State of the Month – Oklahoma

Here is the next instalment of my monthly feature going through the States of the United States in alphabetical order to check out how they got named, what their flag is like and other things of interest. 

Location – Oklahoma is landlocked – it has borders with Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.  Its people are sometimes called Okies.

Origin of name – from the Choctaw language meaning Red People

Nicknames – Sooner State, Land of the Red Man!

Flag

Capital – Oklahoma City

Unusual town names – Slaughterville, Slapout

Flower – Oklahoma Rose

State Tree – Redbud

Bird – Scissor tailed Flycatcher

Signature foods – Onion Burger, Chicken fried Steak, Fried Catfish

Famous places to visit – Route 66, Philbrook Museum of Art, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City National Memorial, Turner Falls, Beavers Bend State Park

Famous businesses/brands – global engineering base for American Airlines is in Tulsa

Famous people from Oklahoma – Blake Edwards, Ron Howard, Chuck Norris, Brad Pitt, Dennis Weaver, Helen & Sam Walton (Wal-Mart), Garth Brooks, Roger Miller, Blake Shelton, Dr Phil

Go to this Pinboard to see the States of the Month so far.