State of Oklahoma
Nicknames: The Sooner State
Motto(s): Labor omnia vincit (Labor conquers all things)
Date of Statehood: November 16, 1907 (46th state)
State Song: “Oklahoma!” (from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the same name)
Oklahoma Flag History
The flag of Oklahoma, adopted in 1925 and revised in 1941, is a symbol of the state’s diverse heritage and its values. The flag features a sky blue field, a nod to the flag carried by Choctaw soldiers during the American Civil War. In the center lies the Osage Nation buffalo-skin shield with seven eagle feathers, representing the Native American people and their culture.
The shield is decorated with six crosses or stars, which are Native American symbols for stars, representing high ideals. Across the shield lies the calumet, or peace pipe, and the olive branch, symbols of peace between the Native American tribes and the European and American settlers. The word “Oklahoma” is written in white letters below the shield.
The flag’s design reflects the state’s respect for its Native American heritage and its hope for peace and unity among all its people. It serves as a reminder of Oklahoma’s history, the diversity of its people, and the state’s commitment to harmony and mutual respect.
Oklahoma Quick Facts
Capital City: Oklahoma City
Abbreviation: OK
Population: Approximately 4 million
Region: South-Central / Midwest
Origin of State Name: Derived from the Choctaw words “okla” and “humma,” meaning “red people”
Sports Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)
Bordering States: Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico
Area Codes: 405, 539, 580, 918
Highest Point: Black Mesa at 4,973 feet (1,516 meters)
Lowest Point: Little River at 289 feet (88 meters)
Geography of Oklahoma
Area: 69,899 square miles (181,037 square kilometers), 20th largest
Land: 68,595 square miles (177,660 square kilometers), 19th largest
Water: 1,304 square miles (3,377 square kilometers), 35th largest
Coastline: None (landlocked state)
Shoreline: None (landlocked state)
Largest Cities:
- Oklahoma City
- Tulsa
- Norman
- Broken Arrow
- Edmond
- Lawton
- Moore
- Midwest City
- Stillwater
- Enid
- Muskogee
- Owasso
- Shawnee
- Bartlesville
- Midwest City
National Parks:
- Chickasaw National Recreation Area
- Oklahoma City National Memorial
- Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
Oklahoma State Symbols
Living Insignia
State Bird: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
State Animal: Bison
State Amphibian: American Bullfrog
State Butterfly: Black Swallowtail
State Fish: Sand Bass (White Bass)
State Flower: Oklahoma Rose
State Horse Breed: None
State Insect: Honeybee
State Mammal: Bison
State Reptile: Mountain Boomer (Collared Lizard)
Inanimate Insignia
State Fruit: Strawberry
State Gemstone: None
State Soil: Port Silt Loam
State Tree: Redbud
State Quarter: Issued in 2008 featuring the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and Oklahoma Rose
State Beverage: Milk
State Colors: Green and White
State Dance: Square Dance
State Food: None
State Fossil: Saurophaganax Maximus
State Mineral: Rose Rock (Barite Rose)
State Rock: Rose Rock (Barite Rose)