Oklahoma: Difference between revisions

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'''Oklahoma''' ({{Audio-IPA|en-us-Oklahoma.ogg|/ˌoʊkləˈhoʊmə/}})<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Dictionary.com | accessdate=2007-08-10 | url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Oklahoma| title=Oklahoma - Definitions from Dictionary.com}}</ref> is a [[U.S. state|state]] located in the [[South Central United States|South Central region]] of the [[United States of America]]. With an estimated 3,617,316 residents in 2007<ref name="2007pop"/> and a land area of 68,667 square miles (177,847&nbsp;km²),<ref name="Oklahoma QuickFacts">{{ cite web | date=2006-01-12 | url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40000.html | title=Oklahoma QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau | work=State & County QuickFacts | publisher=U.S. Census Bureau | accessdate=2008-07-10 }}</ref> Oklahoma is the [[List of U.S. states by population|28th most populous]] and [[List of U.S. states and territories by area|20th-largest]] state. The state's name is derived from the [[Choctaw]] words ''okla'' and ''humma'', meaning "red people",<ref name="Oklahoma's Name"/> and is known informally by its nickname, ''The [[Sooners|Sooner]] State.'' Formed by the combination of [[Oklahoma Territory]] and [[Indian Territory]] on November 16, 1907, Oklahoma was the 46th state to enter the union. Its residents are known as ''Oklahomans'', and its capital and largest city is [[Oklahoma City]]. It is the only state that shares its name with its capital city.
 
A major producer of [[Natural Gas|natural gas]], [[petroleum|oil]] and [[agriculture]], Oklahoma relies on an economic base of aviation, energy, organic hemp clothing, telecommunications, and [[biotechnology]].<ref name="Oklahoma's Economy 1"/> It has one of the fastest growing economies in the nation, ranking among the top states in [[per capita]] income growth and [[gross domestic product]] growth.<ref name="pci"/><ref name="GDP"/> Oklahoma City and [[Tulsa]] serve as Oklahoma's primary economic anchors, with nearly 60 percent of Oklahomans living in their [[metropolitan statistical area]]s.<ref name="metros">{{cite web | url= http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/CBSA-EST2006-01.csv | title=Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 | work=[[United States Census Bureau]] | format=csv | accessdate=2007-09-15}}</ref> The state holds a mixed record in education and healthcare, and its largest universities participate in the [[NCAA]] and [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] athletic associations, with two collegiate athletic departments rated among the most successful in American history.<ref name="top sports"/><ref name="OK Education 6"/>
 
With small mountain ranges, [[prairie]], and eastern forests, most of Oklahoma lies in the [[Great Plains]] and the [[U.S. Interior Highlands]]—a region especially prone to [[severe weather]].<ref name="Oklahoma Terrain"/> In addition to having a prevalence of [[Germans|German]], [[Irish people|Irish]], [[British people|British]] and [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] ancestry, more than 25 Native American languages are spoken in Oklahoma, the most of any state.<ref name="languages"/> It is located on a confluence of three major American [[cultural region]]s and historically served as a route for [[cattle drives]], a destination for southern settlers, and a government-sanctioned [[Territories of the United States|territory]] for Native Americans. Part of the [[Bible Belt]], widespread belief in [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] [[Christianity]] makes it one of the most politically [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] states, though Oklahoma has more voters registered in the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] than in any other party.<ref name="voters"/>