Key Facts
- Per Capita Real GDP
- $29,470 Rank: 46/50 (2007)
- Population
- 3,642,360 Rank: 28/50 (2008)
- Per Capita Personal Income
- $32,210 Rank: 37/50 (2006)
- Unemployment Rate
- 3.60% Rank: 13/50 (2008)
- Business Tax Climate Index
- Rank: 19/50 (2008)
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Oklahoma: Introduction
Located in America’s south central region, Oklahoma has a diverse landscape and rich history. Part of the state was originally land set aside for displaced Native Americans and was known as Indian Territory. The other part, known as the Oklahoma Territory, was opened for white settlement. Early white settlers who rushed to take the land before they were legally allowed to gave the state its nickname, the Sooner State. Most settlers to the state were drawn by the abundance of mineral and agricultural resources. The combination of the Indian and Oklahoma territories officially formed the current state of Oklahoma. Despite its central location, the Sooner State was the 46th to enter the union.
Oklahoma boasts one of the fastest growing economies in the United States. Much of this success can be attributed to mining, technology, and manufacturing, though many other sectors are also experiencing substantial growth. Machinery and transportation equipment are the top exports, with Canada, Mexico and Japan constituting the largest export markets. The Sooner State has historically held a strong agricultural sector, and is currently a leading producer of wheat. Other top agricultural outputs include cattle, hogs, and hay. The state also used to possess a substantial energy industry, which was hard-hit by lower oil prices and depression in the mid-eighties. While the industry as a whole never fully recovered, Oklahoma is now ranked second in the nation in production of natural gas.
