What Is the Capital of Oklahoma?

Oklahoma is the 20th largest and 28th most populous state in the US. It joined the Union on November 16, 1907, as the 46th state of the United States. Its people are known as Oklahomans or Okies. Oklahoma is a major producer of agricultural products, oil, and natural gas. In 2007 Oklahoma was ranked among the fastest growing economies in the US and one of the states with the highest per capita income. Oklahoma City is the capital of Oklahoma State and the county seat of Oklahoma County.

Overview of Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City is the largest and capital city of the state of Oklahoma. It is the 27th largest city in the US with an estimated population of about 650,000. The Oklahoma City metropolitan area boast of a population of about 1.4 million people. Oklahoma City has grown to be one of the state’s most formidable aviation centers; it is home to Tinker Air Force Base, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, and the Federal Aviation Administration. In 1995 the city became a victim of one of the deadliest terror attacks in American history when a truck bomb was detonated in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building killing 168 people while injuring about 500 others.

The Economy

The economy of Oklahoma largely depends on agriculture, petroleum products, manufacture of automobiles, tires, and electronic and computer equipment. The service sector especially the state and federal governments play a great role, health care, education, customer service and tourism are also important. It acts as a distribution center for food and agricultural products including dairy products and wheat. Several multi nation organizations are located within the town including the Devon Energy and Chesapeake Energy, Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores which is ranked among Forbes list of large private companies is also located in the town.

Climate

The city of Oklahoma experiences a humid subtropical climate characterized by frequent variations in weather except during the hot and humid summer months. During the summer Oklahoma experiences severe droughts caused by winds blowing from south or south-southeast and leads to the migration of wild animals to human settlements, however when the skies open up the city experiences flash flooding. During the winter the city experiences snow and ice storms. The annual average precipitation is about 35.9 inches of which snow account for about 8.6 inches.

Government and Politics

The City of Oklahoma is managed by a council-manager system of governance since 1927. The council consists of eight members who are. The council consists of eight members each representing a particular ward and the mayor. Mick Cornett was first elected the mayor of the city in 2004 before he was reelected in 2006, 2010, and 2014. The city is among the most politically conservative cities in the US and has always advocated for its residents to vote for sales tax-based projects to develop parts of the city. The Bricktown district is one of the initiatives developed by the sales tax increase. Recently a $777 million public dubbed the Metropolitan Area Projects Plan 3 (MAPS 3) was set to be funded by a voter-approved sales tax increase.