoma.
Source—Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, www.oda.state.ok.us

Geography
Oklahoma, one of the Great Plains states, is slightly south of the geographic center of
the contiguous 48 states. Most of the state is a great, rolling plain, sloping gently from
northwest to southeast. Highest elevation is 4,973 feet above sea level at Black Mesa
in the northwestern corner of the Panhandle; lowest, 287 feet, is near Idabel in the
 Oklahoma In Brief  13

extreme southeast. Approximately one-fourth of the state’s total area is forested, prin-
cipally the region bordering Missouri and Arkansas. Although part of the Great Plains,
Oklahoma has four mountain ranges: the Ouachita in the southeast, the Ozark Plateau
in the northeast, the Arbuckle in the south central part of the state, and the Wichita in
the southwest. Geographic center of the state is eight miles north of Oklahoma City.
Source—Office of State Geographer

Grasslands
Grass areas are abundant within Oklahoma’s boundaries and are used for grazing. The
grasses in the western sections are primarily short and mixed. Tall grasses are found in
the northern and eastern sections of the state. Oklahoma’s National Grasslands—Black
Kettle District, Roger Mills County; and Rita Bianca District, Cimarron County—have
been a part of the U.S. Forest Service since the 1950s. The Soil Conservation Service
(now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) originally administered the program
designed to demonstrate good, sound principles in grassland agriculture. In addition,
the Nature Conservancy manages a Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Osage County, consist-
ing of 39,000 acres of rolling hills at the southern end of the Flint Hills
Source—Atlas of Oklahoma (Wikle, Ed.), Office of State Geographer

Minerals
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.
Source—Oklahoma Geological Survey, www.ou.edu/special/ogs-pttc

Vegetation
The natural vegetation of Oklahoma can be divided into three large categories: grass-
lands, savannahs and woodlands, and forests. Grasslands of various kinds are found
in all parts of the state, but they are the dominant natural vegetation in the drier and
more elevated western regions.
The savannah and woodlands types of vegetation are found in all parts of the state, with
the exception of the Ouachita Mountains and the Ozark Plateau. Large forest areas are
14  Oklahoma Almanac

located in eastern Oklahoma where rainfall is sufficient for good tree growth and the
local topography is too rough for agricultural use other than grazing.
Source—Atlas of Oklahoma (Wikle, Ed.); Office of State Geographer

Recreation
Oklahoma has fifty state parks and resorts, and numerous wildlife refuges and recreation
areas, offering a wealth of outdoor adventure, including fishing, camping, mountain
biking, horseback riding, rappelling, scuba diving, and golf. Tourist attractions include
elements from a rich cowboy heritage; American Indian history; and unspoiled, diverse
natural beauty. The fabled “Main Street of America,” Route 66, crosses Oklahoma for
more than 392 miles.
The Tourism and Recreation Department produces brochures and Internet sites to
help travelers learn about Oklahoma. Call 405/521–2413, write the Oklahoma Tourism
and Recreation Department, 120 N Robinson, Sixth Floor, Oklahoma City 73102, or visit
www.oktlatourism.gov.
Source—Tourism and Recreation Department

Water
In Oklahoma, there are approximately 500 named rivers and creeks, many of them
short and intermittent during much of the year. Oklahoma’s terrain is dominated by
two major river basins: northern Oklahoma and much of the central part of the state is
in the drainage basin of the Arkansas River; the remainder of the state is in the drain-
age basin of the Red River. Except for the rivers flowing from the Ozark Plateau or the
Ouachita Mountains, the streams in Oklahoma flow in a general eastward direction.
Water leaves the state through four watercourses (the Red, Arkansas and Little rivers,
and Lee Creek), flowing into Arkansas. The Scenic Rivers of Oklahoma have such excep-
tional 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.
Oklahoma has more man-made lakes than any other state, with more than one mil-
lion surface acres of water and 2,000 more miles of shoreline than the Atlantic and
Gulf coasts combined. All of the large lakes in Oklahoma are man-made. They were
developed—most of the 60 major reservoirs constructed by the federal government—
to control flooding and for conservation purposes, navigation, recreation, power, and
municipal water supplies. The state has lakes ranging from 890 acres to 105,000 acres
(Lake Eufaula). Other large lakes are: Texoma, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, Fort Gib-
son, Oologah, Kerr, Pine Creek, Broken Bow, Keystone, and Tenkiller. The state’s largest
groundwater basin, the Ogallala Aquifer in western Oklahoma, contains 86.6 million
acre-feet of supply—enough to cover the entire state two feet deep.
Source—Atlas of Oklahoma (Wikle, Ed.), Office of State Geographer, Oklahoma Water Resources
Board, www.owrb.state.ok.us; Oklahoma Geological Survey, www.ogs.ou.edu
 Oklahoma In Brief  15

Wildlife
Once the hunting and trading ground of many Indian tribes, Oklahoma boasts five big
game species, including white-tailed deer and wild turkeys in all seventy-seven coun-
ties. Mule deer inhabit the northwestern quarter of the state, and pronghorn antelope
populations in the Panhandle have expanded to allow a special hunt for that species.
Elk are present in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge and have been
introduced in the eastern part of the state. Among smaller upland game, the bobwhite
quail still reigns supreme. Pheasant populations in the Panhandle remain stable and
provide quality hunting opportunities. Scaled quail, squirrels, and rabbits are other
fall favorites for hunters, along with migratory birds such as doves, ducks, and geese.
Among native sport fish, the largemouth bass, small-mouth and spotted bass, channel,
blue, and flathead catfish, white bass, crappie, and sunfish are popular. Hybrid stripers
and saugeye have provided a fishing boom in some parts of the state, along with wall-
eye and striped bass. Rainbow trout can be caught from eight designated trout fishing
areas, and brown trout in the lower Illinois River and lower Mountain Fork trout areas.
Source—Department of Wildlife Conservation, www.wildlifedepartment.com
Photograph courtesy the United States Air Force

An E–3 Sentry AWACS (airborne early warning and control system) flies a mission from Tinker
Air Force Base. Tinker’s 552nd Air Control Wing, the Air Force’s only AWACS wing, received its
first E–3 in 1977. The aircraft has been deployed almost continually for over 35 years.