Commerce &Agriculture Commerce and Agriculture Commerce in Oklahoma According to the Oklahoma State University 2009 Economic Outlook, falling energy prices and the weakening United States economy are the two dominant factors steering Oklahoma’s economy in 2009. State job formation is expected to continue to slow along with the nation, eventually stalling in the first two quarters of 2009. Given the state’s current momentum and the anticipation that the national economy begins to improve in the third quarter of 2009, the forecast calls for a slowdown in hiring in Oklahoma leading to a slight year-over-year decline of -0.2 percent (2,800 jobs) in 2009. This is well above the expected -1.5 percent job loss at the national level and very similar to the state’s experience in post war recessions where the state was receiving an energy boost. The reported state unemployment rate has already increased from just above 3 percent in early 2008 to roughly 4 percent in recent data. The unemployment rate is only a rough indicator of labor market conditions but is expected to continue to rise slightly to an average of 5 percent through 2009. Current U.S. Economic Conditions

The economic backdrop for Oklahoma has changed in dramatic fashion in the last three months of 2008. The initial blow from the combination of the housing collapse, the sub prime debacle, and surging energy prices stunned the national economy over the past year. The more recent combination of the collapse in the exotic derivatives market, the wholesale de-leveraging of the financial sector, and seized-up credit markets have brought much business lending to a halt. These are serious macroeconomic concerns that will undoubtedly bleed over into the economy of all fifty states including energy producing states in 2009. The combination of these factors could be at least equivalent to extreme monetary tightening by the Federal Reserve, akin to the action taken by Paul Volcker prior to the 1981–82 recession in a concerted effort to kill both the economy and inflation. Timing of the National Recovery

It seems unlikely that the current set of conditions will unwind fully in 2009. The national economy has already shed 1.9 million jobs the past eleven months and economic conditions at the national level continue to deteriorate. The outlook for the national economy assumes that output (real GDP) will fall in the first two quarters of 2009 and rebound only slowly in the second half of the year. Job losses are expected to lag behind output and to continue throughout 2009, not showing meaningful growth until early 2010. The national unemployment rate is expected to average 7.7 percent in 2009 and rise above 8 percent by 2010 as more workers continue to enter a weak labor market. Total U.S. job losses are expected to exceed more than three million from peak to trough in the current recession, which suggests that the labor market has a long adjustment process ahead of it in 2009. This would place the correct recession roughly in line with job losses experienced in the 1981–82 recession.

922 Oklahoma Almanac Commerce and Agriculture Household Income and Consumption

Personal income growth should slow markedly from the rapid 8 percent average pace enjoyed in 2004. Slower income growth in the 3 to 4 percent range through 2010 is expected. This will still outpace income gains at the national level and allow the state to continue to make up ground in relative per capita income. The forecast is for Oklahoma to reach nearly 95 percent of national per capita income by 2010, the highest relative level in the post-oil bust era. Retail sales growth is expected to follow income growth and ease to the 3 to 4 percent range in the slowdown. Industry Growth

The state is currently about one year behind the nation in the current cycle in terms of the industry-level impacts on hiring. Cyclical weakness is currently being witnessed in a few industries but this is expected to spread to other industries in Oklahoma in 2009 much as it has nationally in 2008. Temporary employment (administrative, support, and waste management services), is expected to suffer the largest decline of nearly 5,000 jobs next year. Smaller job losses are expected in wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation, and warehousing and reflects the general slowing in income growth in the household sector. Non-durable manufacturing is expected to weaken sharply along with the nation, though durable goods manufacturing should continue to benefit from oil and gas activity. Job gains are nevertheless expected in oil and gas (natural resources and mining), utilities, educational services, health services, and the government sectors. The government sectors along with consumer services such as arts, entertainment, recreation and accommodation, and food services are expected to add a small number of jobs in 2009. Population Gains

The strong overall growth in the state economy continues to stimulate net migration into the state. The U.S. Census Bureau reports population growth above 1 percent since 2006; however, the model based estimates suggest that this is understating the current level of in-migration and that Census estimates will continue to be revised upward. Much of the population increase is occurring in the metropolitan areas and rural communities as evidenced by the strong job growth rates in the non-metro regions of the state since 2003. The rural gains are driven primarily by three factors: oil and gas, agriculture, and the expansion of the state’s Indian nations and tribes. Possible Additional Economic Deterioration

It remains a real possibility that both the national economy may weaken further and that energy prices could fall significantly below current levels. Hence, an evaluation of the potential impact on the Oklahoma economy using a more pessimistic scenario for national economic activity and energy prices is as follows: (1) U.S. GDP growth remains negative through the fourth quarter of 2009; (2) U.S. job loses extend through the second quarter of 2010; (3) oil averages $41 a barrel in 2009 and $57 in 2010; (4) natural gas continues to average $5.50 million per BTU in 2009 and $6.75 in 2010; and (5) the U.S. unemployment rate increases from 6.5 percent to 9.3 percent by 2010. State economic conditions are forecasted to downshift considerably under the pessimistic

Oklahoma Almanac 923 Commerce and Agriculture scenario. The oil and gas boost is all but eliminated and begins to act as a constraint on overall state economic activity. In this scenario, state growth declines to -0.6 percent (10,000) jobs lost in 2009 before rebounding to only 0.7 percent growth in 2010. These numbers continue to compare favorably, however, to expected national job growth under these conditions of -2.1 percent and -0.9 percent, respectively, in 2009 and 2010. 2010—Oklahoma’s Risk Year

In short, it is believed Oklahoma will slow along with the nation in the next six months, but remain one of the few states positioned to come through the current recession unscathed relative to many areas of the country. However, if energy prices continue to fall and the national recession lasts much longer than expected, 2010 becomes the risk year for the Oklahoma economy and may well signal the return of the familiar “Oklahoma Lag” relative to the nation.

Selected Oklahoma Indicators

2006 2007 2008e 2009f 2010f

Real Gross State 105,748 112,299.9 116,327.4 117,763.4 121,536 Product ($Mil) Real Personal Income ($Mil) 105,748 107,316.7 109,729 113,117.1 114,847

Wage and Salary 55,061.5 58,353.5 61,725.9 63,721.9 66,220.7 Income ($Mil)

Ratio OK/US 89.2 90.6 91.9 92.8 94.0 Per Cap Income (%) Unemployment Rate (%) 4.1 4.3 3.7 4.9 5.2

Commercial Bank Total 40,311.9 43,169.9 46,643.5 47,592.7 47,590.7 Deposits ($Mil)

Commercial Bank Total 33,368 36,224.4 39,275.6 40,454.9 41,614.5 Loans ($Mil) Taxable Retail Sales ($Mil) 39,671 42,391 45,135 46,803 48,256 Source: 2009 Oklahoma Economic Outlook, College of Business Administration, Oklahoma State University (e = estimate, f = forecast)

924 Oklahoma Almanac Commerce and Agriculture 8,415 2,149 9,554 5,954 21,811 4,450 17,743 19,536 15,940 29,068 2007 5,162 7,238 2.035 4,909 9,090 18,327 15,397 20,551 20,882 26,950 2006 2,154 4,661 4,772 7,964 6,668 16,301 19,392 16,442 14,370 24,775 2005 6,417 7,373 4,332 4,222 2,294 11,598 15,819 18,284 13,643 23,506 2004 9,161 1,777 4,051 4,575 6,802 6,066 14,931 17,296 12,960 22,208 2003 1,785 4,051 5,804 3,909 6,028 6,760 14,180 16,678 12,760 20,926 2002 1,480 7,587 5,527 3,927 6,307 4,076 12,312 13,630 15,698 20,033 2001 1,618 5,189 7,973 3,557 4,284 5,667 11,695 12,754 14,885 18,696 2000 Source: 2007 U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis of Economic Bureau Department of Commerce, 2007 U.S. Source: 4,112 1,439 3,374 7,845 3,204 5,020 11,883 11,426 17,750 13,994 1999 Actual ($) Actual (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007) in Millions Oklahoma Gross State Product by Industrial by Oklahoma Sector Product State Gross Major Industry Agriculture Mining Contract Construction Manufacturing- Durable Manufacturing- Nondurable and Retail Wholesale Trade Insurance, Finance, and Real Estate & Transportation Utilities Services Government

Oklahoma Almanac 925 Commerce and Agriculture 75.51 57.86 53.69 44.65 85.20 46.56 275.21 231.02 104.93 594.44 2010 1,596.27 Forecast 74.38 45.85 57.86 45.48 52.94 84.40 581.24 104.98 229.67 275.07 2009 1,579.78 Forecast

74.15 58.31 52.25 47.20 84.35 45.67 231.44 103.89 273.83 582.68 2008 1,582.63 Estimate 71.34 57.42 47.63 45.57 83.79 46.45 102.57 230.74 275.30 576.26 2007 1,565.89 55.17 49.17 41.94 45.78 83.36 70.27 562.31 273.77 228.47 100.04 2006 1,540.04 83.12 95.59 49.26 35.96 45.90 53.00 66.07 226.31 548.02 266.04 2005 1,499.51 32.51 49.17 93.17 51.92 83.89 62.80 46.09 532.14 255.77 223.03 2004 1,461.46 , College of Business Administration, Oklahoma University State of Business Administration, , College 83.17 52.61 50.41 29.77 92.82 63.58 46.09 224.24 249.67 520.63 2003 1,445.41 Seasonally Thousands Adjusted—in 55.10 64.41 83.01 28.32 53.28 46.29 99.05 525.73 228.60 254.60 2002 1,473.72 57.81 82.54 46.25 56.76 29.09 66.08 113.07 250.13 231.80 523.23 2001 1,493.91 2009 OklahomaOutlook Economic

Source: Source: 81.43 61.63 57.52 47.84 59.62 26.92 117.23 239.81 513.56 235.52 2000 1,480.34 Actual ($) Oklahoma Non-Farm Wage and SalaryWage Employment Oklahoma Non-Farm Major Industry Total Mining Construction Manufacturing— Durable Manufacturing— Nondurable and Wholesale Retail Trade Insurance, Finance, & Real Estate Transportation, Utilities Services Government— Federal Government— & Local State

926 Oklahoma Almanac Commerce and Agriculture Major Employers in Oklahoma 2008

Company Name Business Type Location # Employees State of Oklahoma Government Statewide 36,000–37,000 Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club Retail Statewide 29,000–33,000 Tinker Air Force Base Government Oklahoma City 26,000–27,000 including Air Logistics Center 14,000–15,000 U.S. Army Field Artillery Center Government Lawton 21,400 & Fort Sill 15,000 U.S. Postal Service Government Oklahoma City 16,500 University of Oklahoma Education Norman 13,000 Oklahoma State University Education Stillwater 11,000–12,000 American Airlines Service Tulsa 7000–7,500 Tulsa Public Schools Education Tulsa 6,500–7,000 Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma Service Tahlequah 5,900 Chickasaw Enterprises Health Ada 5,800–6,000 Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Service Durant 4,800–5,000 Oklahoma City School District Education Oklahoma City 4,800–5,000 City of Oklahoma City Government Oklahoma City 4,600–4,700 AT&T and AT&T Wireless Service Statewide 4,400–4,600 Saint Francis Hospital Health Tulsa 4,250–4,500 City of Tulsa Government Tulsa 4,000–4,200 ConocoPhillips Manufacturing Bartlesville/Ponca City 3,750–4,000 YUM! Brands Food Statewide 3,500–4,500 Braum’s Inc. Mfg/Retail Oklahoma City 3,200–3,500 Lowe’s Home Centers Retail Statewide 3,200–3,500 Altus Air Force Base Government Altus 3,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Government Oklahoma City 3,000–3,300 Hertz Service Oklahoma City 3,000–3,200 OGE Energy Corporation Utilities Statewide 3,000–3,500 Hobby Lobby Retail Oklahoma City 2,800–3,000 Bank of Oklahoma Finance Tulsa 2,700 Halliburton Energy Services Service Duncan 2,700 Lawton Public Schools Education Lawton 2,700–2,900 BOK Financial Corporation Finance Tulsa 2,600–2,700 (Bank of Oklahoma) Edmond Public Schools Education Edmond 2,600–2,800 Brinker International Inc. Food Statewide 2,500–2,600 Integris Baptist Medical Center Health Oklahoma City 2,500–2,750 Mercy Health System of OK Health Oklahoma City 2,500, 2,750 Putnam City Independent Schools Education Oklahoma City 2,500–2,700 St. John Medical Center Inc. Health Tulsa 2,500–2,750 Dollar General Stores Retail Statewide 2,500–2,750

Oklahoma Almanac 927 Commerce and Agriculture

Company Name Business Type Location # Employees Moore Public Schools Education Moore 2,400–2,500 Seaboard Farms of Oklahoma Inc. Manufacturing Guymon 2,400–2,500 Tulsa Community College Education Tulsa 2,300–2,500 Goodyear Tire and Rubber Manufacturing Lawton 2,300–2,400 United Parcel Service Service Oklahoma City 2,300 Vance Air Force Base Government Enid 2,300–2,500 Walgreen Company Retail Statewide 2,300–2,600 Broken Arrow Public Schools Education Broken Arrow 2,200–2,300 Chesapeake Energy Corporation Service Oklahoma City 2,200–2,300 Dillard’s Retail Statewide 2,200–2,500 Norman Regional Hospital Health Norman 2,200–2,500 Mazzio’s Food Statewide 2,100–2,300 McDonald’s Restaurants of Oklahoma Food Statewide 2,100–2,500 Sodexo Operations Service Statewide 2,100–2,300 University of Central Oklahoma Education Edmond 2,100–2,300 Albertson’s Inc. Food Statewide 2,000–2,500 Citizen Potawatomi Nation Government Shawnee 2,000 Cox Communications Inc. Service Tulsa and Oklahoma City 2,000–2,200 Midwest City School District Education Midwest City 2,000–2,200 ONEOK Service Tulsa 2,000–2,100 Michelin North America Inc. Manufacturing Ardmore 1,945 Arby’s Roast Beef Food Statewide 1,900–2,000 NORDAM Group Inc. Manufacturing Tulsa 1,900–2,000 Reasor’s Discount Foods Food Statewide 1,900–2,000 Target Stores Retail Statewide 1,900–2,200 Union Public Schools Education Tulsa 1,900–2,000 Grace Living Centers Health Statewide 1,800–2,000 Homeland Stores Food Oklahoma City 1,800–2,000 Norman Public Schools Education Norman 1,800–2,000 Red Lobster Inns of America Food Statewide 1,800–2,000 Tulsa County Government Tulsa 1,800–2,000 VA Medical Center Health Oklahoma City 1,800–2,000 Spirit Aerosystems Manufacturing Tulsa, McAlester 1,775–1,875 Arrow Trucking Company Inc. Transportation Tulsa 1,700–1,800 Integris Southwest Medical Center/Jim Health Oklahoma City 1,700–1,800 Thorpe Rehabilitation Center Oklahoma County Government Oklahoma City 1,700–1,800 Sears & KMart Retail Statewide 1,700–1,900 Arvest Bank Operations Financial Statewide 1,600–1,700 Comanche County Memorial Hospital Health Lawton 1,600–1,700 Farmers Insurance Group Insurance Oklahoma City 1,600–1,750

928 Oklahoma Almanac Commerce and Agriculture

Company Name Business Type Location # Employees Home Depot Retail Statewide 1,600–1,800 Northeastern OK State University Education Tahlequah 1,600–1,800 Advance Food Company Inc. Manufacturing Enid, Oklahoma City 1,500–1,600 Terex/CMI Corporation Manufacturing Oklahoma City 1,500 Convergys Corporation Service Moore 1,500–1,600 Dell Service Oklahoma City 1,500–1,600 Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Manufacturing Oklahoma City, Tulsa 1,500 JC Penney Retail Statewide 1,500–1,750 Jenks Public Schools Education Jenks 1,500–1,750 St. Anthony Hospital/SSM Healthcare of OK Health Oklahoma City 1,500–1,750 Tyson Foods Inc. Manufacturing Broken Bow 1,500 Alorica Inc. Service Tulsa 1,400–1,500 BancFirst Corporation Financial Oklahoma City 1,400–1,500 Hillcrest Medical Center Health Tulsa 1,400–1,600 Whirlpool Corporation Manufacturing Tulsa 1,400 York International Corporation Manufacturing Norman 1,400 Charles Machine Works Inc. Manufacturing Perry 1,300 Deaconess Hospital Health Oklahoma City 1,300–1,400 DIRECTV Service Tulsa Office, Services 1,300–1,500 Statewide O’Reilly Automotive Retail Statewide 1,300–1,400 EDS Service Tulsa 1,250–1,500 OK Foods Inc. Manufacturing Heavener, Muldrow 1,250–1,500 Devon Energy Corporation Service Oklahoma City 1,200–1,300 IBM Service Tulsa 1,200–1,400 Midwest Regional Medical Center Health Midwest City 1,200–1,400 QuikTrip Corporation Retail Tulsa 1,200–1,400 Southwestern Oklahoma State University Education Weatherford 1,200–1,400 Tulsa Regional Medical Center (AHS) Health Tulsa 1,200–1,400 Blue Cross/Blue Shield of OK Insurance Tulsa 1,100 Health Care Innovations Private Services Health Oklahoma City 1,100–1,300 United Supermarkets of Oklahoma Inc. Food Altus 1,100–1,200 Bartlesville Independent School District Education Bartlesville 1,000–1,100 Best Buy Retail Statewide 1,000–1,200 Country Style Health Care Health Wilburton 1,000–1,250 Crest Discount Foods Inc. Food Oklahoma City 1,000–1,200 Girling Health Care Inc. Services Statewide 1,000–1,200 Howard-GM Inc. Retail Oklahoma City 1,000–1,250 IC of Oklahoma LLC Manufacturing Tulsa 1,000 Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores Inc. Food Oklahoma City 1,000–1,200 Oklahoma City University Education Oklahoma City 1,000–1,200

Oklahoma Almanac 929 Commerce and Agriculture

Company Name Business Type Location # Employees Oklahoma Publishing Company Manufacturing Oklahoma City 1,000–1,200 Owasso Independent School District Education Owasso 1,000–1,200 PSO Service Tulsa 1,000–1,200 State Farm Insurance Insurance Statewide 1,000–1,300 Taco Bueno Restaurants Inc. Food Statewide 1,000–1,100 University of Tulsa Education Tulsa 1,000–1,200 Dolese Brothers Company Manufacturing Central OK 999 Bar-S Foods Manufacturing Clinton, Lawton, Altus, 982 Elk City Baker Hughes Oilfield Ops Manufacturing Claremore, Broken 955 Arrow, Oklahoma City Global Power Equipment Group Manufacturing Tulsa 949 Family Dollar Services & Service Statewide 900–1,100 Family Dollar Trucking American Fidelity Assurance Company Insurance Oklahoma City 900–1,000 Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Service Tulsa 900–1,100 Mercy Memorial Health Center Health Ardmore 900–1,100 Muskogee School District Education Muskogee 900–1,100 Mustang Public Schools Education Mustang 900–1,100 Oklahoma City Community College Education Oklahoma City 900–1,100 Warehouse Market Food Tulsa 900–1,100 Williams Companies Service Tulsa 900–1,100 East Central University Education Ada 900–1,000 Enid Public Schools Education Enid 900–1,000 Muskogee Regional Medical Center Health Muskogee 900–1,000 Outback Steakhouse Food Statewide 900–1,000 Rose State College Education Oklahoma City 900–1,000 Schlumberger Technology Corporation Manufacturing Bartlesville 900–1,000 SouthCrest Hospital Health Tulsa 900–1,000 Southeastern Oklahoma State University Education Durant 900–1,000 Sprint Nextel Service Oklahoma City 900–1,000 Stillwater Public Schools Education Stillwater 900–1,000

930 Oklahoma Almanac Commerce and Agriculture Mining/Petroleum Overview Nonfuel Mineral Production, 2005

Mineral Quantity (in metric tons) Value (in thousands) Cement w w Common Clay 903,000 $2,520 Gypsum 2,620,000 $18,400 Iodine 1,570 $23,700 Sand & Gravel 14,780,000 $98,500 Stone 45,400,000 $257,000 Tripoli 30,600 $1,950 w = data withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data Note: Total value in table above does not equal the total value of nonfuel mineral production in Oklahoma for 2005. The difference is in mineral values not released for public distribution.

The United States Geological Survey estimated the value of nonfuel mineral production in Oklahoma was $606 million in 2005. That represents a 16.8 percent increase from the final figures for 2004. Crushed stone lead the state in the value of nonfuel mineral production at $257 million. Based on value, crushed stone was followed by cement (masonry and portland), construction sand and gravel, industrial sand and gravel, gypsum, and iodine. About 56 percent of the total value is due to the combined values of three of Oklahoma’s four major construction materials: crushed stone, construction sand and gravel, and gypsum (descending order of value). Data for cement were withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary information. Despite the increase in value of its mineral value, Oklahoma production of the common clays, crude gypsum, and tripoli decreased slightly, but dimension stone production decreased by 80 percent. Oklahoma leads the U.S. in the production of gypsum; ranks fourth in feldspar production; ranks second of four states producing tripoli; ranks third of three states producing helium and is the only state producing iodine. Oklahoma ranks seventh (from eighth in 2004) in industrial sand and gravel production, and eleventh (from eighth in 2004) in the production of common clays. Oklahoma mines produced industrial minerals exclusively (no metals were mined in the state). Value of Petroleum and Natural Gas Production, 1973–2007

Oklahoma’s enormous mineral reserve can be divided into three types of mineral products: mineral fuels, metals, and non-metals. Mineral fuels are materials that can be burned, such as petroleum (crude oil and natural gas), and coal. These account for

Information for the Mining and Petroleum Overview was provided by the Oklahoma Geological Survey.

Oklahoma Almanac 931 Commerce and Agriculture Oklahoma Annual Hydrocarbon Production

600

Oil Production 500 Gas Production (BOE)

400 6 MCF / Bbl

300

200

Million Barrels of Oil Equivalent 100

0 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Source: Oklahoma Corporation Commission

more than 90 percent of Oklahoma’s annual mineral output. Metals are substances that can be melted and molded into any shape desired and are usually hard and heat resistant. There presently are no metals mined in Oklahoma. Zinc and lead are the principal metals previously mined in Oklahoma, but copper, manganese, iron, and uranium also were produced. A non-metal (industrial mineral) is any rock, mineral or other select naturally occurring or synthetic material of economic value often used in combination with other materials, such as sand and crushed stone used in concrete. The principal industrial minerals produced in Oklahoma include crushed stone, portland cement, construction sand and gravel, industrial sand and gravel, iodine, and gypsum. Other Oklahoma non-metals include tripoli, feldspar, helium, common clay, dimension stone, salt, volcanic ash, and lime. Global: The Big Picture Rising global oil demand, especially in developing countries, has continued to reduce the world’s spare productive capacity. The long-term convergence of the supply and demand curves, combined with the usual levels of international unrest, caused oil prices to rise to unprecedented levels by the middle of 2008. The subsequent global economic recession has sharply reduced both demand and prices, but this will be only a short-term break in a generally escalating oil price environment. The lack of infrastructure necessary to import large quantities of liquefied natural gas (LNG) leaves the North American gas market, unlike oil, largely independent of the global market. High levels of gas-targeted drilling, fueled by high prices, have kept the State’s supply curve roughly flat, but lower prices are now reducing this drilling activity. With more than one quarter of Oklahoma’s gas production coming from wells less than a year old, the ability to deliver natural gas is undoubtedly declining. This may be offset by reduced industrial consumption resulting from the economic recession, but cold winters and/or hurricane-induced production curtailments could still cause price spikes in the short term. In the longer-term, like oil, the price of natural gas will be set globally, with the floor price determined by the cost of shipping LNG from large fields overseas. This will ultimately determine how much of Oklahoma’s gas will be economically producible.

932 Oklahoma Almanac Commerce and Agriculture

Oklahoma Oil and Gas Declines in Oklahoma oil and gas production remain modest due to high levels of drilling activity. Because of this the value of State production and the tax revenues it generates are more closely fixed to price than to production volume. Balancing oil and natural gas production declines of 5.0% and 4.5%, the 2007 average crude oil price was $69.01 per barrel (an all-time record), and natural gas was $6.48 per thousand cubic feet (the second highest price in history). The year’s production volume of 60.762 million barrels and 1,643 billion cubic feet had a gross value of $14.8 billion, of which $1.04 billion was paid directly to the State as gross production tax. Natural gas represents 82% of Oklahoma’s energy production on a barrel of oil equivalency, making its price the single most critical factor to the Oklahoma State budget. Due to the maturity of the Oklahoma oil industry, discoveries of a size necessary to materially affect State production are no longer possible. For this reason the only option available to increase ultimate oil recovery is in improving recoveries in existing fields. Although the gas industry is not as mature as oil, significant discoveries of conventional gas are now rare. As a result, the State relies on less conventional sources of gas to slow the long-term decline in production. These include tight sandstone reservoirs, coal bed methane, and shale gas reservoirs; all of which have benefited from the advent and the improvement of horizontal drilling techniques. Natural gas is by far the most important resource in Oklahoma, because it alone maintains a positive State energy balance. Despite being ranked the fifth largest oil producer, oil consumption in Oklahoma is about 50% greater than production. In addition, local coal production, due to its high sulfur content, accounts for less than 10% of state consumption. However, gas production, at 1.6 trillion cubic feet per year, is three times state consumption. This places Oklahoma third among the nation’s gas producing states. Oklahoma Oil and Gas Prices 80

70 Oil Price per Barrel Gas Price per BOE 60

50

40

30 Dollars per BOE 20

10

0 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Source: Oklahoma Corporation Commission, 2008

Oklahoma Almanac 933 Commerce and Agriculture Agriculture Overview Environmental conditions such as climate and soil type have a great influence on agriculture practices in the state. Oklahoma lies between the long growing season of the South and the shorter growing season of the North. The average length of this season, also called the freeze-free period, ranges from 168 days in the northwestern Panhandle to about 240 days along the Red River in south central and southern sections of the state. In most circumstances, individual farming areas include more than one type of crop since it is more economical to grow a variety of crops within one area; however, wheat is planted on more acres than any other crop in Oklahoma. Wheat production is centered primarily in the northwestern and north central areas of the state. Oklahoma normally ranks second in winter wheat production, surpassed only by Kansas. The Panhandle area of Oklahoma is a mixed area of rangeland and valuable irrigated cropland. Wheat, corn, and grain sorghum are grown to help support a large cattle feeding industry and a recent expansion in hog production. Cotton and grain production is extensive in the southwestern corner of the state. The warm climate in this area is extremely hospitable to cotton production and provides an annual growing season in excess of 210 days. The area receives between twenty- two and thirty inches of rainfall annually. A wide variety of crops are grown in the mixed-farming region in the eastern part of the state. While soybeans play an important role on farms within this zone, farmers supplement their income by growing crops such as corn, peanuts, strawberries, peaches, and assorted vegetables. Contract broiler operations, egg laying flocks, and hog production facilities are found in this area of the state, which also has a large number of cattle ranches and a significant number of dairy farms. The range-grazing lands of Oklahoma are spread across the state. The six regions shown on the map generally have rich soils and plentiful supplies of water to support grasses. Ranches located in areas where soils are not as rich make up for the deficit by increasing the number of grazing acres per animal. The years between 1879 and 1900 saw a rapid increase in farm production because of an expansion in the labor force and more efficient technology in the area of horse drawn plows, cultivators, and grain harvesters. During this period, the total acreage of cropland in the United States grew rapidly. This expansion period ended by 1920. Between 1935 and 1960, agricultural output per man hour increased by more than four times, while crop production per acre nearly doubled. It was also during this time that many subsistence farms were eliminated by larger, more specialized farms.

Information for Agriculture Overview was provided by the Agricultural Statistics Division, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Trade and Agriculture: What’s at Stake for Oklahoma report for 2007 served as the source of information on Oklahoma’s agricultural exports. Additional information (including maps) was found in the Atlas of Oklahoma, edited by Tom Wikle, published by Oklahoma State University, 1991.

934 Oklahoma Almanac Commerce and Agriculture Agricultural Regions

0 50 miles

Although the number of farms in the U.S. in the mid-1930s was almost seven million, by the mid 1970s, that number had dropped to about two million. According to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, Oklahoma has a total of 86,565 farms. The total land area in farms equaled 35,087,269 acres. The average size farm was 405 acres and the median size farm consisted of 137 acres. As of January 1, 2008, Oklahoma’s farms and ranches held 5,400,000 cattle and calves, up 150,000 from 2007. The cow inventory consisted of 2,053,000 beef cows and 67,000 milk cows, and average milk production per cow (lbs) at 16,480. The total milk production in 2007 was 1.14 billions lbs. As of December 1, 2007, Oklahoma held 2,330,000 hogs, 7,050,000 pigs, and 80,000 sheep and lambs. The all goat inventory in Oklahoma for January 1, 2008 was 94,000. Total chickens (excluding broilers) in Oklahoma on December 1, 2007, totaled 4.75 million, down 6 percent from last year. Hens and pullets of laying age, at 3.24 million, were up 4 percent from 2006. Cash receipts for all Oklahoma commodities sold in 2007 totaled 5.16 billion, up 3 percent from 2006. Receipts from livestock and related products, which accounted for 77 percent of the total cash receipts, totaled $3.98 billion, down 3 percent from 2006. Receipts for cattle and calves sold were down 10 percent to $2.47 billion, while total hog receipts, at $584.7 million, were up 3 percent. The third largest livestock item based on cash receipts was broilers at $540.5 million, up 14 percent from 2006. Sheep and lamb receipts were $3 million, down 11 percent from the previous year. Crop sales for 2007, at $1.18 billion, were up 32 percent from 2006. Food grain sales, which include wheat and rye, totaled $505.1 million, up 47 percent from 2006. Feed crop sales, at $310.7 million, were up 61 percent from 2006. Feed crops include corn, sorghum, oats, and hay. Wheat at $502.1 million, was up 48 percent. Peanuts rose 5 percent to $11.7 million. Soybeans, at $27.4 million, were down 11 percent. Grain sorghum sales were $34.9 million, up 70 percent while hay sales totaled $188.9 million,

Oklahoma Almanac 935 Commerce and Agriculture up 58 from the previous year. Cotton lint and cottonseed, at $72.1 million, were up 6 percent from 2006. Beef cattle prices averaged $99.40 per hundred weight, up $2.60; steer and heifer prices averaged $104.00 per hundredweight, down $1.00; cow prices averaged $48.80 per hundredweight, up $2.50, and calf prices were $121.00 per hundredweight, down $6.00 from 2006. Milk cows averaged $1,750 per head, up $50.00 from 2006. Sheep prices averaged $33.00 per hundredweight, down $1.00. Lamb prices averaged $95.00 per hundredweight, up $3.00 from 2006. Wool prices averaged 50 cents a pound in 2006, up 10 cents. All hog prices were $39.40 per hundredweight, up .10 cents from 2006. Egg prices were $1.12 per dozen, up 15 cents. The 2007 Oklahoma winter wheat market year average price was $6.30 per bushel, up $1.60 per bushel from 2006. The average sorghum price was $6.95 per hundredweight, up $1.08 from the previous year. Corn, at $4.05, was up 88 cents from 2006. The all hay average price was $112.00 per ton, down $5.00 per ton from 2006. Soybeans were $9.60 per bushel in 2007, up $3.25 cents per bushel from the year before. Oat prices were $3.10 per bushel, up 70 cents per bushel, and the peanut average price was $0.202 cents per pound, up $0.025 per pound. The market year average price for rye, at $6.10 per bushel, was up $2.00. Cotton lint was up $0.115 per pound to $0.587 per pound. Oklahoma produces agricultural products that are exported worldwide. In 2007, the state’s farm cash receipts totaled $5.1 billion, and exports were an estimated $871 million. Agriculture exports help boost farm prices and income, while supporting about 9.280 jobs both on the farm and off the farm in food processing, storage, and transportation. Exports are increasingly important to Oklahoma’s agricultural and statewide economy. Measured as exports divided by farm cash receipts, the state’s reliance on agricultural exports was 17 percent in 2007. Oklahoma’s top five agricultural exports in 2007 were (1) wheat and products at $334 million; (2) live animals and red meat at $181 million; (3) feeds and fodders at $80 million; (4) poultry and products at $73 million; and (5) cotton at $62 million. World demand for these products is increasing, but so is competition among suppliers. If Oklahoma’s farmers, ranchers, and food processors are to compete successfully for the export opportunities of the twenty-first century, they need fair trade and more open access to growing global markets.

936 Oklahoma Almanac Commerce and Agriculture 2007 Crop Weather Review January—Three heavy winter storms hit Oklahoma in January leading to massive power outages throughout the state. The storms brought heavy sleet, freezing rain and snow. Over 125,000 Oklahoma residents went without power as a result of the storms, with the majority in the eastern half of the state. Cattle ranches in the Panhandle received help from National Guard helicopters to get hay to their livestock. Snow and ice seemed to hamper the early development of small grains as well. February—The month was very dry with less than an inch of statewide average precipitation. This February was the thirtieth driest on record and was plagued by high winds and dust storms. Small grain crops improved from the previous month but were in need of additional moisture to advance development. Over half the state’s pasture conditions were rated in poor to very poor condition. March—March ranked as the sixteenth wettest on record. High winds continued, however, with at least five tornadoes touching down. The month of March ranked the second warmest on record. During the early part of March producers planted oats, to restore exhausted hay supplies, and prepared seedbeds for row crops. Pasture and range land improved with the abundant rainfall. April—Sub-freezing temperatures in April caused frost damage to small grain crops that matured early from the unusually warm March weather. The average temperature for April was 55.2 degrees and was 3.9 degrees below normal, making it the eighth coldest on record. A small number of producers replanted corn that suffered freeze damage. Producers had greater than 85 percent of the corn planted by the end of April, well above the five-year average. May—Widespread flash flooding and at least fourteen tornadoes hit Oklahoma in May. The heavy rainfall brought relief from the drought effects from the previous two years. Central Oklahoma was hit the hardest by the rain, averaging 9.41 inches. The moisture brought insect and disease problems to the small grain crops. Field work for most of the month was limited by rain and wet fields. June—June was the wettest June on record with the statewide average precipitation totaling 9.10 inches. Widespread flooding and hail severely damaged what was previously thought to be an excellent small grain crop. The wet weather prevented many producers from harvesting their wheat when it was fully developed. Row crop progress and hay cuttings were well behind normal due to the extreme wet weather and producer’s inability to conduct field work. July—With the exception of the Panhandle and western Oklahoma, rains continued into the month of July making it the twenty-fourth wettest since 1895. Excessive moisture limited field work in central and eastern Oklahoma while the Panhandle needed to irrigate crops. Producers burned off wheat fields in areas where harvest could not be completed. Row crop conditions were rated mostly fair to good for the month. August—Although wheat harvest wrapped up during the first few weeks of August,

Oklahoma Almanac 937 Commerce and Agriculture and temperatures rose above 100 degrees in many areas of the state, neither were the headline. The remnants of tropical storm Erin arrived from the southwest and intensified to tropical storm strength once again over central Oklahoma. The revived storm, complete with a tropical eye and eye wall structure, spawned tornadoes, contained winds gusting to over 80 mph, and brought 9–12 inches of rainfall to parts of Oklahoma. September—More heavy rains and flooding occurred, but were mainly isolated to a strip from west central through east central Oklahoma. Despite finishing as the thirty- fifth warmest on record, September still had a cold snap. Low temperatures dropped into the 40s and 50s across the state, with the lowest temperature of the month, 39 degrees, being recorded at the Beaver Mesonet site on the September 11. October—October was the second month in a row of below normal precipitation. Dry conditions delayed small-grain planting in many parts of the state. Storms brought high winds and large hail to isolated areas. A 90 mph wind gust was recorded at the Oklahoma Mesonet site outside of Eufaula. October ranked the twenty-first warmest on record. November—Up until the Thanksgiving holiday, “warm and dry” would be the best way to describe November. It was the thirty-first warmest and the thirteenth driest November on record. As the holiday approached, the cold air arrived and temperatures dropped as low as 23 degrees in the Panhandle district. A brief rainstorm early and minor snow later quenched the parched soils of a dry fall. December—A major ice storm struck the state with Oklahoma City and Tulsa both squarely in the storm’s path. Many trees throughout central and northeast Oklahoma did not survive the December disaster. When it was over, nearly 700,000 customers were left without power, easily the largest number in state history. The ice storm, along with several other wintry weather occurrences, propelled the month to the twenty-ninth wettest and thirty-sixth coolest on record statewide.

938 Oklahoma Almanac Commerce and Agriculture Agricultural and Livestock Production Highlights of Oklahoma Agriculture

Source: 2007 Census of Agriculture, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture This Census is published every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

1987 1997 2007 Number of Farms 70,228 74,214 86,565 Land in Farms (acres) 31,541,977 33,218,677 35,087,269 Average Size of Farm (acres) 449 448 405

Value of Land and Buildings (based on sample of farms) Average per farm ($) $215,024 $271,996 468,809 Average per acre ($) 480 610 1,157

Estimated Market Value of All Machinery and Equipment (based on sample of farms) Average per farm ($) $29,465 $36,936 $63,642 Farms by Size 1 to 9 acres 3,666 2,505 3,802 10 to 49 acres 10,134 12,673 18,700 50 to 179 acres 22,331 24,681 29,719 180 to 499 acres 18,006 18,288 19,140 500 to 999 acres 8,405 8,155 7,484 1,000 acres or more 7,686 7,912 7,720 Total Cropland Farms 55,783 58,741 59,040 Acres 14,443,459 14,843,823 13,007,625 Harvested Cropland Farms 43,522 44,786 46,224 Acres 7,319,193 8,462,079 7,650,080 Irrigated Land Farms 3,029 2,710 3,026 Acres 478,737 506,459 534,768

Oklahoma Almanac 939 Commerce and Agriculture

1987 1997 2007

Market Value of Agricultural Products Sold ($) $2,714,892 $4,146,351 $5,806,061 Average per farm ($) 38,658 55,870 67,072 Crops, including nursery and greenhouse crops ($) 610,050 907,865 1,187,625 Livestock, poultry and their products ($) 2,104,842 3,238,485 4,618,436

Farms by Value of Sales Less than $2,500 $18,501 $20,476 $34,669 $2,500 to $4,999 11,073 11,713 9,059 $5,000 to $9,999 11,999 12,341 10,731 $10,000 to $24,999 12,805 12,869 13,494 $25,000 to $49,999 6,300 6,234 6,886 $50,000 to $99,999 4,479 4,285 4,563 $100,000 or more 5,071 5,296 7,163

Total Farm Production 2,359,468 3,576,456 5,223,365 Expenses ($) Average per farm ($) 33,594 48,186 60,340

Net Cash Return from Agricultural Sales for the Farm Unit # of farms w/$1000 or more sales 70,235 74,222 86,565 Average per Farm $4,214 $6,145 $11,885

Livestock and Poultry Cattle and Calves Inventory Farms w/cattle 53,544 58,023 55,105 Number of head of cattle 4,537,774 5,321,161 5,391,337 Beef Cows Farms 44,130 49,281 47,059 Number 1,630,425 1,931,805 2,063,613 Milk Cows Farms 2,828 1,921 981 Number 90,499 87,647 66,023 Hogs and Pigs inventory Farms 3,710 3,002 2,702 Number 187,351 1,689,700 2,398,372

940 Oklahoma Almanac Commerce and Agriculture

1987 1997 2007 Hogs and Pigs sold Farms 3,090 2,082 2,274 Number 346,686 3,943,563 9,010,682 Sheep and Lambs inventory Farms 1,799 1,792 1,939 Number 120,479 74,596 76,243 Chickens 3 months old or older inventory Farms 5,703 3,293 5,235 Number 5,826,714 5,059,373 3,323,802 Broilers and other meat-type chickens sold Farms 556 632 636 Number 89,704,380 138,607,293 242,228,335

Selected Crops Harvested Sorghum for Grain or Seed Farms w/sorghum 18,644 2,557 966 Acres in state 339,368 417,872 219,883 Bushels in state 15,114,650 18,863,920 11,682,402 Wheat for Grain Farms 18,644 13,935 8,744 Acres 4,276,344 4,825,074 3,421,098 Bushels 113,464,955 141,302,977 89,968,524 Cotton Farms 2,913 849 420 Acres 360,299 176,962 164,273 Bales 306,388 190,186 279,871 Soybeans for Beans Farms 1,566 1,921 813 Acres 229,887 323,082 180,878 Bushels 5,622,675 9,498,068 4,559,245 Peanuts for Nuts Farms 1,088 662 148 Acres 86,469 68,340 16,319 Pounds 190,592,633 163,572,035 55,039,635 Hay—Alfalfa, other wild silage Farms 32,196 35,751 38,897 Acres 1,920,000 2,478,944 3,250,005 Tons, dry 3,430,874 4,651,859 6,607,628

Oklahoma Almanac 941 Commerce and Agriculture

Agricultural Trade Statistics, 2007 Oklahoma Exports U. S. Exports Product (millions of $) (millions of $) Wheat and products 333.8 8,457.7 Soybeans and products 17.9 11,027.2 Peanuts and products 3.9 249.2 Cotton and linters 61.6 4,305.3 Cotton Seed and products 2.0 123.7 Feed Grains and products 52.0 11,847.7 Tree nuts 10.6 3,024.1 Fruits and Preparations 1.4 5,026.3 Vegetables and Preparations 0.6 4,296.7 Live Animals & meat (excl. poultry) 180.6 6,787.0 Hides and skins 2.8 2,159.3 Poultry and products 72.5 3,776.9 Fats, oils and grease 5.0 749.1 Dairy products N/A * 2,518.0 Feeds and fodders 80.0 2,886.1 Seeds 7.6 936.3 Other (incl. processed foods) 38.6 11.033.5 Total 870.9 81,947.1

The above data are based on the assumption that each state’s contribution to exports is equal to each state’s share of production or marketing. They should not be interpreted as an actual measure of the state’s export. Totals in this chart for U.S. exports include Tobacco, Rice, and Sunflower Seed and Sunflower Oil. These commodities are not listed, as Oklahoma has no exports in these categories. * The information regarding Oklahoma’s dairy products was not published to prevent disclosure.

942 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife & Nature Wildlife and Nature

Location of Oklahoma

Longitude and Latitude

103°W 102 101° 100° 99° 98° 97° 96° 37°N 37°N

103° 102° 101° Ada—34°28’N • 96°43’W Ardmore—34°10’N • 97°8’W 36° 36° Clinton—35°31’N • 98°56’W Durant—33°59’N • 96°23’W Enid—36°24’N • 97°54’W Guymon—36°41’N • 101°29’W Hollis—34°40’N • 99°55’W Idabel—33°53’N • 94°48’W 35° 35° Lawton—34°35’N • 98°24’W McAlester—34°55’N • 95°45’W Miami—36°53’N • 95°51’W Muskogee—34°55’N • 95°45’W Okahoma City—35°28’N • 97°31’W Pawhuska—36°41’N • 96°20’W 34° 34°N Poteau—35°3’N • 94°37’W Stillwater—36°7’N • 97°4’W Tulsa—35°9’N • 95°59’W 100° 99° 98° 97° 96° 95°W Tahlequah—35°55’N • 94°58’W Woodward—36°25’N • 99°24’W 0 50 miles

944 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature Location and Size Oklahoma is surrounded by six other states: Texas to the south and west, New Mexico to the west, Colorado and Kansas to the north, and Missouri and Arkansas to the east. Oklahoma City serves as the state’s capital. It is located very near the geographic center of the state. Geographic center is approximately eight miles north of Oklahoma City. Lines of longitude and latitude form a grid system on the earth’s surface. These reference lines are used to pinpoint the position of any spot on Earth. Oklahoma extends across north latitudes and west longitudes. Latitude is distance measured north and south of the equator. Lines of latitude, also called parallels, are established by the angle between a radius from a point at the center of the earth in relation to the equatorial plane. Latitude ranges from 90 degrees at each pole to zero degrees at the equator. For greater precision, degrees of latitude can be broken up into minutes and seconds. There are sixty minutes in a degree and sixty seconds in each minute. One degree of latitude equals roughly sixty-nine miles because the Earth is not a perfect sphere. Longitude is the other component of the Earth’s grid system. Lines of longitude, called meridians, run north and south and help to pinpoint locations east and west. Longitude is also measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds. The most important reference line used for longitudinal reference is the Prime Meridian established in 1884 by international agreement. The Prime Meridian runs through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England, and represents a longitude of zero degrees. Longitudes to the east of the Prime Meridian are called east longitudes and those to the west, west longitudes. On the opposite side of the earth is the International Date Line that represents a longitude of 180 degrees. Oklahoma is situated between ninety-four degrees, twenty-nine minutes, and 103 degrees west longitude; and thirty-three degrees, forty-one minutes, and thirty-seven degrees north latitude. By the time Oklahoma was granted statehood in 1907, it had been divided into seventy-five counties. New counties were created when Harmon County was separated from Greer County, and Cotton County broke away from Comanche County. With these additions in 1910, the number of counties was elevated to the present total of seventy-seven. Since statehood, only eight counties have relocated their county seats. Osage is the state’s largest county with an area of 2,293 square miles, while Marshall is the smallest county in the state with only 360 square miles. Cimarron County is the only state county in the nation that borders four other states (Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas). The five largest counties by population, according to the U.S. Census 2005 estimates are: Oklahoma (684,543), Tulsa (572,059), Cleveland (224,898), Comanche (112,429), and

This section was compiled using data from the following sources: The Atlas of Oklahoma, Classroom Edition, published by the Department of Geography, Oklahoma State University, October 1991, Tom Wikle, Editor • U.S. Government Information Division, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Steve Beleu, Administrator • Geological Survey at the University of Oklahoma • State Geographer Bob Springer • Oklahoma Climatological Survey • Wayne Wyrick at the Kirkpatrick Planetarium • Michah Holmes at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation • Forestry Services Division of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.

Oklahoma Almanac 945 Wildlife and Nature Trends in County Populations

Five Largest County 1991 Population 2007 Pop. Est. Oklahoma 636,539 701,807 Tulsa 548,296 585,068 Cleveland 203,449 236,452 Comanche 106,621 113,811 Canadian 86,498 103,559 Five Smallest Cimarron 2,922 2,664 Harmon 3,336 2,837 Harper 3,580 3,254 Roger Mills 3,593 3,308 Ellis 4,194 3,911 Source: U.S. Census Bureau data

Canadian (98,701). In contrast, the five smallest counties by population are: Cimarron (2,833), Harmon (3,030), Roger Mills (3,311), Harper (3,313), and Ellis (3,963). For more information, visit www.census.gov Locating property in Oklahoma can be accomplished by using a reference system known as Township and Range. The system was adopted by the federal government as a part of the Northwest Ordinance of 1785 to prevent conflicting titles of land as pioneers claimed irregularly shaped plots to acquire the most fertile lands. It was also initiated to assist in the orderly survey and sale of public land. The Township and Range System uses an initial point from which all locations are referenced. The primary initial point used for land in Oklahoma is located about one mile south of Fort Arbuckle in Murray County (in south central Oklahoma). This point was established by Ehud N. Darling in 1870 to aid in the

Townships and Ranges

946 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature State Dimensions

464 miles

300 miles s s

132 mile 314 miles 320 mile

Texas

538 m iles

Rhode Island

0 50 miles dispersion of Indian lands. Running through the initial point are two lines: a base line that corresponds to an east/west parallel, and a north/south meridian. All areas to the north of this point are referred to as township north and areas to the south are called township south. The meridian associated with the initial point is called the “Indian Meridian” and is used to designate range east from range west. The base line and meridian are divided into six-mile segments forming a grid of individual township/range units. These units are again divided into thirty-six, one-square-mile sections that are numbered consecutively beginning in the northeast corner of the township/range. These sections (640 acres each) are then divided into half-sections, quarter-sections, etc. Excluding the Panhandle, there are thirty-eight township lines running east and west and fifty-three range lines running north and south. A separate initial point was used for the panhandle and is located at the southwest corner of Cimarron County. Oklahoma is located farther west than any country in South America. Traveling due south from Oklahoma City, one would cross Texas and the country of Mexico before reaching the Pacific Ocean. All of South America would be located to the east. Oklahoma covers an area of 69,903 square miles (68,679 in land and 1,224 in water). Oklahoma ranks eighteenth in size in the United States and is considered one of the larger states when compared to those of the East Coast. The combined area of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Connecticut are smaller than the area of Oklahoma. Oklahoma is more than fifty times larger than the state of Rhode Island and has about the same area as the South American country of Uruguay. Only Montana, Tennessee, Texas, and Alaska have greater east-west distances than Oklahoma. With 277,340 square miles, Texas is almost four times larger than Oklahoma. When compared to other states in the West, Oklahoma is larger than Washington and Hawaii.

Oklahoma Almanac 947 Wildlife and Nature Demographics Population

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Oklahoma’s population for 2000 was 3,450,654. This represents an increase of 9.7 percent from 1990 to 2000, or 305,069 persons. For 2008, Oklahoma’s population is estimated to be 3,642,361. In 1990, population density was 46.1 persons per square mile; in 2000, the density was 50.3. Trends in Oklahoma continue to show people leaving rural areas of the state in favor of urbanized areas. The two biggest concentrations of people in the state are in the metropolitan areas of Oklahoma City and Tulsa. U.S. Census Bureau population predictions state that by 2015, Oklahoma’s population is estimated to be 3,789,000; and will increase to 4,057,000 by 2025. Vital Statistics

In 2007 Oklahoma had 54,946 live births, and 36,074 deaths. By comparison, in 2000, there were 49,782 births and 35,079 deaths. The birth rate per 1,000 population was 15.2 in 2007. The number of births to preteens and teenagers, age ten to seventeen, in Oklahoma in 2007 was 2,386, a slight increase from 2,377 in 2006. The number of births to unmarried mothers in 2007 was 22,703, an increase from the 22,077 figure in 2006. The number of marriages in Oklahoma in 2007 was 26,243, an increase from the 24,699 marriages in 2006. The number of divorces in Oklahoma continued to increase in 2007 with 18,750, up from 17,440 in 2006. Vernacular and Cultural Regions

Vernacular regions are areas that have a unique cultural identity among their residents. R. Todd Zdorkowski and George O. Carney’s map [top right] was constructed using a survey of past and present Oklahoma place names that respondents had heard or used. The regions shown reflect local customs and economic histories. The area known as “Little Dixie” is dominated by a non-Indian population; however, the Indian population of this region responded to the survey with the name “Kiamichi,” which is also the Oklahoma Tourism Department’s name for the area (although pronunciations differ). A uniformity among responses concerning the Panhandle region suggests it is the most widely accepted vernacular region. Other region names are derived from economic terms, suggesting local experience and public involvement may be the keys to regional perception.

Wilbur Zelinsky’s map [right bottom] is an excerpt from a national map of cultural geography. Oklahoma is at the center of three cultural regions of the nation: the Middle West, the South and the West. The influx of Indians from the East and the settlement of Europeans add to uncertainty in the national cultural identity of Oklahoma.

948 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature

Vernacular Regions

Zdorkowski and Carney, 1985

Cultural Regions Midwest

West South

Southwest Zelinsky, 1980

Oklahoma Almanac 949 Wildlife and Nature Climate Oklahoma’s weather is driven largely by its topography. Elevations in the state range from less than 500 feet in the southeastern corner of the state to more than 4,000 feet in the far western Panhandle. Because of this general upward slope, moisture tends to be more concentrated in the east, driving annual precipitation, temperature, and severe weather cycles. The climate of Oklahoma is continental, as is all of the Great Plains. Summers are long and usually quite hot. Winters are shorter and less rigorous than those of the more northern Plains states. Periods of extreme cold are infrequent, and those lasting more than a few days are rare. Precipitation

Annual precipitation shows a strong east-to-west gradient across Oklahoma. Eastern portions of the state average up to 56 inches of precipitation annually, while portions of the Panhandle receive less than 17 inches, on average. The typical peak in precipitation comes in the spring for most of the state, except the Panhandle which has a summertime maximum. A secondary peak occurs during early autumn, and is especially pronounced in eastern Oklahoma. Measurable precipitation is recorded on about 45 days per year in western Oklahoma to about 115 days near the Arkansas border. The state records for annual precipitation are 84.47 inches, recorded in southeastern Oklahoma in 1957, and a meager 6.53 inches, recorded in the Panhandle the previous year. The state’s record for single-day rainfall is 15.68 inches, but unofficial totals of over 20 inches have been recorded. The gradient of average annual snowfall is nearly opposite that of precipitation, in that it increases from less than two inches in the extreme southeast to nearly 30 inches in the western panhandle. The frequency of snow events also increases sharply along the same gradient. Locations in southeast Oklahoma have gone several years between events, while northwestern Oklahoma typically records several snow events in one winter. Blowing snow

Normal Annual Precipitation

Under 20" 20" to 24" 24" to 28" 28" to 36" 36" to 40" 40" to 44"

44" to 48"

48" to 52"

Above 56"

52" to 56" 24" to 28"

0 50 miles 28" to 36" 48" to 52" 36" to 40" 40" to 44" 44" to 48"

950 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature Normal Annual Snowfall

and blizzard conditions can pose significant problems for automobile travelers, but the effects of most snowstorms in the state are short-lived. Snow remaining on the ground more than a few days is an uncommon occurrence in northwestern Oklahoma, quite rare in central Oklahoma, and almost unheard of in the southeast. The greatest seasonal snowfall ever recorded in the state was 87.3 inches at Beaver during the winter of 1911–12. Buffalo observed the greatest monthly total of 36.0 inches in February 1971, including a daily snowfall record of 23 inches on the 21st day of that month. Other Climatic Features

Annual average relative humidity ranges from about 60 percent in the panhandle to just over 70 percent in the east and southeast. The average statewide dew point temperature ranges from 27F in January to 68F in July. Average annual lake evaporation varies from 48 inches in the extreme east to 65 inches in the southwest, numbers that far exceed the average yearly rainfall in those areas. Evaporation and percolation preclude use of about 80 percent of Oklahoma’s precipitation. Prevailing winds are southerly to southeasterly throughout most of the state during the spring through autumn months. These prevailing winds veer to south-to-southwest in far western Oklahoma, including the panhandle. The winter wind regime is bimodal, with roughly equal split between northerly and southerly winds. In a diurnal sense, prevailing winds tend to oscillate from southeast to southwest to southeast from sunrise to sunset to sunrise. In the panhandle the daytime swing is more dramatic, with westerly winds prevailing. March and April are the windiest months, while July, August and September are the calmest.

Unless otherwise noted, all charts and graphs in the Climate section are courtesy of the Oklahoma Climatological Survey, and are based on statistics spanning from 1971 until 2000.

Oklahoma Almanac 951 Wildlife and Nature Normal Annual Temperatures

On the average, cloudiness increases from west to east in Oklahoma. The annual fraction of possible sunshine observed ranges from about 45 percent in eastern Oklahoma to near 65 percent in the panhandle. These fractions are highest in the summer and lowest in the winter for all portions of the state. Temperatures

Average temperature decreases across Oklahoma generally from the south to the northwest. Mean annual temperatures across the state range from the mid-50s to low 60s. Annual temperatures show a great variability in Oklahoma; almost everywhere has an annual temperature range of 100 degrees or more. For any place in the state, temperatures near 110 degrees are common about two out of ten years, as are temperatures slightly below zero. State extreme temperatures range from 120 degrees (recorded six times) to 27 degrees below zero (twice). Most of the state has a growing season of more than 200 days, except in the western Panhandle where the growing season only lasts about 175 days. The average date of the last freeze of spring across the state ranges from mid-March to mid-April, but freezing temperatures have occurred well into May in northern Oklahoma. The average date of autumn’s first freeze varies from mid-October to mid-November. Freezing temperatures have occurred as early as mid-September in western Oklahoma. Frozen soil is not a major problem, nor much of a deterrent to seasonal activities. Its occurrence is rather infrequent, of very limited depth, and of brief duration. Extreme frost penetration ranges from about 10 inches in the southeast to almost 30 inches in the western panhandle.

952 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature Oklahoma’s Weather Hazards Tornadoes Oklahoma’s distinction as the epicenter of Tornado Alley has become fairly well established, a result of the sheer number of tornadoes it has experienced. This dubious honor has been punctuated by the lost lives and damaged property from the violently rotating columns of air, seemingly so common in the state. In fact, Oklahoma has experienced 828 “significant” tornadoes—rated at least F2 on the Fujita Scale—since 1950, the beginning- point of accurate tornado statistics. The state’s tornado statistics (1950–2006) are staggering: • 3,028 tornadoes • An average of 54 tornadoes per year • An average of 15 significant tornadoes per year • 263 dead/4,115 injured • Over $2 billion in damage Tornadoes can occur at any time of year, but are easily most frequent during springtime. April, May and June represent the months of peak occurrence; these three months account for about three-fourths of the observations. May’s average of 20 tornado observations per month is the greatest. The winter months each average less than one tornado per month. About 80 percent of tornadoes are observed between noon and midnight, with the peak hours being between 4 pm and 8 pm. On April 9, 1947, a large tornado killed 101 people in northwestern Oklahoma, almost all of these in Woodward. On May 3, 1999 an outbreak of tornadoes occurred across central Oklahoma. In 21 hours, 75 tornadoes were observed, causing 40 deaths and 700 injuries. The largest of these struck southwestern and southern portions of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, destroying nearly 1,000 homes and inflicting over one billion dollars in damages. Radar observations indicated winds of 318 miles per hour, the greatest wind speeds ever observed on Earth. The difference in fatalities between these two events is attributable to improved recognition and warning capabilities and an enhanced awareness of the dangers of tornadoes.

Average Number of Tornadoes by Month adapted from 1950–2002 data compiled by NWS WFO Norman, 2006

Oklahoma Almanac 953 Wildlife and Nature Annual Number of Tornadoes in Oklahoma adapted from data compiled by NWS WFO Norman, 2006

Severe Thunderstorms While tornadoes are a severe thunderstorm’s most feared hazard, more often they produce hail, lightning, and straight-line winds that can be equally devastating. Like tornadoes, the highest likelihood for large hail anywhere in the nation rests over Oklahoma. Large hail is responsible for crop losses averaging $2.5 million per year in Oklahoma, not to mention the sometimes multi-million-dollar claims from property losses. Severe thunderstorm winds can cause widespread damage and occasional fatalities, able to produce wind gusts in excess of 100 miles per hour across the width of a county and the length of the state. Oklahoma has a high incidence of lightning strikes due to the state’s frequent thunderstorms. According to statistics from the National Climatic Data Center, 13 deaths and 87 injuries resulted from lightning strikes within Oklahoma since 1993. Thunderstorms occur, on average, about 55 days per year in the east, decreasing to about 45 days per year in the southwest. Late spring and early summer are the peak seasons for thunder, averaging about eight thunderstorms per month during these seasons. For the southeastern two-thirds of the state, thunder occurs most often in May. June is the peak month for much of the remainder of the state, while the western panhandle observes the most thunder in July. December and January, on average, feature the fewest thunderstorms, at a rate of less than one per month per location.

Flooding In a state consumed by the more celebrated severe weather mainstays—tornadoes and severe thunderstorms—flooding remains a vastly underrated risk. Oklahoma’s prevalence for convective precipitation can result in a large amount of rainfall in a short period of time over localized areas, a prime ingredient of flash floods. Population patterns put additional pressure on waterways, as urban areas increase runoff and the likelihood of flash floods. Flash flooding is a real and significant hazard to life in Oklahoma due to two factors: the prevalence of convective precipitation and vehicular travel. There have been 96 deaths in Oklahoma since 1960 due to flash flooding, the vast majority of those deaths being vehicle related.

954 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature Annual Flood-Related Fatalities in Oklahoma, since 1960

Floods of major rivers and tributaries may occur during any season, but they occur with greatest frequency during those spring and autumn months associated with greatest rainfall. Such floods cost many lives and property damage in the first 50 years of statehood, but flood prevention programs have reduced the frequency and severity of such events. Autumn floods are often associated with widespread heavy rains north of a stalled cold front, or the interaction between a surface front and remnants of a tropical storm. Springtime floods usually occur in the warm sector of a slow-moving cyclone.

Drought Until recently, most images of drought were associated with the Dust Bowl, but recent trends suggest that multi-year drought periods like the 1910s, 1930s and 1950s have not vanished from Oklahoma. Drought is a “creeping hazard,” and is easily the state’s costliest natural disaster. It does not have a defining event or create dramatic visual images, but a single drought episode can cause billions of dollars in damage to Oklahoma communities. The impacts include not just withered crops, but strained water supplies, heightened danger of wildfires, and economic devastation to rural communities as farm income is wiped away. Tourism also suffers as the levels of lakes decline, while maintaining river flows for navigation and protection of endangered species sends much-needed water downstream. All of this creates a delicate balancing act that is much more complex than with other natural hazards.

Drought episodes can last from a few months to several years. Those that last a few months can elevate wildfire danger and impact municipal water use. Seasonal droughts can occur at any time of the year, and those that resonate with crop production cycles can cause billions of dollars of damage to the farm economy. Multi-season and multi-year episodes can severely impact large reservoirs, stream flow and groundwater.

Wildfires One of the searing images of drought is wildfires, but you don’t necessarily need a drought for this particular hazard to erupt. In fact, fires are a normal part of our climate cycle as dormant vegetation burns up on windy, warm and dry days of early spring and late summer. These

Oklahoma Almanac 955 Wildlife and Nature Annual Rainfall History with 5-Year Weighted Trend Climate Division 10 (Statewide) 1895–2005

conditions of course can be exacerbated by a prolonged period of dryness extending over a season or longer. Losses from wildfires are increasing, but not just due to climate—the way we build our communities and homes has a lot to do with the threat. Ever-expanding cities and towns push farther out into areas further removed from fire-fighting resources. Fire losses and suppression costs have skyrocketed over the past decade, costing billions of dollars annually in recent years. Oklahoma has not been immune to this trend, particularly as seen during the winter of 2005–2006. Winter Storms Oklahoma’s experience with severe winter weather is generally confined to disruption of travel and damage to infrastructure due to excessive snow or ice. While those instances are uncommon, the infrequency with which the state deals with severe winter weather tends to magnify its effects. Most of the fatalities associated with winter precipitation in Oklahoma are due to traffic accidents. Ice storms do the most damage, however, as they topple power lines and vegetation. Three major ice storms struck the state between December 2000 and December 2002. The three events combined caused over $500 million in damages, disrupted power to 450,000 residences and businesses, and resulted in 38 fatalities.

Extreme Temperatures Although Oklahoma has experienced some severe cold spells, dropping as low as – 27 degrees, it is summertime temperatures that cause more threat to life. Temperatures routinely soar across 100 degrees in all parts of the state, especially in western Oklahoma. However, when you add in the humidity, it is actually the east that poses a greater risk to human health. The Heat Index, which combines temperature and humidity into a single measure, exceeds a risk threshold of 105 degrees on more occasions in eastern Oklahoma than it does in western Oklahoma, even though the actual temperature may be higher out west. Monitoring both conditions, and keeping an eye on vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly, is key to surviving Oklahoma’s hot summers.

956 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature Oklahoma’s Weather Network

Oklahoma has acted to enhance its environmental monitoring through implementation of the Oklahoma Mesonet. The Mesonet is a world-class network of environmental monitoring stations that measure soil and atmospheric variables 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Mesonet is a collection of 116 towers, at least one in each county, equipped with sensors and configured to automatically relay data to a central collection point. Operated by the Oklahoma Climatological Survey in partnership with the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, the Mesonet monitors air and soil temperature, relative Oklahoma’s world-class humidity, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, and environmental monitoring precipitation at each of its sites. Many of the sites measure stations have collected other information of agricultural or other scientific interest. Observations are made every five minutes and more than 99% of transmitted every five minutes. Reports are carried from possible weather and soil the field sites to the central processing computer by a observations—data used combination of radio and the dedicated high-speed telephone lines of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement to save lives and property. Telecommunications System (OLETS). The Mesonet is unique in its capability to measure a large variety of environmental conditions at so many sites across an area as large as Oklahoma. In addition, these conditions are relayed to a wide variety of customers very quickly after the observations are taken. Numerous agencies have fast and reliable access to Oklahoma Mesonet data, including the NWS Weather Forecast Offices in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Amarillo, and Shreveport, the Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center, the National Severe Storms Laboratory, and over 180 public safety offices across Oklahoma. These agencies use the data from the network to reduce loss of life and property damage in almost every community across the state. The Oklahoma Climatological Survey has earned a world-class reputation for its operation of the Oklahoma Mesonet and its associated information infrastructure created and managed by scientists at the University of Oklahoma and at Oklahoma State University. The Oklahoma Mesonet has collected over 3 billion weather and soil observations—more than 99% of those possible—and produced millions of decision-making products for state and federal agencies, public safety officials, farmer and agricultural extension agents, university and K-12 students, scientific researchers, rural electric cooperatives, weather forecasters, and private citizens. In January 2005, the Oklahoma Mesonet was awarded a Special Award from the American Meteorological Society “for serving Oklahoma and the meteorological community by providing high-quality data and information products used to protect lives, reduce costs, facilitate cutting- edge research, and educate the next generation.”

Oklahoma Almanac 957 Wildlife and Nature Geology Oklahoma is a region of complex geology where several major sedimentary basins are set amongst mountain ranges and uplifts. The state contains many classic areas where fundamental concepts of geology, petroleum exploration, and minerals production have been formulated during the years. Because of its geologic history, Oklahoma has abundant mineral resources that include petroleum (crude oil and natural gas), coal, nonfuel minerals (lead, zinc, gypsum, limestone, sand and gravel), and water. Major Geological Provinces

Geologic forces deep within the earth’s crust hundreds of millions of years ago caused portions of Oklahoma to subside as major sedimentary basins, while adjacent areas were folded and thrust upward as major mountain uplifts. Most of the outcropping rocks in Oklahoma are of sedimentary origin, and they consist mainly of shale, sandstone, limestone, and gypsum. These sedimentary rocks typically are 2,000 to 10,000 feet thick in the northern shelf areas, and they increase sharply to 30,000 to 40,000 feet thick in the deep basins of the south. These sedimentary rocks contain most of the states’ mineral resources, including petroleum, coal, water, and most of the nonfuel minerals. Sedimentary rocks rest upon a “basement” of igneous and metamorphic rocks that underlie all parts of the state. Exposed in the southern Oklahoma mountain belts are a great variety of sedimentary and igneous rock units seen at few other places in the entire mid-continent region. Steeply dipping strata, such as those exposed along Interstate 35 through the Arbuckle Mountains, attest the strong geologic forces that folded and raised the mountain blocks. Outcropping rocks outside the mountain regions are essentially horizontal, with dips of less than one degree being most common. These strata typically form gently rolling hills and plains: thick shale units form broad, flat plains and valleys, whereas resistant layers of sandstone and limestone cap mesas, cuestas, and hills 100 to 500 feet high. Rocks and soils of western Oklahoma typically are red in color, due to iron oxides present in the bedrock, whereas rocks and soils elsewhere are shades of brown, gray, and black. In the Wichita Mountain Uplift, peaks of Cambrian granite and related igneous rocks tower 500 to 1,200 feet above surrounding plains. The province is composed mostly of granite, rhyolite, Major Geological Provinces

Northern Shelf Areas Ozark Uplift

Anadarko Basin Arkoma Basin Wichita Mt. Upl Ouachita Hollis ift Basin Ar Mountain M bu a ckl rietta Basin e U Uplift Ardmore plift

Basin Gulf Coastal Plain 0 50 miles

958 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature Physiographic Regions

1 8 1—High Plains 2—Gypsum Hills 2 4 7 3—Wichita Mountains 4—Red Bed Plains 6 5—Arbuckle Mountains 6—Sandstone Hills 3 7—Prairie Plains 9 8—Ozark Plateau 5 9—Ouachita Mountians 6 10—Red River Plains 10

Source: Oklahoma Geography 1954 0 50 miles gabbro, and limestone. In the Hollis Basin, located in the extreme southwest corner of the state, thick formations of gypsum, shale, and sand are found. In the northeastern corner of the state, the Ozark Uplift is deeply dissected with Mississippian limestone and chert, shale, sandstone, and dolomite are also found in this area. The Arkoma Basin, in east central Oklahoma, is composed primarily of sandstone, shale, and limestone. The Ouachita Mountain Uplift consists of tightly folded sedimentary rock types, varying in age from Ordovician to Mississippian. The mountain ridges are folded Mississippian and Pennsylvanian sandstones that tower above valleys formed in shale. The Gulf Coastal Plain is located in the southeast part of the state. Shale, limestone, sandstone, and large amounts of sand are present in this geological province. The Arbuckle Uplift is totally enclosed in Oklahoma. Thick limestone and dolomite units, varying in age from Cambrian to Mississippian, are found in addition to some sandstone and granite deposits. The Ardmore Basin is also located completely within Oklahoma’s borders. It is composed mainly of Pennsylvanian sandstone and shale. The Marietta Basin consists mainly of outcrops of sandstones and shales of Pennsylvanian and Permian age. Physiographic Regions

Oklahoma lies mostly in the Great Plains physiographic region and is characterized by low rolling plains that slope eastward. Although the state is often described as flat, local hilly areas rise a few hundred feet to more than 1,000 feet above the surrounding prairies. Three mountain ranges are present in the state: the Wichita Mountains in southwest Oklahoma, the Arbuckle Mountains in south central Oklahoma, and the Ouachita Mountains in the southeastern portion of the state. The highest vertical relief in Oklahoma occurs in the Ouachita Mountains and the southeast part of the prairie plains, with some peaks reaching more than 2,000 feet above their base elevations. The major rivers of Oklahoma generally flow eastward. Listed from north to south these rivers are: the Arkansas, Cimarron, North Canadian, Canadian, Washita, and the Red. The Arkansas and its tributaries drain the northern two-thirds of the state, while the Red River and its tributaries drain the southern third.

Oklahoma Almanac 959 Wildlife and Nature

Oklahoma can be divided into ten distinct regions, based on physical characteristics. Many of these areas are extensions of those found in surrounding states and extend to areas as far away as the Gulf of Mexico. The sharp contrasts between the regions give a broad overview of what to expect on a tour of the state. The state’s most level areas are those of the High, Red Bed, and Prairie Plains (regions 1, 4, and 7). Within these areas, the majority of Oklahoma’s crops are produced and a great variation in population can be found. The Red River Plains (region 10) is located in the southern portion of the state and is endowed with fertile soil and low, rolling hills. Most of the rock in this region is composed of shale, sandstone, and limestone. A large portion of this area is located below 500 feet in elevation. Interrupting the plains are the Sandstone and Gypsum Hill regions (regions 2 and 6). The hills in these regions are aligned north to south. The Sandstone Hills resist general weathering because they are capped by resistant sandstone layers. The Gypsum Hills of western Oklahoma are known for the thick layers of white gypsum that cap mesas, buttes, and hilltops, and overlie layers of shale and sandstone that tend to erode easily. The Arbuckle and Wichita Mountain regions (regions 3 and 5) were formed through geologic uplift and folding. The Arbuckle Mountains contain limestone, sandstone, shale, and granite that have become important mineral sources to the mining industry. The Wichita Mountains, on the other hand, were formed from intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks that are very resistant to erosion. Granite and rhyolite remain where overlying rocks have been eroded. The most pronounced of the mountain areas is the Ouachita Mountains (pronounced WA- she-taw) found in the southeastern section of the state (region 9). The rough terrain allows for farming only in the valleys, while some hillsides are grazed by cattle. At one time the Ozark Plateau (region 8) was shaped like a large dome that rose high above the surrounding plains. It is now a hilly region with deeply dissected valleys as a result of the action of northeastern Oklahoma’s numerous streams and rivers. Generalized Topography

Oklahoma lies between the lower elevations of the Coastal Plain and the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountain foothills. The land surface of Oklahoma slopes gently from its northwest corner to the southeast with the steepest gradient of about twelve feet per mile in the Panhandle. Throughout the rest of the state, the slope averages about five feet per mile. The contour lines shown in the diagram on previous page (“Physiographic Regions”) connect points on the land surface having the same elevation. When contour lines are close together, they indicate that the slope of the land is steep. Southeastern Oklahoma has many steep slopes and high mountains, while western Oklahoma has gentle slopes. In the extreme northwestern part of the state is Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma, with an elevation of 4,973 feet above sea level. The lowest point, at 287 feet above sea level, is in the flood plain of the Little River near the state’s southeastern corner. Oklahoma’s best-known peak is Mount Scott in the Wichita Mountains. Minerals

The United States Geological Survey estimated the value of nonfuel mineral production in Oklahoma was $606 million in 2005. That represents a 16.8 percent increase from the final figures for 2004. Crushed stone leads the state in the value of nonfuel mineral production at $257 million. Based on value, crushed stone was followed by cement (masonry and portland),

960 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature Mineral Resources

C S He WAS H- IS He K AY C S S G C IMAR R ON S alt G R ANT ING TON C S TE XAS B E AVE R HAR P E R WOODS S G C R AIG OTTAWA ALFALFA C S S G S G C S OS AG E NOWATA S G S G C S R OGE R S I C em DE LAWAR E E nid NOBLE 2 MAYE S S G P AWNE E C S C em S G WOODWAR D MAJOR C S C lay E LLIS G AR FIE LD C S 3 G yp S G C S Mineral Symbols C S Tulsa I P AYNE C S S teel Major Producing Areas C lay TULS A S G DE WE Y K INGFIS HE R S G WAGONE R C HE R OKE E 1 B LAINE S G G yp S G S G S G I LOGAN C S ADAIR Cem Cement plant C R E E K S G G yp S G C lay G yp LINC OLN OKMULG E E IS Fel Clay Common clay R OGE R P er S G MILLS S G MUS KOGE E C US TE R C ANADIAN OKLAHOMA S G OKFUS KE E S E QUOYAH CS Crushed stone Oklahoma C ity C S S G C S E lk C ity C lay Lime

D-G Dimension granite E McINTOS H I D-S d

WAS HITA S E MINOLE M

B E C KHAM C LE VE LAND O C S D-Sd Dimension sandstone T

A S G S G S G HAS KE LL C S S G W C lay C ADDO A S G Fel Feldspar T S G T HUG HE S S G S G O C S G R ADY P C S Gyp Gypsum G R E E R K IOWA McC LAIN LeFLOR E C S C S LATIME R D-G G yp He Helium S G G yp C S P ITTS B UR G P ONTOTOC I Iodine HAR MON C S 4 G AR VIN J AC KS ON C OMANC HE C em D-S d G yp IS C OAL IS Industrial sand C lay C S 5 S G S TE P HE NS C S S G TILLMAN MUR R AY IS P US HMATAHA Lime Lime plant S G S G C S S G J OHNS TON ATOKA C OTTON C lay Per Perlite plant S G C S McC UR TAIN S G C AR TE R Salt Salt C S C S C S J E FFE R S ON MAR S HALL C S C HOC TAW S G B R Y AN SG Construction sand and gravel LOVE S G Steel Steel plant S G S G

County boundary City Capital 0 50 Kilometers Legend 1 Crushed stone, sand, and gravel districts

Source: Oklahoma Geological Survey/U.S. Geological Survey, 2005 construction sand and gravel, industrial sand and gravel, iodine, and gypsum. About 56 percent of the total value is due to the combined values of three of Oklahoma’s four major construction materials: crushed stone, construction sand and gravel, and gypsum (descending order of value; data for cement was withheld for proprietary reasons). All nonfuel minerals increased in value in 2005 except for crude gypsum, dimension stone, and tripoli. Despite the increase in value of its mineral value, Oklahoma production of the common clays, crude gypsum, and tripoli decreased slightly, but dimension stone production decreased by 80 percent. Oklahoma leads the U.S. in the production of gypsum; ranks fourth in feldspar production; ranks second of four states producing tripoli; ranks third of three states producing helium and is the only state producing iodine. Oklahoma ranks seventh (from eighth in 2004) in industrial sand and gravel production, and eleventh (from eighth in 2004) in the production of common clays. Oklahoma’s enormous mineral reserve can be divided into three types of mineral products: mineral fuels, metals, and non-metals. Mineral fuels are materials that can be burned, such

Nonfuel Mineral Production, 2005 Quantity Value Mineral (in metric tons) (in thousands) Cement W* W* Common Clay 903,000 $2,520 Gypsum 2,620,000 $18,400 Iodine 1,570 $23,700 Sand & Gravel 14,780,000 $98,500 Stone 45,400,000 $257,000 Tripoli 30,600 $1,950

* Data withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data. Note: Total value presented in the table does not equal the total value of nonfuel mineral production in Oklahoma for 1999. The difference is in mineral values not released for public distribution.

Oklahoma Almanac 961 Wildlife and Nature as petroleum (crude oil and natural gas), and coal. These account for more than 90 percent of Oklahoma’s annual mineral output. Metals are substances that can be melted and molded into any shape desired and are usually hard and heat resistant. There presently are no metals mined in Oklahoma. Zinc and lead are the principal metals previously mined in Oklahoma, but copper, manganese, iron, and uranium also were produced. A non-metal (industrial mineral) is any rock, mineral or other select naturally occurring or synthetic material of economic value often used in combination with other materials, such as sand and stone used in concrete. The principal industrial minerals produced in Oklahoma include crushed stone, portland cement, construction sand and gravel, industrial sand and gravel, iodine, and gypsum. Other Oklahoma non-metals include tripoli, feldspar, helium, common clay, granite, salt, volcanic ash, and lime. Fred Marvel, Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department. & Recreation Marvel,Tourism OklahomaFred

“River of Rocks” at Wichita Mountains Wildlive Refuge, near Lawton, Oklahoma.

962 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature Forests and Vegetation Oklahoma’s forests are vital to the economy and environmental quality of the state, providing a diverse scenic panorama, a wealth of intangible benefits, and a significant forest products industry. Forests protect our high quality waters, provide habitat for wildlife, supply opportunities for recreation, and enhance the environment. Our forests have been shaped and altered by natural disturbances and human influences. Native Americans worked the forest for their own needs. They burned the forest floor to stimulate brushy growth favored by game species, cleared land for settlements, and used wood for their primary cooking fuel. The first European settlers found forests dominated by white and red oaks, shortleaf and loblolly pine, black walnut, maple, hickory and pecan, elm, ash, cottonwood, baldcypress, and many other species. As logging dried up the forests of New England and the Nearly ten million Great Lakes, the extensive pine and oak resources of the acres—20 percent of South beckoned. Although small “peckerwood” sawmills the land—in Oklahoma were scattered across southeastern Oklahoma by the late 1800s, intensive logging began in earnest around 1900. By is forest, with six million 1930, much of Oklahoma’s most valuable virgin pine timber commercial-capable had been removed to support the industrial growth of the forest acres. upper midwest. Forests were cleared for cotton farming or livestock grazing. As the southern forests began to wane, loggers moved west, leaving behind an overcut forest plagued by wildfire. Concerns about overcutting, wildfires, and lack of timbers to support local industry for the long term led citizen groups and private companies to support establishment of the Oklahoma Forestry Association and a State Forestry Service in 1925. Protection reduced wildfire damage and regeneration took hold. In western Oklahoma, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Prairie States Forestry Project planted its first tree in a Greer County shelterbelt. The forest industry languished during the Great Depression, but the war brought renewed activity, relying on the growing “second forest.” After World War II, social shifts in our population also affected the forests. The 1940s and 1950s saw urban dwellers leave inner cities in large numbers. Suburban developments cut into forest land and woodlots became more important as sources of recreation than income. Oklahoma is often thought of as a state with only wide open prairies, wheat fields, and ranch land, but nearly ten million acres—20 percent of the land—is forest. More than six million forest acres are commercial–capable of growing wood as a crop. More than 90 percent of Oklahoma forests are owned by individuals, corporate owners, and the forest industry. Six percent is publicly owned. Considerable value is also placed on forests in urban and community areas. Three-fourths of Oklahomans are now considered “urban” residents, which represents a significant change from the rural roots and image of the state. Forests are also highly valued outside traditional commercial areas, providing many environmental benefits. Major forests are located in the Ouachita Mountains and the Ozark Plateau, in the eastern portion of the state, where rainfall is sufficient for tree growth. Also, the local topography in these areas is rough, which discourages the removal of forests for agricultural use. The Ozark Plateau is dominated by oak and hickory trees, while pine trees dominate the higher elevations of the Ouachita Mountains. There is, however, some mixing of these two types at all levels. Some sections of the Sandstone Hills, the Red River Plains, and the Prairie Plains are also covered by forests. The state has 144 native species of trees with common varieties including shortleaf and loblolly pine, sweetgum, pecan, several types of oak, cottonwood, and walnut.

Oklahoma Almanac 963 Wildlife and Nature Natural Vegetation

Natural Vegetation

Oklahoma is situated in a transition zone between the humid eastern forests and the drier western grasslands. The state can be divided into three main types of vegetation: grassland, savannah and woodlands, and forests. Grass areas are abundant within Oklahoma’s boundaries and are used for grazing. Grasses in the western sections are primarily short and mixed. In the Panhandle, the soil is often parched and only the surface is moistened by rain. Tall grasses are found in the eastern section of the state. Savannah and woodland areas exist in all parts of the state with the exception of the rough terrain of the Ouachita Mountains in southeastern Oklahoma. The Cross Timbers of central Oklahoma is the largest woodland-savannah region and supports some the state’s oldest known trees. Juniper-Pinyon is the least abundant vegetation type, found only in the state’s far northwest corner. Large expanses of forest are found primarily in eastern Oklahoma where rainfall is abundant. The Ouachita Mountains are home to the largest forested area in the state, and this is an extremely important region to the forest products, tree farming, and agritourism industries in Oklahoma. Generalized Soils

Soil is a combination of loose rock material, organic matter, air, and water. Oklahoma has a great diversity of soils ranging from the rich limestone soils of the dark prairie lands to the alluvial soils of river valleys, to thin sandy soils and poor red-clay soils. There are seven major soil groups in Oklahoma. The following is a breakdown of these groups: Alfisols are found in central, south central, eastern, and western Oklahoma. They occur in climates that have a period when evapotranspiration (the rate at which water evaporates from the soil or is removed by plants) exceeds precipitation. Mollisols are commonly dark colored, base-rich soils of the grasslands that are found in central, western (including the central

964 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature panhandle), eastern, and northeastern Oklahoma. They cover a larger area of Oklahoma than any other soil type. Utisols occur only in eastern Oklahoma. They are usually found in warm and humid climates and are associated with a seasonal deficiency of rainfall. Low fertility and low base saturation in these soils are the major limitations to agricultural use. Inceptisols occupy a large portion of western Oklahoma and are found in climates where there is some leaching (filtering out) of soil nutrients. Vertisols occur mostly in southeastern Oklahoma and extend into Texas. They are clay soils that develop deep, wide cracks that allow the soil to be moistened from both above and below. Entisols occur mostly in floodplains and on steep slopes throughout the state. They show little or no evidence of active soil formation. Entisols found in western Oklahoma are shallow soils that show limited evidence of weathering processes. Stony Rockland areas, which are actually surface features and not a soil, are located in southwestern and south central Oklahoma and can be found in three small areas that boast a very rocky soil type. The United States Congress created the Soil Conservation Service in 1935 to protect topsoil from becoming badly eroded by poor agricultural practices. Oklahomans were among the first to take advantage of the Soil Conservation Service, establishing the first soil conservation district in the United States. Through the years, prior to statehood and even to the present, Oklahoma’s most valuable resource has been its resourceful and imaginative people. For as many years, they have chosen numerous and varied official state symbols to recognize their special interests. Many of the state symbols come with stories as colorful and unusual as the symbols themselves. One of the more recently adopted state symbols was the selection of Port Silt Loam to represent the state soil for Oklahoma. This state soil was added to the list of state symbols by the state legislature in 1987. Why have a state soil? The citizens of Oklahoma should have a keen awareness that soil is one of the most valuable resources. Food and much clothing and shelter come from plants growing in the soil. Individual and group action since statehood shows better care of this resource is important to the livelihood and well being of Oklahomans. More than 100 million tons of

Generalized Soils

Oklahoma Almanac 965 Wildlife and Nature Fred Marvel, Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department. & Recreation Marvel,Tourism OklahomaFred

The Ouachita National Forest’s Talimena Scenic Drive from Talihina, Oklahoma, to Mena, Arkansas (54 miles). topsoil wash or blow away each year. Therefore, naming a state soil provides an educational purpose. It brings attention to the importance of soils and to the importance of conservation. Oklahoma has a variable climate and many kinds of geologic materials. These factors greatly influence the formation of different kinds of soil. More than 2,500 different kinds of soil are found in Oklahoma. Some soils are naturally fertile, and others are very limited in productivity. No one individual soil occurs throughout the state. Port Silt Loam, the state soil, was selected because it occurs in more counties (thirty-three), and in about one million acres, more than any other particular soil. The Port soil is deep, well drained, and has a high productivity potential. It is suited for the production of alfalfa, cotton, wheat, sorghum, oats, and other sown crops. Port soil is usually dark brown to dark reddish brown, with the color derived from upland soil materials weathered from reddish sandstones, siltstones, and shales of the Permian Geologic Era. The natural soil supports a native, undisturbed vegetation of tall prairie grasses, with an overstory of pecan, walnut, bur oak, and cottonwood trees. This native condition offers a very desirable habitat for most of Oklahoma’s wildlife species. Soils are often named after an early pioneer, town, county, community, or stream in the vicinity where they are found. The name “Port” comes from a small community located in Washita County. The name “silt loam” is the texture of the topsoil. This texture consists mostly of silt- sized particles (.05 to .002mm) and when the moist soil is rubbed between the thumb and forefinger, it is loamy to the feel, thus the term “silt loam.”

966 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature Mountains and Streams Oklahoma Geological Survey Mountains and streams have defined the landscape of Oklahoma in the geological past, and have helped create a beautiful landscape. Resistant rock masses have been folded, faulted, and thrust upward to form the mountains, while the streams have persisted in eroding less- resistant rock units and lowering the landscape to form the broad valleys, hills, and plains so typical of Oklahoma. Mountains

Mountains are important not only because they expose much of the mineral wealth needed for the state’s growth and industrial development, but, along with lakes and streams, they provide the unexpected beauty of Oklahoma’s recreational areas. Although the three principal mountain systems —Wichitas, Arbuckles, and Ouachitas—occur in southern Oklahoma, other mountainous and hilly areas extend across many parts of the state. TheWichita Mountains in the southwest consist of a core of granite, rhyolite, and other igneous rocks emplaced during the Cambrian Period of geologic time, about 525 mya (million years ago). On the northeast they are flanked by thousands of feet of folded and steeply dipping marine limestones and other sedimentary rocks deposited during Late Cambrian and Ordovician time (515–425 mya). The relief between the hilltops and nearby lowlands generally ranges from 400 to 1,100 feet, and the highest elevation, about 2,475 feet above sea level, is on an unnamed peak four miles east, southeast of Cooperton. The best-known peak, Mount Scott, with a summit of 2,464 feet, can be reached by car or bus and commands the most spectacular view of the area. Important mineral resources produced here are granite, limestone, sand and gravel, and oil and gas. The mountains have been prospected, with limited success, for gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, aluminum, and iron ores. TheArbuckle Mountains, an area of low to moderate hills in south-central Oklahoma, contain a core of Precambrian granite and gneiss (a metamorphic rock) formed about 1,300 mya. Most of the Arbuckles consist of 15,000 feet of folded and faulted limestones, dolomites, sandstones, and shales deposited in shallow seas from Late Cambrian through Pennsylvanian times (515–290 mya). Relief in the area ranges from 100 to 600 feet, with the highest elevation, 1,415 feet, in the West Timbered Hills, about seven miles west of Interstate 35. Although low, the relief is still impressive, as it is six times greater than any other topographic feature between Oklahoma City and Dallas, Texas. Two significant features in the mountains are the deep road cuts on I-35, and the “tombstone topography,” which looks like rows of tombstones in a field, and is the result of differential weathering and erosion of alternating layers of hard and soft limestone. The Arbuckles contain the most diverse suite of mineral resources in Oklahoma. Limestone, dolomite, glass sand, granite, sand and gravel, shale, cement, iron ore, lead, zinc, tar sands, and oil and gas are all minerals which are being produced or have been produced here. The Ouachita Mountains (pronounced “Wa-she-tah”), in southeast Oklahoma, are made up of rocks deposited in a deep sea that covered the area from Late Cambrian through Early Pennsylvanian time (515–315 mya). The area was then folded and faulted in such a manner that resistant beds of sandstone, chert, and novaculite (a fine-grained silica rock, like flint) now form long, sinuous mountain ridges that tower 500–1,500 feet above adjacent valleys formed in easily eroded shales. The highest elevation is 2,666 feet on Rich Mountain. Major individual ridges within the Ouachitas are Winding Stair, Rich, Kiamichi, Blue, Jackfork, and Blackjack mountains. Mineral resources include limestone, quartzite, sand and gravel, asphaltite, lead, oil, and gas.

Oklahoma Almanac 967 Wildlife and Nature

Mountains

0 50 miles

Mountains of the Arkansas River Valley are another group of high hills and mountains scattered in the Arkansas River Valley of east-central Oklahoma. They include Sans Bois, Cavanal, Sugar Loaf, Poteau, Beaver, Hi Early, and Rattlesnake mountains, among others. These mountains typically are broad featured, capped by thick and resistant sandstones that stand 300–2,000 feet above the wide, hilly plains formed on thick shale units. These sandstones and shales, deposited in the shallow seas and coastal areas covering eastern Oklahoma in Early and Middle Pennsylvanian times (330–310 mya), were broadly uplifted and folded during the Middle and Late Pennsylvanian uplift of the Ouachita Mountains. The largest mountain area is the Sans Bois Mountains, north of Wilburton and Red Oak. The highest summit, Sugar Loaf Mountain, is eight miles east of Poteau, and, at 2,568 feet, rises 2,000 feet above the surrounding plains. Principal mineral resources of the area are coal, oil and gas, clay, building stone, sand and gravel, and volcanic ash. TheOzark Plateau, or the Ozarks of northeast Oklahoma, is best described as a deeply dissected plateau. Bedrock units in the area are mostly flat-lying limestones and cherts deposited in shallow seas during the Mississippian Period (365–330 mya). To the south and southwest, the Ozarks include outcrops of sandstones and shales deposited in shallow seas and coastal areas during Early Pennsylvanian time (330–315 mya). The Ozarks, including the Brushy or Boston mountains, were broadly uplifted during, and since, Pennsylvanian time causing streams to be incised into the bedrock. Relief in the Ozarks is 50 to 400 feet, typically, and the highest elevation, 1,745 feet, is on Workman Mountain, eight miles east, southeast of Stilwell. The beauty of the Ozarks and the abundant clear-water lakes have spawned many state parks. Important mineral resources being produced are limestone, shale, cement, tripoli, sand and gravel, oil, and gas. In the north is the world-famous Tri-State lead-zinc mining district (Miami-Picher area), which led the United States in zinc production almost every year from 1918–1945, and finally was closed in 1970. The Glass Mountains, in north-central Major County, about six miles west of Orienta, are an area of badlands topography, and are a prominent feature of the Blaine escarpment that extends southeast to northwest across northwest Oklahoma. Outcropping rocks are red-brown shales and siltstones, capped by several beds of resistant white gypsum; all were deposited during the Permian Period (about 270 mya). Much of the gypsum looks like glass fragments, and hence the name, “Glass Mountains.” “Mountains” is a misnomer; they are actually prominent mesas, buttes, and escarpments. Flat-lying beds of caprock gypsum and underlying shales originally extended far to the north and east, but have been eroded back to the south and west to their

968 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature present position. The local relief generally ranges from 150 to 200 feet, and the elevation at the top of the high buttes is about 1,585 feet. Black Mesa, in the northwest corner of the Oklahoma Panhandle, is the highest point in the state, with an elevation of 4,973 feet. It is a plateau that rises about 600 feet above the adjacent Cimarron River and North Carrizo Creek. In Oklahoma, Black Mesa is 0.5 to one mile wide and three miles long, and is the erosional remnant of a finger-like basaltic lava flow extruded from a volcano in southeast Colorado. The lava flow formed during Tertiary time, about two to four mya, and occupied what was then a broad valley. Streams

Oklahoma’s stream systems, in terms of geologic time, are temporary as to location and flow rates. Eventually, streams will cut deeper, and their tributaries will erode nearby uplands, thereby shifting their positions. Major drainage systems in Oklahoma were initiated during the Pleistocene Epoch of geologic time (the last 1.65 million years or so), a time characterized by erosion in Oklahoma. Pleistocene terrace deposits, one hundred feet to more than 300 feet above modern flood plains, attests to the great erosion and down cutting performed by major rivers in this period. Oklahoma’s two major river basins are the Red River and Arkansas River basins. Flowing into Oklahoma from six neighboring states, all the surface water leaving the state flows into Arkansas via the Red, Arkansas, and Little rivers, and Lee Creek. The major rivers and their tributaries flow to the east and southeast across Oklahoma. Red River and its tributaries drain about 23,000 square miles in the southern third of the state. The western most headwaters of Red River is a small tributary, Frio Draw, which begins about thirty miles south of Tucumcari, New Mexico. It flows across the Texas Panhandle through Palo Duro Canyon, and then marks Oklahoma’s southern border (517 river miles) with Texas. From there it flows through Arkansas into Louisiana, where it joins the Atchafalaya River and enters Atchafalaya Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. At the southwest corner of Oklahoma, the main stem is called Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River (PDTFRR); it is joined by Buck Creek two miles farther east, and from that point eastward, it is officially called Red River. Lake Texoma is the only reservoir on the main stem of Red River in Oklahoma; it holds the largest volume of water, 2.6 million acre feet, in the state, and has the second largest surface area of 88,000 acres. The tributaries to Red River have many other important lakes and reservoirs, such as Altus, Foss, Ellsworth, Waurika, Arbuckle, McGee Creek, Sardis, Hugo, Pine Creek, and Broken Bow. Major Oklahoma tributaries to Red River include Salt Fork Red River, North Fork Red River, and Washita River, all of which contribute flow into Lake Texoma. Other tributaries are Muddy Boggy Creek, and Kiamichi and Little rivers, each having its own tributary system. There are also many other rivers and creeks that flow directly into Red River. At the southeast corner of the state, Red River has an elevation of 305 feet. The lowest elevation in the state, 287 feet, is twenty miles to the north where Little River enters Arkansas. The Arkansas River and its tributaries drain the northern two-thirds of Oklahoma, nearly 47,000 square miles. The source of the Arkansas River is near the town of Leadville, Colorado. The river flows eastward across southeast Colorado and western and central Kansas, turning south to enter Oklahoma at Kay County, north of Ponca City. It crosses northeast Oklahoma to leave the state at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Much of the Arkansas River has a series of locks and dams, the McClellan-Kerr Navigation System, that link Oklahoma with barge traffic to the Mississippi River. Major lakes and reservoirs on the main stem of the Arkansas River include (from the southeast) Robert S. Kerr, Webbers

Oklahoma Almanac 969 Wildlife and Nature

Rivers and Lakes

Falls, Keystone, and Kaw. On the Canadian River, a major tributary to the Arkansas in eastern Oklahoma, Eufaula Lake has the largest surface area in the state, with 105,500 acres, and the second largest volume with 2.3 million acre-feet. Many tributaries to the Arkansas River have important lakes and reservoirs, such as Canton, Great Salt Plains, Hefner, Overholser, Thunderbird, Carl Blackwell, Hulah, Skiatook, Oologah, Fort Gibson, Hudson, Tenkiller Ferry, and Wister. Major tributaries to the Arkansas River include the Canadian, North Canadian (named Beaver River in the Panhandle, above Wolf Creek), and Deep Fork rivers, all flowing into Eufaula Lake. Others are the Cimarron, Salt Fork, Caney, Verdigris, Neosho (Grand), and Illinois rivers, each having its own tributary system. Many other rivers and creeks flow directly into the Arkansas River. The lowest elevation, 385 feet, is where the river flows into Arkansas at Fort Smith. TheScenic Rivers of Oklahoma have such exceptional beauty and recreational value that six of them have been officially designated as “scenic rivers,” and are protected by the state legislature. One scenic river is in the Red River System—the upper part of Mountain Fork, which flows into Broken Bow Lake in the Ouachita Mountains. The other five scenic rivers are in the Arkansas River System, in the Ozark Plateau, and include parts of the Illinois River and parts of Flint, Baron Fork, Lee, and Little Lee creeks. TheSalt Plains and Saline Rivers are an unusual feature of the Oklahoma landscape. Natural dissolution of bedded salt (deposited during the Permian Period, about 270 mya) occurs at shallow depths in several parts of northwest and southwest Oklahoma. The resultant high- salinity brine seeps to the surface in some of the state’s rivers. In the Arkansas River drainage, Great Salt Plains on Salt Fork covers about twenty-five square miles and is the largest salt flat. Others are Big Salt Plain and Little Salt Plain on Cimarron River, and Ferguson Salt Plain just north of Watonga in Blaine County. In the Red River drainage, the Caney, Kiser, and Robinson Salt plains are on Elm Fork in northern Harmon County, south of Erick. All of these Oklahoma salt plains discharge brines to the Arkansas and Red River systems, thus degrading the river waters and making them generally unsuitable for industrial, municipal, or irrigation uses in parts of western and central Oklahoma. The saline river waters are diluted by fresh-water inflow downstream from the salt plains, and thus the water is mostly usable by the time it reaches Keystone Lake and Lake Texhoma. Although the salt plains degrade the river waters, like most of nature’s checks and balances they are a necessary part of the environment for the

970 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature area’s inhabitants, and they provide yet another aspect of the beautiful geological areas of the state of Oklahoma. Water

Oklahoma contains thirty-four major reservoirs with a combined surface area of 543,450 acres and storing more than 13 million acre-feet of water. The state’s largest lake in surface area is Eufaula (105,000 acres); Lake Texoma is second (88,000 acres). The state’s largest lake in conservation storage is Texoma (2.6 million acre-feet of water); Eufaula is second (2.3 million ac-ft). Evaporation and percolation preclude immediate use of approximately 80 percent of Oklahoma’s water. Average annual lake evaporation ranges from forty-eight inches in the extreme east to sixty-five inches in the southwest, numbers that far exceed the average yearly rainfall in those areas. Groundwater is the prevalent source of water in the western half of the state, accounting for almost 90 percent of the total irrigation water use in Oklahoma. Underneath the state are twenty-three major groundwater basins containing 320 million acre-feet of water in storage, though only one-half of that amount may be recoverable. According to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, irrigation is the number one use of water in Oklahoma; water supply is a close second, followed distantly by livestock watering. The majority of the state’s surface water (approximately 60 percent) is used for public water supply, followed by thermoelectric power generation and irrigation. The largest total amount of freshwater withdrawn for irrigation purposes was in Texas County, followed by Cimarron and Beaver counties, all in the Oklahoma Panhandle. The largest amount of water withdrawn for water-supply purposes is in Cleveland County, followed by Comanche and Oklahoma counties. Livestock withdrawals are largest in Texas County, followed by Cimarron and Alfalfa counties. The largest total amount of freshwater withdrawn for thermoelectric-power generation purposes is in Muskogee County, followed by Rogers and Seminole counties. Groundwater

Oklahoma Almanac 971 Wildlife and Nature Wildlife Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is the state agency responsible for managing fish and wildlife. The Wildlife Department receives no general state tax appropriations and is supported by hunting and fishing license fees and federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment. The mission of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is to manage Oklahoma’s wildlife resources and habitat to provide scientific, educational, aesthetic, economic and recreational benefits for present and future generations of hunters, anglers and others who appreciate wildlife. In support of this statement, the agency is committed to: (1) conserving wildlife resources, habitat, and biodiversity through scientific research, propagation and management; (2) balancing wildlife needs with those of people; supporting and promoting traditional uses of wildlife through regulated fishing, hunting, and trapping consistent with sound management principles; (3) informing and educating citizens so they will recognize the value of wildlife resources and support department regulations and programs; (4) protecting wildlife resources through increased awareness of and aggressive enforcement of wildlife laws and regulations; (5) identifying and acknowledging diverse public interests in wildlife resources and implementing responsible programs consistent with those interests; (6) promoting ethical private land and water practices; (7) maintaining and improving accessibility to wildlife on private and public waters and lands; (8) serving as advocate and legal representative for wildlife resources and habitat in environmental issues and actions that may impact these resources; (9) protecting unique, threatened and endangered species and preserving their habitats; (10) ensuring excellence in the pursuit of our mission through the hiring and continued training of qualified and experienced professionals; (11) and managing available funds efficiently and seeking innovative revenue sources for the accomplishment of this mission. The department is organized into five major divisions: administration, fisheries, information and education, law enforcement and wildlife. The Administration Division performs a great variety of tasks to support the agency’s employees carrying out the department’s mission. The division sections include accounting, licensing, information technology, human resources, communications and property. The department’s Fisheries Division manages this important recreational resource, and meets the challenge by focusing on management, research and production. The Information and Education Division informs Oklahoma citizens about department programs, policies and regulations. The Law Enforcement Division enforces laws and regulations that protect Oklahoma’s wildlife resources. Observance of wildlife laws protect the resource while providing opportunities for fair and equitable usage by the sporting public. To manage the state’s wildlife resources and their habitats the department’s Wildlife Division provides hunting and other outdoor-recreational opportunities, through public lands acquisition and management, cooperative and technical assistance for private landowners, research and surveys, and education. Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission

The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing board of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Commissioners serve eight-year terms and are appointed

972 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature by the governor and confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate. The commission establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for the Wildlife Department, and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife conservation activities. The commission also governs all department operations and financial transactions and meet the first Monday of each month to conduct business. Department Funding

The department remains a non-appropriated, user-pay/user-benefit agency that is funded either directly or indirectly by hunting and fishing license sales. In fiscal year 2007 the department operated with an estimated $36.6 million in revenue. Specifically, major revenue sources are: annual license sales, $12 million; federal sportfish and wildlife restoration grant revenue, $12.6 million – this income is based on a formula that includes certified number of hunting and fishing licenses sold in the state; lifetime license fund interest income, $2.3 million; other wildlife sales, $2 million; agriculture and oil leases, $1.1 million; and miscellaneous income including donations, $1.1 million. Agency Expenditures

Annual expenditures in FY 2007 were approximately $35,841,000. Expenditures by area include $8.3 million for fisheries (23 percent of total budget); $8.5 million for wildlife (24 percent of total budget); $9.3 million for law enforcement (26 percent of total budget); $3.2 million for administration (9 percent of total budget); $2.5 million for transfer of principal to lifetime license trust fund (7 percent of total budget); $2 million for information and education (6 percent of total budget); and, $1.9 million for wildlife diversity and non-game (5 percent of total budget). Impact of Hunters and Anglers on Oklahoma’s Economy

Hunters and anglers have a tremendous impact on the state’s economy. In FY 2007 hunters in the state numbered 251,000. Total expenditures for hunters was $492 million. Hunting activities resulted in 9,800 jobs, generated $251 million in salaries and wages, $49 million in state tax revenue, and an $840 million ripple effect on the state’s economy. Anglers in FY 2007 numbered 611,000. Total expenditures for anglers was $522 million. Fishing resulted in 10,300 jobs, generated $273 million in salaries and wages, $57 million in state tax revenue, and an $906 million ripple effect on the state’s economy. A Legacy of Conservation

The department was initially created as a one-man agency in 1909. The first hunting license was also created at a cost of $1.25 to fund the department, setting the precedent of a non-appropriated, user-pay/user-benefit agency. In 1956, state voters passed a constitutional amendment establishing the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation as the constitutional agency it is today. The amendment was enacted in 1957, and the first board of commissioners was created to oversee the department’s operation.

Oklahoma Almanac 973 Wildlife and Nature Recent Accomplishments 2005 • An Internet point of sale license system was implemented. • The department hosted the first Oklahoma Wildlife Expo at the Lazy E Arena, where more than 45,000 people attended. • Development of the Evening Hole and Lost Creek projects on the Lower Mountain Fork River began. 2006 • New opportunities added for hunters and trappers. Sportsmen are allowed to take red fox. • The Evening Hole and Lost Creek projects on the Lower Mountain Fork River completed. 2007 • Wildlife Department creates pilot paddlefish management program near the Twin Bridges area of the Neosho River to collect important data for the department’s paddlefish management plan, process paddlefish meat for anglers, and salvage paddlefish eggs. • Department initiates new wetland restoration project at Drummond Flat area to restore a unique wetland habitat and create more opportunities for sportsmen and other wildlife enthusiasts. • Hunting participation encouraged through apprentice-designated licenses, which encourage those who have never hunted to do so under supervision of a licensed hunter. • Typical whitetail state record broken twice in ten days in Pushmataha County. On November 18, 2007, Jason Boyett of Glenpool, Oklahoma, harvested a buck in Pushmataha County. The buck officially scored an impressive 192 5/8, nearly seven inches higher than the previous typical record. But Boyett’s buck didn’t hold the record for long. Just ten days later, on Nov. 28, John Ehmer of Tuskahoma, Oklahoma, harvested a huge buck in Pushmataha County that measured a total score of 194 inches, the deer edged Boyett’s buck by a slim margin of 1 3/8 inches. 2008 • Lake Record Fish program established to recognize Oklahoma anglers and fish. Thirteen major lakes and thirteen species of popular Oklahoma fish are included initially. • On Nov. 4, 2008, Oklahomans voiced their opinions in the ballot box on hunting, fishing and trapping by amending the State Constitution to give all people the right to hunt, trap, fish and take game and fish. It also makes hunting, fishing, and trapping the preferred means to manage certain fish and game animals. • More than 3,000 acres in southeast Oklahoma are opened to public hunting and fishing in LeFlore County’s Cucumber Creek area. • Oklahoma Archery in the Schools program surpasses 100 school milestone and state tournament draws more than 800 students.

974 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature Did you Know? Fred Marvel, Oklahoma Fred Oklahoma Marvel, Tourism & Recreation Department. • Oklahoma ranks at the top of all states when it comes to diversity of plant and animal life. • The Selman Bat Cave Wildlife Management Area in northwest Oklahoma is home to more that one million Mexican free-tailed bats. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation offers guided evening tours on the area each summer. • There are over 1.5 million acres of wildlife management areas in every corner of the state to explore. • The four fish hatcheries run by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation annually raise and stock about 12 million fish each year. • One in three Oklahoma citizens hunt or fish and one in three Oklahoma citizens enjoy watching wildlife. • Each year Oklahoma hunters donate about 16 tons of venison to the Hunters Against Hunger program. That is enough meat to provide nutritious meals for nearly 133,000 families across the state. Migratory pelicans at Great Salt Plains State Park, near Jet, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Almanac 975 Wildlife and Nature Astronomical Phenomena for Oklahoma—2009 and 2010

Wayne Harris-Wyrick—Director, Kirkpatrick Planetarium Eclipses

An eclipse occurs whenever the sun, Earth, and the Moon align in space. If the Moon is between the sun and Earth, a solar eclipse occurs. Whenever the Moon completely covers the sun as seen from Earth, we experience a total solar eclipse. Total solar eclipses are rather common. One or two occur almost every year somewhere on our planet. They are During 2009 and 2010, quite rare, however, for any given location. A total solar eclipse is visible only over a very narrow path on Earth’s we will experience four surface, although everyone for hundreds of miles either solar eclipses … side of the path of totality sees a partial eclipse. During a partial solar eclipse, the Moon only covers a part of the sun’s disk. They are more common from a given location, but much less spectacular. The central path of a total solar eclipse may miss Earth in such a way that some parts of our planet experience a partial solar eclipse even though no total eclipse is visible anywhere on the planet. On rarer occasions, Earth experiences an annular solar eclipse. Since the Moon’s distance from Earth varies slightly, it sometimes looks slightly smaller than the sun. The Moon is always nearly four hundred times smaller than the sun in actual size, but being four hundred times closer it normally appears slightly larger. If a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is farthest from Earth, it won’t quite cover the sun. An “annulus”, a ring of fire from the sun’s edge, surrounds the Moon like a celestial donut in the sky. The rarest type of eclipse is a combination annual-total solar eclipse. During such an event, the Moon moves ever so slightly closer to Earth and what starts as an annular eclipse becomes a total eclipse during the middle of the event. Or it may begin as a total eclipse then become an annular eclipse as the Moon inches away from Earth. If Earth passes between the sun and Moon, our planet blocks the sunlight striking the Moon’s surface, and we see a lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse, whether partial or total, is visible from most parts of Earth where it’s night at the time of the eclipse. The Moon’s color and brightness both change dramatically during an eclipse. The overall brightness decreases by a factor of several hundred or more. During a total lunar eclipse, the color changes can appear rather bizarre. The brilliant white Moon may become copper- colored or turn deep blood red. No wonder such sights frightened ancient civilizations. During 2009 and 2010, we will experience four solar eclipses, two total and two annular eclipses, none of which will be visible from Oklahoma. An annular eclipse occurs on January 26, 2009. The mid-point of the eclipse happens at 1:58am, Central Standard Time (CST), and you will have to be in the southern Pacific Ocean between Africa’s Cape of Good Horn to the west coast of Australia to see it. July 22 brings the first total solar eclipse, starting at 9:59 pm, CST, but you will only experience from the Pacific Ocean from north to Australia to east of Japan. The second annular eclipse happens on January 15, 2010,

976 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature visible from east Africa to the southern tip of India to western Indochina. Mid-point occurs at 1:06 am, CST time. The final eclipse of the time period is a total eclipse on July 11, 2010, visible in the southern Pacific Ocean east of the southern tip of South America. Mid-eclipse occurs at 2:33 pm, our time. A lunar eclipse almost invariably occurs at the full Moon either before or after a solar eclipse, and rarely one can occur on both the preceding and succeeding full Moons. Six lunar eclipses occur over the next two years, one total, two partial and three so-called penumbral eclipses. A penumbral eclipse occurs when the moon only passes through the very light outer shadow of Earth and generally isn’t noticed visually. They occur on February 9, July 7 and August 6, 2009. The partial eclipse takes place on December 31, 2009, but the Moon will barely hit the edge of the umbra, the dark part of Earth’s shadow. We’ll miss it in Oklahoma. A better partial eclipse occurs on June 26, 2010, mid-point at 6:38 am, just before moonset. We’ll see the beginning but the Moon sets before the end of the eclipse. The lone Total Lunar Eclipse of the period occurs on December 21, 2010 and we have a ring-side seat! It starts at 12:32 am and goes through 4:01 am. Moon Phases

The table below lists the phases of the Moon for 2009 and 2010. A full Moon rises more or less at sunset. A new Moon is between Earth and the sun, and not visible. The quarter phases occur between the new and full phases. A Blue Moon refers to the second full Moon in the same calendar month, Like December 2009. They happen, on average once every two and one-half years. Since February has only 28 (or 29) days in it, and the full lunar cycle takes 29–1/2 days, February occasionally contains only three of the four lunar phases. The next three-phase February occurs in 2012. About every two or three decades, February’s missed full Moon occurs on January 31, the second one in January, and the next full Moon also skips February, making another Blue Moon in March, a double Blue Moon year. The next double Blue Moon won’t happen until 2018.

2009 2010 New Full New Full Jan 26 Jan 11 Jan 15 Jan 30 Feb 25 Feb 9 Feb 14 Feb 28 Mar 26 Mar 11 Mar 15 Mar 30 Apr 25 Apr 9 Apr 14 Apr 28 May 24 May 9 May 14 May 27 Jun 22 Jun 7 Jun 12 Jun 26 Jul 22 Jul 7 Jul 11 Jul 26 Aug 20 Aug 6 Aug 10 Aug 24 Sep 18 Sep 4 Sep 8 Sep 23 Oct 18 Oct 4 Oct 7 Oct 23 Nov 16 Nov 2 Nov 6 Nov 21 Dec 16 Dec 2/31 Dec 5 Dec 21

Oklahoma Almanac 977 Wildlife and Nature Meteor Showers

On any dark, clear night away from city lights, you occasionally see a brief streak of light zip across the sky. We often call them “falling stars” or “shooting stars.” They are actually meteors, tiny bits of space rock that enter our atmosphere at speeds up to 150,000 miles per hour. At such speeds they heat the surrounding air to incandescence from friction and pressure, creating the streak of light we see. Several times a year we see greater numbers of meteors for a few nights. These events are called meteor showers. Meteor showers come from comets. Comets are huge, dirty snowballs that orbit our sun like the planets. The sun’s heat constantly boils the comet’s icy body, freeing the trapped dirt and rock. The debris remains in the comet’s orbital path around the sun. As it revolves around the sun, Earth may cross a comet’s orbital path. Earth will encounter the comet’s orbit on or near the same day each year. Our planet slams into the debris trail, and we see a meteor shower. Several meteor showers occur throughout the year. Meteor showers are named for the constellation they appear to radiate from. The list below contains the most active meteor showers. A typical shower produces only one meteor every minute or two, so perhaps “meteor drizzle” is a better term. The Leonid meteor shower occurs on November 17. Its parent comet, Tempel-Tuttle, orbits the sun every thirty-three years. The debris is heavily concentrated behind the comet, so every thirty-three years we see a spectacular Leonid meteor shower. The comet passed by in 1966. That year the Leonids set the record for meteor shower activity with as many as 140 visible per second. The Leonids in 1998 peaked at around 1000 per hour. In 1999 through 2002, Leonid meteor shower displayed dramatic activity, but has decreased steadily ever since. While none of these showers were as active as the 1966 Leonids, they displayed numerous and bright fireballs. However, on the last outbound leg, the comet and its debris trail passed very close to Jupiter. Jupiter’s massive gravity altered the orbital path of the comet and its debris, possibly ending Leonid meteor storms forever. That may not be the end of meteor showers from Comet Tempel-Tuttle, though. In another one hundred years or so, the comet will again pass near Jupiter, bending its course back close to Earth’s orbit. Since the meteor shower will appear to come out of a different constellation, it will have a new name.

Meteor Shower Date # per hour Quadrantids 3 Jan 50 Lyrids 22 Apr 25 Eta Aquarids 6 May 20 Delta Aquarids 29 July 20 Perseids 12 Aug 50 Orionids 21 Oct 25 Leonids 17 Nov 15 Geminids 14 Dec 50 Ursids 22 Dec 20

978 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature

Generally, the best viewing time for a meteor shower is from midnight to 6:00 am. The farther away from city lights, the more meteors you can see. A full or third quarter moon (see Moon Phases) will also hinder meteor observations. The date listed for each shower is the evening before the am peak. For example, to see the Perseid shower, stay up past midnight on August 11 to the early morning hours of the 12th. Meteorites

Often while working in a field or yard, people stumble across an odd rock that just doesn’t look or feel like other rocks in the area. These are often mistaken for a meteorite. Actual meteorite finds are quite rare, except in those areas near a known asteroid impact like the Barringer Crater near Flagstaff, Arizona. Two common mistakes lead to most incorrect identifications of a terrestrial rock being a meteorite. Most people are not familiar with the variety of rocks that may be found in the area. Much of western Oklahoma is covered with red sandstone. Any other type of rock, especially dark-colored ones, may be mistaken for a meteorite by someone unaware that other types of rock might also exist in the area. Often, rocks appear on the surface of a field where few if any other rocks are found, perhaps even in a small depression. Rocks buried underground can work their way up to the surface. You see a similar effect by opening a can of mixed nuts. The small peanuts are all at the bottom and the larger Brazil nuts and pecans lie on top. As the can of nuts is handled, the smaller peanuts fall through spaces between larger nuts, and the larger ones “float” to the top, even though they are much heavier than the smaller nuts. Large, dense rocks may work to the surface the same way. Meteorites come in one of three types. Iron meteorites consist almost entirely of iron and nickel, and are thought to originate in the cores of large asteroids. Early in the life of our solar system, these large asteroids differentiated, that is iron, nickel, iridium, platinum and other metals sunk to the center, just as in Earth, while the object remained in a liquefied state. The asteroids cooled and solidified with a metallic core and a rocky surface. Later, massive collisions with each other broke them apart, freeing the pure metallic parts, the source of iron meteorites. The outer, rocky material provides the source for stony meteorites, while the interface between the two regions is the source for stony-iron meteorites. All meteorites contain at least small amounts of nickel and iron, just as these metals can be found at the surface of Earth. Most meteorites possess properties that distinguish them from terrestrial rocks. Meteorites tend to be far denser than ordinary rock; typically two to three times their density. All meteorites share at least some affinity for a magnet, and most are highly attracted to one. Meteorites never have a spongy or porous structure on the surface or in the interior. As a meteorite flies through the atmosphere at tremendous speeds, it creates great friction with the air molecules around it. The heat generated by the friction heats the air to incandescence, the glowing trail behind a meteor in the night sky. The surface of the meteorite gets quite hot too, but the meteorite came from space where its temperature may have been below –2000 F. for millions or billions of years. The flight of a few seconds through our atmosphere cannot warm the interior, and within a minute or two, the meteorite is freezing to the touch.

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The heat of passage through the air creates a black “fusion crust” on the meteorite, although it will weather to a rusty brown color within a few months or years. The surface of the meteorite is often slightly melted by the heat of atmospheric entry, leaving small indentations resembling thumbprints, or flow lines where melted material flowed over the meteorite. The interiors of most meteorites shine like metallic silver. Meteorites are almost never round or rough, but have irregular shapes and a smooth surface. In many locations around Oklahoma, iron smelting occurred in the past. It may have been a railroad foundry works, an old army base or blacksmith shop. Bits of old iron slag exist in many of these places, and are often mistaken for a meteorite. They generally will have little or no attraction for a magnet, but will show metallic luster on the inside.

If You Suspect You Have Found A Meteorite Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory suggests that you ask the following: Is the object solid, not porous? Yes or No Is the object of irregular shape? Yes or No Is the object very heavy for its size? Yes or No Is the object black or brown on the outside? Yes or No Does the interior look shiny and metallic? Yes or No Is the object different from the country rocks? Yes or No If you answered, “Yes” to all these questions you almost certainly have a meteorite. If you answered “No” to most of the questions, it’s probably not. With only one or two “No”s, it may still be a meteorite. Only sensitive chemical tests can answer the question for certain. Your local planetarium or university can usually recommend a testing facility. Inquiries may be made at the University of Oklahoma Department of Geology and Geophysics at 405/325–3253. Planet Visibility

The closer a planet orbits the sun, the faster it moves. Mercury and Venus orbit so rapidly, changes in their positions can be noted almost night to night. While Mars moves more slowly than either Mercury or Venus, an “optical illusion” occasionally makes Mars appear to really zip across the night sky. When Earth and Mars are on the same side of the sun, Earth’s orbital motion makes Mars appear to move much faster than normal, sometimes even backward. This is much like passing a slower moving car on the highway. From your point of view, that slower car appears to be moving in reverse. The same apparent reverse motion also happens with all of the planets beyond Earth, but for Mars the effect is most obvious. While Mars, Jupiter and Saturn never actually backtrack in their orbits around the sun, they do appear to back up once in a while, what astronomers call retrograde motion. It is generally not difficult to distinguish planets from stars. You have never sung the song “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Planet” because planets do not twinkle, stars do. Also, the visible planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are brighter than most or all of the stars in the night sky. Bright non-twinkling “stars” are most likely planets.

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Planet Visibility Objects Date Time Comments Mars-Jupiter February 17, 2009 am in dawn twilight Mercury-Jupiter February 24, 2009 am in dawn twilight Mercury-Mars March 1, 2009 am in dawn twilight Mars-Neptune March 8, 2009 am Mercury and Jupiter near Mars-Uranus April 15, 2009 am Venus near Mercury-Saturn October 8, 2009 am closest conjunction of 2009 Venus-Saturn October 13, 2009 am Jupiter-Neptune December 21, 2009 pm Venus-Jupiter February 17, 2010 pm very low in west after sunset Venus-Uranus March 3, 2010 pm low in west after sunset Jupiter-Uranus June 8, 2010 am close together for severall days Venus-Saturn-Mars August 6, 2010 pm all three close for several days Jupiter-Uranus September 19, 2010 mid

Mercury Mercury orbits the sun at one-third the distance Earth does. Most of the time it is too close to the sun to be visible from Earth. When we can see it, it is always low in the west immediately after sunset, or low in the east just before sunrise. You will need to find an observing location free of hills, trees, buildings and other horizon obstructions. A view over a large lake should be helpful. At best, Mercury rises little more than an hour before the sun or sets barely an hour after. As a result, Mercury is never seen in a dark night sky. It always floats in the twilight’s glow, making it difficult to find. Mercury remains visible for generally no more than two or three weeks at a time. Binoculars help to locate Mercury in the twilight glow. Mercury begins 2009 in the evening sky through mid-January. It makes other evening appearances a week either side of April 26, August 6 and December 20. The late April-early May appearance is the best evening view of Mercury in 2009. Morning appearances of Mercury in 2009 occur a week or so either side of February 9, June 16 and October 4 with the latter being the best chance to see Mercury in 2009 predawn skies. Morning appearances of Mercury in 2010 occur a week or two either side of January 22, June 2 and September 17. Mercury appears in the evening twilight for 2010 around April 9, July 20 and December 5. The January morning and September evening apparitions of Mercury will be the best for 2010. Venus Venus is the brightest celestial object after the sun, the Moon and an occasional bright meteor. It is also the planet that comes closest to Earth. Like Mercury, it is only visible after sunset or before sunrise. Venus can be more than three times as far from the sun as

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Mercury, well above the sun’s twilight glow. At such times, Venus shines like a brilliant searchlight in the night sky. Because Venus orbits closer to the sun than Earth, it goes through phases like our Moon. Remember, planets do not make any light of their own. We see them only by reflected sunlight. As it approaches its closest point to Earth, between us and the sun, we see only a thin crescent. When it is on the far side of the sun, we see it nearly full. While our moon takes only a month to go through its phases, Venus takes a year and a half. As the closest planet to Earth, it appears to be the largest. It is not, but its proximity makes it look big. At such times, a good pair of binoculars or any small telescope reveals the crescent shape of the planet, like a tiny Moon. Because of its brilliance, Venus is often called the “Morning Star” when seen rising before the sun in the east and the “Evening Star” when in the west after sunset. Venus shines in the evening sky at the start of 2009 and dives between us and the sun in late March only to reappear in the evening twilight a few days later. Venus remains as the “Morning Star” until mid-December, 2009. It passes behind the sun and out of sight until early February, 2010. It stays in the evening sky until October 10, then again appears in the morning twilight just a few days later where it remains throughout the rest of 2010. Mars Mars shines with a distinctive reddish-orange hue, unlike any of the other planets. In fact, Mars’ color most resembles the star Antares in Scorpius (see Summer Star Chart). And since Mars and Antares shine with about the same brightness, it certainly makes sense that Antares is Greek for “the rival of Mars.” Mars is visible in the midnight to dawn time frame through most of 2009 and slide into the late evening sky by November of that year. The “Red Planet” is visible virtually all night January through February, 2010. After that it is visible starting in the late evening through the rest of 2010, although by November it is low in the western evening twilight. Jupiter Jupiter, our solar system’s largest planet, could swallow 1,400 Earths. Jupiter and the other outer planets move very slowly as they orbit the Sun, so slowly that these planets may spend an entire year, perhaps even a decade, within the same constellation. Jupiter begins 2009 in Capricorn, very low in the west after sunset. Within two weeks, it is gone from the evening sky, to reappear in the morning twilight in mid-February. It rises earlier each day throughout the remainder of 2009 as it slowly slides into Aquarius in January 2010, then into the oblivion of evening twilight in the middle of February where it again crosses over into the morning sky. Jupiter slowly slips into Pisces at ends 2010 in the southwest after sunset. Saturn Saturn, moving even slower than Jupiter, sits at the Leo-Virgo border as 2009 dawns and slowly slips into Virgo by August where it spends the rest of 2009 and all of 2010. The ringed planet is visible in the early morning hours through the end of May. For the next month or so, Saturn is visible virtually all night, although it sets earlier each day and by early July, it sets at midnight, although it is up all evening but disappears into the sun’s

982 Oklahoma Almanac Wildlife and Nature glare at the end of August, to reappear once again in morning twilight in early October. It remains in the morning sky through March where it virtually repeats the cycle through the end of 2010. Uranus and Neptune Uranus and Neptune all both so far from the sun they seem to barely creep along in the sky, moving very little over the course of two years. Uranus, just barely visible to the unaided human eye from a dark location, begins 2009 near the Aquarius–Pisces border and slowly slips fully into Pisces where it ends 2010. It is visible in the evening from January through March, reappearing in the morning sky in mid April, where it slowly moves back into the evening sky by late August getting lower in the west each evening. Uranus then repeats the cycle through 2010. Neptune begins 2009 in Capricorn, not too far from Jupiter. In fact, Neptune and Jupiter play tag throughout the two-year period. Neptune, which will require a telescope to be see, matches the visibility of Uranus, only a month earlier. Pluto In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union, the governing body of astronomers world-wide, voted on a definition of the word “planet” that dropped Pluto from that classification. One astronomer described is as correcting a seventy-six year old mistake made when Pluto was discovered in 1930. The new definition of planet is: the object must be round, or nearly so, due to its gravity. It cannot be a star—a round astronomical body that sustains nuclear reactions in its core—but it has to orbit one. It has to be significantly bigger than all other objects in its neighborhood combined. That is, it has to be large enough that its gravity essentially sweeps up everything in region of the solar system. This clause is what caused Pluto’s demotion. There are lots of things that share Pluto’s region of the solar system. Pluto is less massive than the combined total mass of other objects in its orbital region. As the official definition of “planet” states, Pluto has not gravitationally “cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.” Pluto is now considered the prototype of a new class of solar system objects called “Dwarf Planets.” Dwarf Planets meet all of the criteria of being a true planet except for that of being bigger than all other objects in its region combined. Current astronomical discoveries include more than a dozen other objects orbiting the sun that qualify as dwarf planets. Most astronomers believe there may be a hundred or more dwarf planets in our solar system. Dwarf Planets that orbit beyond Neptune have been grouped into a special classification: Plutoids. This honors Pluto as the first ever discovered.

Why Pluto Is Not A Planet: An Analogy When Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh, he was looking for a ninth planet. He discovered an object at the expected distance from the sun, moving at the right speed as it orbited the sun. Astronomers around the world declared it to be a planet. At first they thought it might even be about the size of Earth. However, that occurred before computers and modern instruments. The more astronomers studied Pluto, the more they realized that was not really much like the other planets. It turned out to be very small: seven moons, including our own, are larger than Pluto. It had a weird orbit: long and skinny and

Oklahoma Almanac 983 Wildlife and Nature tilted quite a bit compared to the other planets, both more like a comet than a planet. Its composition turned out to be more like a comet too: frozen methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide and water ice dominate its surface. Think of it this way: suppose you have something that is hard, long and skinny and round and if you sharpen one end of it, you find a dark material inside that can leave marks on paper. You decide to call it a pencil. You soon realize that pencils come in several variations: some are round, some are hexagonal; they come in different colors and sizes. Some even write in different colors. Then one day you find something a bit different. It is round, has a thin paper covering over a thick center that is soft, but if you sharpen one end, you can draw on paper, so you call it a pencil. You call it a pencil because that is all you know that draws on paper. But, later you find more of these different things, in many colors, and soon you have more of them than you do pencils. After a while, you realize that these are really different kinds of objects, so you no longer call them pencils, but instead call them crayons.

Star Charts for Evening Skys of Oklahoma

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That is what happened to Pluto. Almost from its discovery, astronomer began to notice that it was really different from the other planets, more different than they were from each other. In 2006, astronomers decided to reclassify Pluto, correcting a mistake they had made 76 years earlier. So the simple answer is that Pluto is no longer a planet because, really, it was never a planet. We just did not know it at the time. A conjunction occurs whenever two or more objects in our solar system appear close together in our sky. Many millions of miles separate the bodies in space, but from our viewpoint on Earth they seem to be very close. Two planets very rarely “line up,” appearing as one bright object, but several conjunctions occur over the two-year period including some very close ones. While the table below lists times when two or more bodies within our solar system appear close together as seen from Earth, the planets move constantly, changing their relative positions nightly. On an even longer time frame, the stars themselves slowly move in their individual orbits around the Milky Way galaxy. Every night, every hour, every minute presents an absolutely unique astronomical sight, never exactly the same as any other instant of time, ever. The following table lists the good conjunctions to watch for in 2009–2010. For conjunctions to be listed, the two objects appear no more than two Moon diameters, one degree, apart. Only those conjunctions with the pair at least six degrees above the horizon, roughly the width of a fist held at arm’s length, and the sun is at least six degrees below the horizon, are listed. “Time” indicates the best time to view the conjunction, not necessarily the closest approach of the two bodies. “AM” generally means looking in the morning before sunrise, “PM” means after sunset in the evening and “MID” means it is best seen between roughly 11:00 pm and 2:00 am. The closest spacing between the two objects may occur in daylight or when they are below the horizon. Conjunctions involving Neptune will require binoculars or a telescope due to its faintness. While Uranus is just within the visibility of the unaided human eye from a dark location, it is so faint you might need a pair of binoculars to see it. Light Pollution

Today, people who live in or near large cities have lost the beauty of the night sky. From within or near even small cities and towns, many stars are washed out by the increasing use of outdoor lighting at night. The graceful arch of the Milky Way across the night sky is visible only well away from urban lighting. While there is a great need for nighttime lighting, there are adverse effects created by the many sources of outdoor light. Glare, light trespass, and light clutter contribute to inferior nighttime environment, reducing visibility and safety. Light, and the energy used to create it, are wasted if put where it is not needed, such as beaming upward into the night sky. It is simply wasted light, energy, and money. Light that shines directly into a driver’s eyes from a streetlight does not aid the driver in seeing at night. This glare actually deteriorates the driver’s ability to see, and could lead to an accident. A security light that sprays bright light over a large area may make it impossible to see into the dark shadows, and may help create the very problem it was meant to solve. Good lighting, properly directed, provides safety, security, and reduces cost and energy waste.

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Astronomers suffer most severely from poorly designed and improperly aimed lighting. We have all seen billboards illuminated at night from upward-pointing lights. This lighting arrangement makes the beams of light visible for miles to drivers, calling attention to the billboard’s message. While this may be a smart advertising ploy, it is terrible for astronomers trying to glean information from faint cosmic objects. Many cities around major professional observatories have implemented outdoor lighting bans or strict lighting controls to aid astronomers. There are ways you can help in the fight against light pollution. 1. Use only as much light as you need, and put it where you want it. Excess light creates glare and dark shadows, both of which reduce safety and security. Use fixtures with recessed sockets, the type in which the lamp is not directly visible. This reduces glare and prevents stray light from getting up into the night sky. 2. Use the right kind of light. Incandescent light bulbs are not very cost effective. Vapor lights are generally cheaper. But not all vapor lights are equally good for astronomy. Mercury vapor lights shine with a bright blue-white light. High-pressure sodium vapor lights give off a yellowish glow. Both are commonly used in streetlights and home security lights. Low-pressure sodium vapor lights are the best alternative for astronomy. They glow a deep yellow-orange color. That color makes objects look a bit odd, but this type of light has several advantages. They cost half as much as high-pressure sodium vapor lights and a third as much as mercury vapor lights to operate. Over the course of a year that savings could amount to millions of dollars for a typical city. Since low-pressure sodium vapor lights emit a single color of light, it is very simple for astronomers to filter that light out. If all outdoor lighting consisted of low vapor sodium lights, astronomers would have no loss of ability to observe the heavens. For more information about light pollution and proper lighting, write the International Dark-Sky Association, 3545 N Stewart, Tucson AZ 85716. The Brightest Star

What is the brightest star we can see from Earth? Actually, astronomers have two different definitions of star brightness, or magnitude to use the technical term. So before you respond to that question stellar magnitude needs to be defined. “Absolute magnitude” refers to the actual energy output of the star, its luminosity. Generally speaking, hotter stars emit more energy than cooler stars and bigger stars emit more energy than smaller stars. That is not quite as straight forward as it seems: a large but cool star may or may not put out more light than a smaller but hotter star. The devil is in the details. “Apparent magnitude” refers to the brightness of a star as seen in our sky, but that is actually affected by two parameters: the star’s luminosity and its distance from us. Just as a distant street light appears fainter than a nearby one, a closer star will appear brighter in our sky than an identical one farther away. Absolute magnitude is actually defined as the apparent magnitude at a fixed distance of ten parsecs, so distance is taken out of the absolute magnitude scale. A moderate star that is quite close may have a bright apparent magnitude but a dim absolute magnitude.

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And to make matters even more confusing, the magnitude scale is backward. The modern stellar magnitude scale has its origins with the Greek astronomer Hipparchus in 129 B.C. when he produced one of the first known star charts. As a means of classifying stars, he divided them into brightness categories. The brightest stars, a few dozen in all, he described as “stars of the first magnitude.” Somewhat less bright stars he declared were of the second magnitude, and so on. He divided all stars into one of six magnitude groups. So the brightest stars were Magnitude 1 and the faintest stars visible to the human eye were Magnitude 6. Thus, the bigger the number, the fainter the star. In 1856 astronomers, after having developed instruments far It is a common more sensitive than their eyes, decided they needed to quantify misconception that this brightness scale more precisely. With their instruments, what we usually they determined that “stars of the first magnitude” were, on average, a hundred times brighter than star of the sixth call the North Star magnitude. A five-magnitude jump (6th magnitude to 1st is the brightest star magnitude) meant a change in brightness by a factor of one in the sky. hundred. So they defined the magnitude scale in such a way that a change of one magnitude, from 1 to 2 or from 4 to 5 meant a change in brightness by a factor of 2.5 (technically, the 5th root of 100 or roughly 2.512). A difference of magnitude by one number between two stars means an increase by 2.512 times in brightness, with the smaller magnitude rating corresponding to the brighter star. So what star seen in the skies over our planet has the lowest apparent magnitude number, the brightest as seen from Earth? Our sun, of course! But that is a trick question. What is the brightest nighttime star? It is likely that your answer when you first read the question at the beginning of this section is the same as it is now after the discussion of the astronomical magnitude scale. It is also likely that your answer is wrong. It is a common misconception that what we usually call the North Star is the brightest star in the sky. Actually, it is not particularly close. The North Star, whose proper name is Polaris, may be the best known star, so people often mistakenly believe it to be the brightest star. It is not. Polaris has an apparent magnitude of 2.02; it is not even a star “of the first magnitude.” It is actually the forty-eighth brightest nighttime stars visible from Earth, the thirty-third brightest as seen from Oklahoma. The brightest star seen from Earth, the star with the lowest apparent magnitude, is Sirius at – 1.44. It is one of a handful of stars so bright that the magnitude scale had to be extended into negative numbers. The scale factor is unchanged: a decrease in one magnitude, say, from 0 to – 1, still means a brightness increase of 2.512. Sirius may be unfamiliar to you because it shines in the evening sky during our winter and spring months, when it is typically cold or cloudy, so it is not so well known to the casual sky observers of the northern hemisphere. If you lived in Australia, Sirius would be up during your summer and fall and therefore more familiar to the casual observer. What star in the sky has the highest luminosity, that is to say, has the lowest absolute magnitude rating? It is difficult to say. An individual can directly measure the apparent magnitude of any star visible to him. But converting that to an absolute magnitude is not always easy. A person’s ability to measure star distances may be no more accurate than 10 to 20 percent, even less so for very distant stars. Between stars, what astronomers call interstellar space, is not completely empty; there are tiny but varying amounts if dust and gas which can absorb and scatter starlight, making it tricky to measure exactly the amount

Oklahoma Almanac 987 Wildlife and Nature the light coming from the star. And even with our best telescopes, we can only see a tiny fraction of the stars within our Milky Way galaxy, much less with stars in other galaxies. A good candidate for the most luminous known star is Eta Carina. Eta Carina is not visible from Oklahoma; it is too far south to ever rise in the state’s sky. This star is 100 to 150 times more massive than our sun. It ejected a shell of gas in 1843, one of several known explosions. That gas shell hides the direct view of the star but astronomers estimate its absolute magnitude at – 12. By comparison, the absolute magnitude of Sirius is only +1.5. Earth’s sun’s absolute magnitude is +4.8, quite mediocre as stars go. The Pistol Star, near the center of our Milky Way galaxy is another candidate for the brightest known star. Due to its distance and the dusty nature of its environs, the Pistol Star is harder to study, but it appears to be very close to Eta Carina in luminosity. There may be brighter stars elsewhere in the Milky Way or in some distant galaxy, but there cannot be many that are very much brighter. At some point the fierce radiation of a highly luminous star would tear the star apart. Both Eta Carina and the Pistol Star are very close to this so-called Eddington Limit, the luminosity at which a star would be torn apart. How To Find Directions

Directions are easily found at night, if the sky is clear and if you know the constellations. Look at the four seasonal star charts on previous pages. On all four charts the constellation Ursa Minor is in the north. We commonly call Ursa Minor the Little Dipper. The star that marks the end of the Little Dipper’s handle is Polaris, the North Star. That star is almost directly over Earth’s north pole. As our planet rotates, causing the stars to appear to rise, move and set Polaris stays in the same spot, over Earth’s north pole. Because of that special location, Polaris is the one star visible from the northern hemisphere that does not appear to move at all. It always marks the direction North. In the daytime, we cannot use Polaris to determine North. But we can use the one star visible in the daytime, our sun. Our sun is always due south at solar noon. At that time, all shadows point due north. The problem is that solar noon does not occur when your clock says 12:00. Your location within your time zone affects exactly what the clock reads at solar noon. Because Earth orbits the sun in an ellipse, not a circle, the time from one solar noon to the next is not always exactly twenty-four hours. To locate North, find a convenient pole (fence pole, flag pole, etc) or push a straight stick upright in the ground. When clock time reaches 11:15 am, start measuring the length of the pole or stick’s shadow. The shadow gets shorter for the first few measurements, but eventually the shadow begins to lengthen. The shortest shadow occurs exactly at solar noon, and points due north. To make such an activity more fun, try using people instead of sticks or poles. Go outside in the morning. While one student stands on a sidewalk or blacktop, have another trace out the location of the first student’s feet. This is necessary so that the student can stand in the same place later. Trace out the standing student’s shadow on the ground. Come back to the same spot in the afternoon. Have the student place his feet in the exact same spot, as marked by the traced footprints. Once again trace the student’s shadow. You now have a record of the different locations of the sun in the sky!

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For young children, the concept of Earth’s rotation is extremely difficult. After all, we do not feel any motion, although in Oklahoma we are moving at 850 miles per hour as Earth rotates. And we can easily see that the sun “moves” across the sky during the day and the Moon “moves” at night. How to Measure Distances and Time Using the Stars

Distances in the sky are measured in degrees, just as the altitude and azimuth of the sun. Estimates of such distances can be made with your hand. Make a fist and stretch your arm out full length. The span across your knuckles from the first finger to the pinky equals ten degrees. Ten degrees is about equal to the span across the top of the Big Dipper’s bowl. Stretch your fingers out wide and your hand spans about eighteen degrees, roughly two- thirds the width of the Big Dipper, or the distance diagonally across Orion (see star maps). The space between your knuckles is about three degrees, the length of Orion’s belt. These measures can be used to estimate position in the sky. At 10:00 am, December 22, the sun is twenty-six degrees above the horizon, or about 2.5 “fists” (see Determining the Sun’s Position). The highest the sun gets in Oklahoma is eighty degrees, or eight “fists” high. The diagram indicates some distances using a few familiar constellations. Hand measurements let you quickly judge height or separation of objects in the sky. These hand measurements can be used to estimate the passage of time, too. Earth rotates once every day. In that twenty-four-hour period, Earth rotates through 360 degrees, or fifteen degrees per hour. By the time a star has moved the width of your outstretched hand, just over an hour has passed. Your closed fist measures about half an hour, and movement across your first two knuckles equals ten minutes. To measure the passage of time, note the location of some star, planet or the Moon near a tree, housetop, utility pole or other

Oklahoma Almanac 989 Wildlife and Nature convenient marker, or find one near the eastern horizon. Periodically gauge its movement with your hand. Cowboys in the past measured time this same way when herding cattle at night. Determining the Sun’s Position and the Number of Hours of Sunlight Per Day

Because of Earth’s daily rotation, the sun, moon, and the stars appear to move slowly across the sky. They “rise” in the east and “set” in the west. Of course they do not really move; we do. Earth rotates from west to east, so the sun, moon, planets and the stars appear to move from east to west. Really, we are moving out from under them. Over the course of a year, Earth orbits the sun, creating our seasons. This causes the sun’s daily motion across the sky to vary at different times of the year. During summer, the sun passes nearly overhead. In winter, the sun arcs low across the sky in the south. The number of hours of daylight also varies with the seasons. Indeed this varying height of the sun, caused by Earth’s tilt, and the subsequent varying number of daylight hours is the cause of our seasons. If Earth were not tilted, we would not have seasons and the amount of daylight would be constant. The chartAltitude and Azimuth of the Sun (next page) gives the sun’s location in the sky for any day and time, and can be used to calculate the number of daylight hours. Altitude represents the height of the sun above the horizon, measured in degrees. The horizon is zero degrees. The point straight up at the center of the sky (the zenith) is altitude ninety degrees. Halfway up is forty-five degrees (seeHow to Measure Distances and Time Using the Stars). Azimuth represents the sun’s compass direction, also measured in degrees. Due north is zero degrees, due east is ninety degrees, due south is 180 degrees, and due west is 270 degrees. The graph shows the sun’s altitude and azimuth throughout the day for the twenty-second of each month. Other days can be inferred easily from the chart. The sun’s daily path is symmetrical in the morning and afternoon, so only half of the graph is shown. At noon, the sun is due south (during daylight savings time, this occurs at 1:00; the sun does not care about saving daylight!). From the chart, the sun at noon would be zero degrees from south, or at azimuth 180. For morning hours, subtract the azimuth reading from 180; for afternoon hours add the reading to 180. For example, on December 22, two hours before noon, the sun is at altitude twenty-six degrees, and is thirty degrees east of south or azimuth 150 (180 – 30). At 2:00, the sun would be thirty degrees west of south, azimuth 210 degrees (180 + 30). On March and September 22, the sun rises six hours before noon, and sets six hours after noon, so both of those days are exactly twelve hours long (those happen to be the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, the first day of spring and fall, respectively). On June 22, the summer solstice, the sun rises a bit over seven hours before noon, so that day is nearly fourteen and one-half hours long, the longest day of the year.

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Altitude Altitude ees) degr (in 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 t ober July –Oct y– –November 10 June Ma December ch–September April–Augus ebrua ry M) F Mar Janua ry 20 est (P W 30 40 East (AM) or 50 1 60 n m south) • 70 ees f ro 2 80 (in degr 90 3 zimuth of the Su 4 y 100 h imuth 5 th Latitude r Az 110 6 e or Afte s or 120 Bef Hour Noon 7 or the 22nd Da Altitude and A f of each Mont at 35˚ Nor

Oklahoma Almanac 991 Wildlife and Nature

Astronomy Clubs, Planetariums, and Observatories

For those interested in further information on astronomical phenomena, the best sources are local astronomy clubs and planetariums. Astronomy clubs allow you to meet people who share a common interest. Clubs also provide opportunities to view astronomical objects through a telescope. Should buying a telescope be in your plans, clubs provide opportunities to “test drive” different telescopes before you buy one. It’s hard to beat the ability of a planetarium for teaching about the night sky. These domed theaters simulate the night sky beautifully, providing better views of the heavens than our light-polluted cities. Most offer a regular schedule of public performances as well as school field trips with programs geared around public school curriculum. Some planetariums also include educational exhibits. Oklahoma has few observatories, and most of those are privately owned. While membership in an astronomy club often provides access to a telescope, public-use observatories usually have larger instruments in a permanent, stable installation. They often have equipment for viewing celestial objects in a way astronomy clubs cannot offer. Since universities or planetariums operate most public observatories, professional astronomers who offer greater insight or detailed explanations to questions often run the programs. Those listed below offer public viewing, but call ahead. The schedule may be limited or offered by reservation only. Telescopes dealers not only maintain a selection of astronomical telescopes and binoculars, they often provide free handouts on various aspects of astronomy. If a telescope is in your future, it’s worth sending for catalogues.

Astronomy Clubs Planetariums Astronomy Club of Tulsa Kirkpatrick Planetarium PO Box 470611 2100 NE 52 St Tulsa, OK 74149 Oklahoma City, OK 73111 918/688-MARS 405/602–3761 Leonardo’s Star Quest Astronomy Oklahoma Baptist University Club Shawnee, OK 74801 200 E Maple Street 405/878–2028 Enid, OK 73701 Tulsa Air and Space Museum 580/233–2787 7130 E Apache St, Tulsa, OK 74115 Norman North High School 918/834–9900 Astronomy Club 1809 Stubbeman Drive Observatories Norman, OK 73169 University of Oklahoma 405/366–5954 Physics and Astronomy Dept. Odyssey Astronomy Club 400 W Brooks, Norman, OK 73019 Route 2 Box 154. 405–325–3961 Wanette, OK 74878 RMMC Observatory 405/899–4016 PO Box 470611, Tulsa, OK 74147 918–636–6682 Cheddar Ranch Observatory PO Box 22804, Oklahoma City, OK 74123

992 Oklahoma Almanac General Index 994 Oklahoma Almanac General Index

Agriculture, U.S. Department of Symbols Cooperative Extension Service 371 10th Circuit Court of Appeals 208 Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services 371 Risk Management Division 371 A Air Force, Department of the 370 Air Quality Advisory Council 258 ABLE Commission 228 Air Service 3 Abstractors Board, Oklahoma 225 Alarm and Locksmith Industry Accountability, Office of Committee 228 (education) 251 Alarm Industry Committee 268 Accountancy Board, Oklahoma 225 Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Advisory Accrediting Agency, State 225 Council on 291 Achieving Classroom Excellence Alcohol and Drug Counselors, Oklahoma Steering Committee 226 Board of Licensed 228 Ada 544 Alcohol and Drug Influence, Board of Adair, county of 382–383 Tests for 228 Adams, Judge Glenn D. 203 Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Adelson, Tom 104, 105 Commission 228 Adjutant General Aldridge, Cliff A. 104, 106 see Military Department 292 Alexander, Dr. Joseph W. 83, 95 Adoption and Medical Assistance, Alfalfa, county of 384–385 Interstate Compact on 226 Alternative Fuels Technician Hearing Adoption Review Task Force 226 Board 237 Adult Offender Supervision, Interstate Altus 544 Compact for 226 Alzheimer’s Disease in Oklahoma, Task Aeronautics Commission, Force on the Effect of 229 Oklahoma 226 Amber Alert/Plan Committee, Affirmative Action Review Council see Personnel Management, Office of 300 Oklahoma 229 African American Centennial Plaza Anatomical Board of the State of Design Committee 227 Oklahoma 229 Agencies, Boards, and Commissions Anderson, Patrick 104, 106 (ABCs) 223–352 Animal Diseases, Governor’s Task Force Agricultural and Livestock on Foreign 229 Production 939–941 Anthony, Bob 73, 81 Agricultural Trade Statistics (table) 942 Appeals, 10th Circuit Court of 208 Highlights of Oklahoma Agriculture Apportionment Commission 229 (tables) 939 Arbuckle Country 54 Agricultural Regions (map) 935 Archeological Survey, Oklahoma 229 Agriculture, Food, and Forestry; Architects and Landscape Architects, Department of 227 Board of Governors of Licensed 230 Forestry Cost-share Advisory Archives and Records Commission 230 Committee 227 Ardmore 544, 557 State Bureau of Standards 227 Area of state 2 Agriculture Overview 934–936 Arkansas-Oklahoma Arkansas River economic overview 9 Compact Commission 230 Agriculture, Secretary of 83, 85 Armes, Don 134, 136

Oklahoma Almanac 995 General Index

Army, Department of the 370 Bartlesville 544, 555 Artist Guilds, Task Force on Bartlett, Dewey Follett 762 Creative 230 Bass, Randy 104, 107 Arts Council, Oklahoma 230 Beaver, county of 388–389 Asian American Affairs, Governor’s Beckham, county of 390–391 Advisory on 231 Beef Council, Oklahoma 232 Askins, Jari 73, 74 Behavioral Practitioners Advisory Board, Astronomical Phenomena for Oklahoma Licensed 232 Oklahoma 976–990 Bell, Judge Robert Dick 204 Determining the Sun’s Position and the Bellmon, Henry Louis 762, 763 Number of Hours of Sunlight Per Benge, Chris 134, 136 Day 990 Bethany 544 Eclipses 976 Billy, Lisa J. 134, 138 How To Find Directions 988 Bingman, Brian 104, 108 How to Measure Distances and Time Using the Stars 989 Biofuels Development Advisory Light Pollution 985 Committee 232 Meteor Showers 978 Biological Survey, Oklahoma 232 Moon Phases 977 Bixby 544 Planet Visibility 980 Blackwell, Gus 134, 139 The Brightest Star 986 Blaine, county of 392–393 Why Pluto Is Not A Planet: An Analogy 983 Blind, Oklahoma School for the 308 Astronomy Clubs, Planetariums, and Blind & Physically Handicapped, Library Observatories 992 for the 308 Athletic Commission, Oklahoma Blind, Services for the State 231 see Rehabilitation Services, Oklahoma Atoka, county of 386–387 Department of 308 Attorney General, Office of the 75 Boll Weevil Eradication Organization, Attorneys, U.S. 368–369 Oklahoma 233 Auditor and Inspector, Office of Bond Advisor, Oklahoma State 233 State 76 Bond Commissioner 233 Auffet, John 134, 137 Bond Oversight, Council of 233 Boren, Dan 357 Boren, David Lyle 763 B Boxing Commission, Oklahoma Bailey, Dennis R. 134, 137 Professional 234 Ballenger, Roger 104, 106 Branan, Cliff 104, 109 Banking Department, Oklahoma Brannon, Neil 134, 139 State 231 Brogdon, Randy 104, 109 Banking Services, Task Force for the Broken Arrow 544, 550 Study of State 231 Brown, Bill 104, 109 Bankruptcy Clerks, U.S. 366 Brown, Mike 134, 140 Bankruptcy Judges, United States 366 Bryan, county of 394–395 Banz, Gary W. 134, 138 Buck, Samson R. 134, 140 Bar Association, Oklahoma 231 Budget 5 Barnes, Cassius McDonald 757 see also Finance, Office of State 261 Barnes, Judge Deborah 206 Buettner, Judge Kenneth L. 203 Barrington, Don 104, 107

996 Oklahoma Almanac General Index

Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Corridor Catastrophic Health Emergency Advisory Committee 234 Planning Task Force, Oklahoma 236 Building Bonds Commission, Cauthron, Robin J. 359 Oklahoma 234 Cemeteries, National Burrage, Sean 104, 110 Ft. Gibson 374 Burrage, Steve 76 Ft. Sill 374 Business License Information Center for the Book, Oklahoma 286 Office 234 Central Services, Department of 236 Bus Service 3 Alternative Fuels Technician Hearing Board 237 Committee of Alternative Fuels Technician C Examiners 237 Interagency Mail 237 Cabin Creek Civil War Battle Site 854 State Use Committee 237 Cabinet, Governor’s 83 Cerebral Palsy Commission 237 Cache Creek Water Supply and Flood Chambers of Commerce, Impact Task Force 234 Oklahoma 559 Caddo, county of 396–397 Chapel, Judge Charles S. 199 Campaign Compliance 259 Charity Games Canadian, county of 398–399 see Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Historical Museum 869 Commission 228 Canadian River Commission 234 Cherokee, county of 402–403 Cannaday, Ed 134, 140 Chickasha 544 Canteen Services, Board of Directors Chief Medical Examiner 237 for 246 Child Abuse Examination, Board of 238 Capital Investment Board, Child Death Review Board 238 Oklahoma 235 Children and Juvenile Law Reform Capitol Improvement Authority, Committee, Oklahoma 238 Oklahoma 235 Children and Youth, Commission Capitol-Medical Center Improvement on 238 and Zoning Commission 235 Child Abuse Examination, Board of 238 Capitol Preservation Commission, Child Death Review Board 238 State 235 Early Childhood Intervention, Interagency Carbon Dioxide Task Force, Oklahoma Coordinating, Council for 238 Geological Storage of 236 Joint Oklahoma Information Network (JOIN) 238 Carbon Sequestration Advisory Juvenile System Oversight, Office of 238 Committee 236 Office of Planning and Coordination for Career and Technology Education, Services to Children and Youth 238 Oklahoma Department of 236, Post Adjudication Review Advisory 741–743 Board 238 Carey, John 134, 141 Children, Interstate Commission for the Carter, county of 400–401 Placement of 239 Cartwright Memorial Library (Law), Jan Children, Interstate Compact on the Eric 286 Placement of 238 Cash Management and Investment Children’s Recovery Center of Oklahoma, Oversight Commission 236 Norman 239 Chiropractic Examiners, Board of 239

Oklahoma Almanac 997 General Index

Choctaw, county of 404–405 Cloud, Jeff 73, 82 Historical Museum/Hugo Heritage Coal, county of 410–411 Railroad 877 Coast Guard Institute 373 Choctaw District, U.S. Forest Coates, Harry E. 104, 110 Service 371 Coburn, Tom 355 Christian, Mike 134, 141 Coffee, Glenn 104, 105 Cimarron, county of 406–407 Colbert, Justice Tom 191 cities and towns Cole, Tom 358 Communities Not Incorporated 580–584 College Savings Plan, Board of Incorporated Cities and Towns 565–580 Trustees 240 Major Cities 2 Collins, Wallace 134, 142 Major Cities of Oklahoma 544–563 Oklahoma Chambers Of Commerce 559– Comanche, county of 412–413 560 Comanche Nation Visitor Center 879 Claremore 544 Commerce and Agriculture 921–942 Classification Task Force, State 239 Commerce and Tourism, Secretary CLASS Task Force, Governor’s 239 of 83, 85 CLEET Commerce in Oklahoma 922–924 see Law Enforcement Education and Gross State Product by Industrial Sector Training, Council on 284 (table) 925 Cleveland, county of 408–409 Hydrocarbon Production, Oklahoma Client Assistance Program 249 Annual 932 in brief 6 Climate 10, 950–957 Major Employers in Oklahoma (table) 927– Drought 955 930 Annual Rainfall History (chart) 956 Oil and Gas Prices (graph) 933 Extreme Temperatures 956 Selected Oklahoma Indicators (table) 924 Flooding 954 Wage and Salary Employment by Industrial Annual Flood-Related Fatalities Sector (table) 926 (chart) 955 Commerce, Oklahoma Department Oklahoma’s Weather Network 957 of 240 Other Climatic Features 951 Small Business Regulatory Review Precipitation 950 Committee 240 Normal Annual Precipitation (map) 950 Committee of Alternative Fuels Normal Annual Snowfall (map) 951 Technician Examiners 237 Severe Thunderstorms 954 Community Hospitals Authority 240 Temperatures 952 Community Institute For Community Normal Annual Temperatures (map) 952 Development, Oklahoma 240 Tornadoes 953 Annual Number of Tornadoes in Oklahoma Compassionate Care Task Force 241 (chart) 954 Compsource Oklahoma 241 Average Number of Tornadoes by Month Congressional Districts (map) 356 (chart) 953 Congressional Leadership Offices, Wildfires 955 State 100 Winter Storms 956 Congressmen, History of Climatological Survey, Oklahoma 239 Oklahoma 837–838 Climate Services 240 Congress, United States 357 K-12 Educational Outreach 240 Conservation Commission, OK-FIRST Project 240 Oklahoma 241 The Oklahoma Mesonet 240 Geographic Information Council, State 243

998 Oklahoma Almanac General Index

Constitution and Government of Civil Appeals, Judges of the 203 Oklahoma 3 Civil Appeals Judicial Districts (map) 202 Construction Industries Board 243 Civil Appeals overview 201 Consumer Advocacy, Office of 243 Council on Judicial Complaints 220 Court on the Judiciary 217 Consumer Advocacy, Office of (Mental Court System, Oklahoma 187 Health) Criminal Appeals History 853 see Mental Health and Substance Abuse Criminal Appeals, Judges of the 198 Services, Department of 291 Criminal Appeals Judicial Districts Consumer Credit, Commission on 243 (map) 197 Consumer Services of the Corporation Criminal Appeals overview 196 Commission 244 Dispute Resolution Advisory Board 220 Contingency Review Board 244 General Jurisdiction 209 Coody, Ann 134, 142 Judges of the Court of Tax Review 217 Cooksey, Marian 134, 143 Judges of the District Courts 210–216 Cooperative Extension Service at Judges of the Worker’s Compensation Court 218 Oklahoma State University 244, 371 Supreme Court Judicial Districts (map) 189 Corn, Kenneth 104, 111 Cox, Doug 134, 143 Corporation Commission, Craig, county of 416–417 Oklahoma 81–82, 244 Crain, Brian A. 104, 111 Commissioners Since Statehood 772 Consumer Services 244 Credit Union Board, Oklahoma Corrections Centers, Federal State 247 El Reno Correctional Institute 371 Creek, county of 418–419 Federal Transfer Center 371 Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact Corrections Compact, Interstate 246 Council, National 247 Corrections, State Department of 245 Crime Victims Compensation Correctional Industries, Oklahoma 246 Board 247 Institutions (Correctional Centers) 328–330 Criminal Justice Resource Center 247 Internal Affairs 246 Crop Weather Review 937–938 Investigations Division 246 Cruce, Lee 758 Probation and Parole Offices 329 Crutcher, MD.; James M. 83, 89 Work Centers (Corrections) 330 Crutchfield, Johnnie 104, 112 Cosmetology, State Board of 246 Custer, county of 420–421 Cotton, county of 414–415 Museum 904 counties 382–535 D Trends in County Populations (chart) 946 County Clerk Addresses and Phone Dairy Compact Southern 247 Numbers 378–380 Dairy Promotion Commission, County Election Boards 685–687 Oklahoma 247 County Government in Oklahoma 377 Dank, David 134, 143 County Government Personnel Davis, J.M. Memorial Commission 247 Education and Training, Commission Deaf, Oklahoma School for the 308 on 247 Deferred Compensation Plan, Public County Seats (map) 381 Employees see Public Employees Retirement System, Court Appointed Special Advocate 315 Oklahoma 305 courts DeGiusti, Timothy D. 359 Assembly of Presiding Judges 218

Oklahoma Almanac 999 General Index

Delaware, county of 422–423 Driving Information 3 Historical Society and Marie Wallace Drought 955 Museum 878 Annual Rainfall History (chart) 956 Del City 544 Drug Abuse Demographics 948 see Mental Health and Substance Abuse Cultural Regions (map) 949 Services, Department of 291 Population 948 Drug Court, Juvenile 250 Trends in County Populations (chart) 946 Drug Dog Advisory Council 250 Vernacular and Cultural Regions 948 Duncan 544 Vernacular Regions (map) 949 Duncan, Rex 134, 146 Vital Statistics 948 Durant 544 Denney, Lee 134, 144 Dentistry, Oklahoma Board of 248 Derby, David 134, 144 E Detainers, Interstate Agreement Eagan, Claire V. 360 on 248 Early Childhood Intervention, Developmental Disabilities Council, Interagency Coordinating, Council Oklahoma 248 for 238 Development Finance Authority, Easley, Mary 104, 112 Oklahoma Eason McIntyre, Judy 104, 113 see Finance Authority, Oklahoma Development 260 East Central Oklahoma Building Dewey, county of 424–425 Authority 250 DeWitt, Dale 134, 145 East Central Oklahoma Gas Diabetes Center, Comprehensive 249 Authority 250 Digitizing the County Records of Eclipses 976 Oklahoma, Task Force on 249 Economic Environment 5–9 Disability Services Rate Review Agriculture in brief 6 Commerce in brief 6 Committee, Advantage Waver and Industry in brief 7 Developmental 249 Petroleum and Natural Gas in brief 7 Dispute Resolution Advisory Board 220 Poverty in brief 7 District Attorneys 221 Property Valuation 5 District Attorneys Council 249 State Budget 5 District Court Clerks, U.S. 367 Taxes in brief 8 District Court Magistrates, U.S. 367 Transportation in brief 8 District Judges, U.S. 359–365 Workforce in brief 9 Senior Judges 364 EDGE Ditch Witch Museum, Heritage Center EDGE Fund Board of Investors 250 and 893 EDGE Fund Policy Board 250 Doll House Museum 881 Edmond 544, 551 Domestic Violence Edmondson, James Howard 762 See Attorney General Office 249 Edmondson, Justice James 190 Dorman, Joe 134, 145 Edmondson, W.A. Drew 73, 75 Drinking, Governor’s Task Force on Education 703–744 Prevention of Underage 250 Career and Technology Education 741–743 Higher Education 732–733 Driver’s License Compact 250 Public Instruction, Superintendent of 80 Driver’s License Medical Advisory Public Schools 705–733 Committee 309

1000 Oklahoma Almanac General Index

State Board of 250 Elk City 544 State Department of 251 Ellis, county of 426–427 Educational Personnel, Interstate Ellis, Jerry 104, 113 Agreement on Qualification of 252 El Reno 544 Educational Television Authority, El Reno Correctional Institute 371 Oklahoma 252 Emergency Management Education Commission of the States, Advisory Council 253 The 250 Emergency Management Compact 253 Education Oversight Board 251 Oklahoma Department of 253 Office of Accountability 251 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Elected Officials of Oklahoma Readiness Task Force, Governor’s 253 Attorney General, Office of the 75 Employees Benefits Council, Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector, Office of State 76 State 253 contact list 73 Wellness Council 254 Governor, Office of the 70 Employers in Oklahoma, Major Insurance Commissioner 78 (table) 927–930 Labor, Commissioner of 79 Employment Security Commission, Lieutenant Governor, Office of the 74 Public Instruction, Superintendent of 80 Oklahoma 254 Treasurer, Office of the State 77 Employment Service, Local Election Board, State 252 Offices 254–255 Election Information 585–702 Energy Compact of the Southern Changes in Voter Registration and Political States 256 Affiliation 588 Energy Council, the 257 Contests of Candidacy and Election 587 Energy Resources Board, County Election Boards 685–687 Oklahoma 257 County Registration by Party 594–596 Energy, Secretary of 83, 86 Election Dates 587–588 Engineers and Land Surveyors,State Election Results 597–611 Board of Registration for Election Tables (Vote for President and Governor) by county 646–684 Professional 257 Oklahoma Vote in Presidential Enid 544, 552 Elections 591 Enid State School (Northern Oklahoma Registration by Party in Oklahoma Since Resource Center of Enid) 330 1960 592–593 Enns, John 134, 146 Total Votes Cast for President and Governor Environmental Protection Authority, by party 589–590 Oklahoma 258 Vote for Governor, last General Election, Environmental Quality Board 258 County-by-County 645 Air Quality Advisory Council 258 Voting Districts of Cities and Towns 688– Hazardous Waste Management Advisory 702 Council 258 Elective State Officers Since Water Quality Management Advisory Statehood 767–771 Council 259 Electric Utility Restructuring Task Force, Environmental Quality, Department Joint 253 of 258 Electronic and Information Environment, Natural 10–12 Technology Accessibility Advisory Environment, Secretary of 83, 87, 257 Committee 253 Equalization, State Board of 259 Elevation 2 Ethics Commission 259

Oklahoma Almanac 1001 General Index

Ethnic American Advisory Council, Field Historical Printing Museum 876 Governor’s 260 Fields, Eddie 134, 147 Executive Branch 69–96 Finance and Accountability, Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Local Government F see Accountability, Joint Legislative Faith Based and Community Initiatives, Oversight Committee on Local Office of 260 Government Finance and 260 Fallin, Mary 358 Finance and Revenue, Secretary of 83, Faught, George 134, 147 88 Federal Aviation Administration 373 Finance Authority, Oklahoma Federal Bureau of Investigation 372 Development 260 Federal Government 353–374 Finance Authority, Oklahoma National Oceanic and Atmospheric Industrial 260 Administration 371 Finance, Office of State 261 Oklahoma Congressional Districts Fire Ant Research and Management (map) 356 Advisory Committee 261 United States Attorneys 368–369 Fire Extinguisher Industry United States Bankruptcy Judges 366 Committee 261 United States Congress 357 Firefighters Pension and Retirement United States District Court Clerks 367 System, Oklahoma 262 United States District Court Magistrates 367 United States District Judges 359–363 Firefighter Training, Oklahoma Council United States District Judges, Senior on 262 Judges 364 Fire Marshal Commission, State 261 United States Senate 355 Firemen’s Building Authority, Oklahoma Federal Highway Administration 373 State 262 Federal Information Center 370 First Ladies of Oklahoma 765 Federal Installations and Agencies Fischer, Judge John F. 207 Department of Agriculture 371 Fish and Game Department of Health and Human see Wildlife Conservation, Department Services 372 of 326 Department of Housing and Urban Flags of Oklahoma, Historical 60–63 Development 372 Fleischaker, David 83, 86 Department of Interior 372 Flooding 954 Department of Justice 372 Annual Flood-Related Fatalities (chart) 955 Department of Labor 373 Food Security Committee, Department of Transportation 373 Department of Treasury 373 Oklahoma 263 Federal Corrections Centers 371 Food Service Advisory Council, General Services Administration 370 Oklahoma 263 Military 370 Ford, John W. 104, 114 National Weather Service 371 Forensic Center, Oklahoma 263 U.S. Forest Service 371 Forensics Review Board 263 Veterans Affairs 374 Foresters, State Board of Registration Federal Surplus Property for 264 Distribution 317 Forest Fire Protection Compact, South Federal Transfer Center 371 Central Interstate 263 Ferguson, Thompson Benton 758

1002 Oklahoma Almanac General Index

Forestry Cost-share Advisory Physiographic Regions (including map) 959 Committee 227 Glenn, Larry 134, 148 Forests 10 Goodman, Judge Jerry L. 205 Forests and Vegetation 963–966 governors Generalized Soils (including map) 964 Cabinet, Governor’s 83 Natural Vegetation (including map) 964 Henry, Governor Brad 71–72 Forest Service, U.S. latest Vote for Governor, County-by- Choctaw District 371 County 645 Kiamichi District 371 Office of the Governor 70–72 National Grasslands 372 Since Statehood 758 Ouachita National Forest 371 Territorial Governors 756–758 Tiak District 371 Grady, county of 432–433 Formulary Advisory Council Grand River Dam Authority 265 see Nursing, Oklahoma Board of 296 Grand River Dam Authority, Joint Frantz, Frank 758 Legislative Task Force on the 266 Fraud Unit, Anti- 264 Grant, county of 434–435 Fraud Unit, Insurance 264 Museum and Historical Society 883 Friot, Stephen P. 360 Grasslands 11 Frizzell, Gregory K. 361 Great Plains Country 51 Frontier Country 50 Green Country 52 Funeral Board, Oklahoma 264 Greenwood Area Redevelopment Fusion Center Governance Board, Authority 266 Oklahoma Information on 264 Greer, county of 436–437 Grimes, William C. 757 Gross State Product by Industrial Sector G (table) 925 Gabbard II, Judge Doug 206 Groundwater (map) 971 Gang Intervention Steering Committee, Group Homes for Persons with Oklahoma Statewide 264 Developmental or Physical Disabilities Garfield, county of 428–429 Advisory Board 266 Garrett, Sandy 73, 80 Guardian, Office of Public 267 Garrison, Earl 104, 114 Gumm, Jay Paul 104, 115 Garvin, county of 430–431 Guthrie 544 Gary, Raymond Dancel 761 Guymon 544 General Facts 2–4 General Services Administration 370 Geographer, Office of State 264 H Geographic Information Council, Hall, David 762 State 243, 265 Halligan, Jim 104, 115 Geographic Names, Oklahoma Board Hall of Fame Members, on 265 Oklahoma 913–916 Geography 10 Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Women’s 917, Geological Survey, Oklahoma 265 920 Geology 958–962 Hamilton, Rebecca 134, 148 Generalized Topography 960 Handicapped, Committee on Purchases Major Geological Provinces (including of Products and Services of the map) 958 Severely 267 Minerals (including map) 960

Oklahoma Almanac 1003 General Index

Handicapped Concerns, Office of 249 see Insurance Department 279 Client Assistance Program 249 Health, Secretary of 83, 89 Handicaps, Mental 267 Health, State Department of 267 Hansen, Judge Carol M. 204 Healthy and Fit School Advisory Hargrave, Justice Rudolph 191 Committee 270 Harmon, county of 438–439 Heaton, Joe 361 Historical Museum 876 Hendrick, Howard 83, 92 Harper, county of 440–441 Henry, Governor Brad 71–72, 764 Harrison, Terry 134, 148 Hickman, Jeff 134, 149 Haskell, Charles Nathaniel 758 Higher Education 732–733 Haskell, county of 442–443 Institutions 737–740 Historical Museum 899 Percent of State Populations Older Than Hazard Mitigation Team, State 267 25 Years Holding Bachelor’s Degrees Hazardous Materials (table) 732 see Environmental Quality Board 258 State Regents 735 Hazardous Waste Management Advisory State System 734 Council 258 Higher Education, Regents for Health and Human Services, U.S. Dept. of see Regents for Higher Education, Oklahoma Indian Health Service 372 State 307 Health Care Authority Highway Administration, Federal 373 Health Care Authority Board, Highway Construction Materials Oklahoma 269 Technician Certification Board 270 Health Care Authority, Joint Legislative Highway Patrol Oversight Committee for the see Safety, Department of Public 309 Oklahoma 269 Highways Health Care Authority, Oklahoma 269 see Transportation, Department of 321 Healthcare Consumer Transparency Task Highway Safety Force 270 see Transportation, Department of 321 Health Care Workforce Hilliard, Wes 134, 149 Health Care Workforce Resources Hispanic Affairs.See Latin American and Board 269 Hispanic Affairs Health Care Workforce Resources Task Force, Hispanic Students in Higher Education Governor’s 269 Task Force, Advancement of 270 Health Disparities Task Force, Governor’s Historical Records Advisory Board 271 Elimination of 269 Historical Society, Oklahoma 271 Health Education and Research for Historic Preservation Review Committee, Oklahoma Task Force, Twenty-First Oklahoma 270 Century 269 History, Oklahoma 745–920 Health Information and Privacy A Brief History of Oklahoma 747–755 Collaboration Advisory Board, Historic Age 748 Oklahoma 267 Indian Territory maps 750 Health Information Security and Privacy Land Openings, 1889–1906 (map) 755 Council, Oklahoma 267 Prehistoric Age 747 Health Insurance High Risk Pool 269, Statehood 754 270 Territorial Days 749 see also Insurance Department 279 Historical Markers in Oklahoma 908–912 Health Reinsurance Program Board, Municipal Government History and Oklahoma Small Employer Facts 539

1004 Oklahoma Almanac General Index

Holdenville Historical Museum 876 see Wildlife Conservation, Department Holidays in Oklahoma, Official 4 of 326 Holland, Corey 134, 150 Hydrocarbon Production, Oklahoma Holland, Kim 73, 78 Annual 932 Holloway, William Judson 760 Home Inspector Examiners, Committee of 272 I Homeland Security Illegal Immigration Issues, Task Force on Homeland Security Funding, Governor’s Oklahoma 275 Committee On 272 Immigration and Naturalization Homeland Security, Oklahoma Office Service 373 of 272 Incarcerated Women, Task Force to Study Homeland Security, Regional Planning and on Behalf of Mentally Ill 275 Coordination Advisory Councils for 272 Incentive Approval Committee 275 Homeless, Governor’s Interagency Incentive Review Committee (Tax) 275 Council on 272 Independent Living Council, Horse Racing Commission, Statewide 275 Oklahoma 272 Indian Affairs Commission, Hoskin, Chuck 134, 150 Oklahoma 275 Hospital Advisory Council 273 Indian Health Service 372 Hospitals Authority, University 273 Indian Tribal Offices 276–277 Hospitals, Veterans Administration 374 Indicators, Selected Oklahoma House of Representatives, State (table) 924 Committees 183–184 Contact Reference List 134–135 Indigent Defense System, District Maps 132 Oklahoma 278 House of Representatives Since Industrial Finance Authority, Oklahoma Statehood 773–813 see Finance Authority, Oklahoma Leadership for the House 130 Industrial 260 Representatives by District 131 Industry Representatives, profiles of 130 In Brief 7 Speaker of the House 136 Industry Advisory Committee 278 Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Inhofe, Jim 355 Oklahoma City Field Office 372 Injury Review Board Tulsa Field Office 372 see Law Enforcement Retirement System, Housing Finance Agency, Oklahoma 284 Oklahoma 273 Inman, Scott 134, 151 HUD (Housing and Urban Institutions of Higher Education 737– Development) 372 740 Hughes, county of 444–445 Comprehensive and Regional Human Resources and Administration, Universities 737 Secretary of 83, 90 Two-Year Colleges 738 Human Rights Commission, Institutions, State Government 328– Oklahoma 274 332 Human Services, Department of 274 Insurance Board, Oklahoma State and Human Services Centers 330 Education Employees Group (Health, Human Services, Secretary of 83, 92 Dental, Life and Disability) 278 Hunting and Fishing Insurance Commissioner 78

Oklahoma Almanac 1005 General Index

Insurance Department 279 Court of Criminal Appeals (current) 198– Insurance Portability and Accountability, 200 Governor’s Task Force on Health 279 Court of Criminal Appeals (history) 853 Interagency Mail 237 Court of Tax Review 217 Dispute Resolution Advisory Board 220 Interior, U.S. Department of District Courts 210–216 National Park Service 372 Judicial Nominating Commission 219 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 372 Supreme Court (current) 190–195 Internal Revenue Service 373 Supreme Court (history) 849–852 Interstate Cooperation, Oklahoma United States Bankruptcy Judges 366 Commission on 280 United States District Court Clerks 367 Investigation, Oklahoma State Bureau United States District Court Magistrates 367 of 280 United States District Judges 359–363 IOOF Grand Lodge of Oklahoma 893 United States District Judges, Senior Ivester, Tom 104, 116 Judges 364 United States District Judges Since Statehood 844 J Worker’s Compensation Court 218 Judicial and District Attorney Jackson, county of 446–447 Redistricting Task Force 280 Jackson Jr., Oscar B. 83, 90 Judicial Branch 185–222 Jackson, Mike 134, 151 Judicial Compensation, Board of 280 J. D. McCarty Center for Children with Judicial Complaints, Council on 281 Developmental Disabilities judicial district maps see Cerebral Palsy Commission 237 Civil Appeals 202 Jefferson, county of 448–449 Criminal Appeals 197 Jenkins, William Miller 757 Supreme Court 189 Jett, Shane 134, 152 Judicial Nominating Commission 219, Jim Franklin Studio 893 281 Johnson, Constance N. 104, 116 Justice Interagency Task Force, Johnson, Dennis 134, 152 Transformational 281 Johnson, Judge Arlene 199 Justice, Ron 104, 118 Johnson, Judge Charles A. 198 Justice, U.S. Department of Johnson, Mike 104, 117 Federal Bureau of Investigation 372 Johnston, county of 450–451 Immigration and Naturalization Service 373 Johnston, Henry Simpson 759 U.S. Marshal, Eastern District 373 Joint Oklahoma Information Network U.S. Marshal, Northern District 373 (JOIN) 238 U.S. Marshal, Western District 373 Jolley, Clark 104, 117 Juvenile Affairs, Board of 281 Jones, Tad 134, 152 Juvenile Affairs, Office of 281 Joplin, Judge Larry E. 204 Juvenile Centers (Office of Juvenile Jordan, Fred 134, 153 Affairs) 331 Joyner, Charlie 134, 153 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency judges Prevention, State Advisory Group 10th Circuit Court of Appeals 208 on 282 Assembly of Presiding Judges 218 Juvenile Justice, Department of. Council on Judicial Complaints 220 See Juvenile Affairs, Board of Court of Civil Appeals (current) 203 Juveniles, Interstate Compact on 282

1006 Oklahoma Almanac General Index

Juvenile System Oversight, Office see Engineers and Land Surveyors, of 238 State Board of Registration for Professional 257 Langston University-Oklahoma City and K Langston University-Tulsa, Board of Kansas-Oklahoma Arkansas River Trustees for 284 Commission 282 Laster, Charlie 104, 119 Kauger, Justice Yvonne 192 Latimer, county of 458–459 Kay, county of 452–453 Latin American and Hispanic Affairs, Keating, Francis Anthony 764 Governor’s Advisory Council on 284 Kern, Sally 134, 154 Latitude of Oklahoma 2 Kern, Terry C. 361 Law Enforcement Education and Kerr, Robert Samuel 761 Training, Council on 284 Key, Charles 134, 154 Law Enforcement Retirement System, Kiamichi Country 53 Oklahoma 284 Kiamichi Development Authority 282 Lawton 544, 549 Kiamichi District, U.S. Forest LeFlore, county of 460–461 Service 371 Leftwich, Debbe 104, 119 Kiamichi Economic Development Legislative Bond Oversight District Office, KEDDO Commission 285 see Kiamichi Development Authority 282 see also Bond Oversight, Council of 233 Kiesel, Ryan 134, 155 Legislative Branch 97–184 Kingfisher, county of 454–455 Legislative Compensation, Board Kiowa, county of 456–457 on 285 Museum 876 Legislative Service Bureau 100, 285 Kirby, Dan 134, 156 legislature Kouplen, Steve 134, 156 House Committees 183–184 House District Maps 132 Legislature overview 99–100 L Representatives by District, State 131 Representatives Contact Reference Laboratory Services Advisory List 134–184 Council 259 Representatives, profiles of 130 Labor, Commissioner of 79 Representatives Since Statehood Labor, State Department of 283 (history) 773–813 Labor, U.S. Department of Senate Committees 128–129 Occupational Safety and Health Senate District Maps 102–103 Administration (OSHA) 373 Senate Since Statehood (history) 817–836 Lamb, Norman 83, 95 Senators by District, State 101 Lamb, Todd 104, 118 Senators Contact Reference List 104 Senators, profiles of 101 Lamons, Lucky 134, 156 Speaker of the House of Land Office, Commissioners of the 283 Representatives 136 Landscape Architects Lerblance, Richard C. 104, 120 see Architects and Landscape Architects, Lewis, Judge David 200 Board of Governors of Licensed 230 Libraries In Oklahoma, Public 333–339 Land Surveyors Libraries, Oklahoma Department of 285

Oklahoma Almanac 1007 General Index

Jan Eric Cartwright Memorial Library (Law) 286 M Oklahoma Center for the Book 286 Main Street Center, Oklahoma 289 Oklahoma Literacy Resource Office 286 State Records Center 286 Major, county of 468–469 Historical Society Museum and Genealogical Library for the Blind & Physically Library 871 Handicapped 308 Manufactured Home Advisory License Plate Design Task Force, Committee 289 Oklahoma 287 Marginal Quality Water Technical Work Liebmann, Guy 134, 157 Group 325 Lieutenant Governor, Office of the 74 Market Assistance Program Association, Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Voluntary 289 Association, Oklahoma 287 Marland, Ernest Whitworth 760 Lincoln, county of 462–463 Marlatt, Bryce 104, 121 Linked Deposit Review Board, Marshall, county of 470–471 Oklahoma 287 Marshals, United States Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board, Eastern District 373 Oklahoma 287 Northern District 373 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Since Statehood 847–848 Research, Marketing and Safety Western District 373 Commission 287 Martin, Robert 756 Literacy Resource Office, Martin, Scott 134, 158 Oklahoma 286 Martin, Steve 135, 158 Livestock Production, Agricultural Mayes, county of 472–473 and 939–941 Mazzei, Mike 104, 121 Lloyd Fields 73, 79 McAffrey, Al 135, 159 Location and Size 945–947 McAlester 544 Location and Latitude of Oklahoma 2 McCarty Center for Children with Location of Oklahoma (graphic) 944 Developmental Disabilities State Dimensions (map) 947 see Cerebral Palsy Commission 237 Townships and Ranges (map) 946 McClain, county of 474–475 Logan, county of 464–465 McCullough, Mark 135, 159 Lone Chimney Water Association 288 McCurtain, county of 476–477 Longitude and Latitude McDaniel, Jeannie 135, 160 map 944 McDaniel, Randy 135, 160 Longitude of Oklahoma 2 McIntosh, county of 478–479 Long-Range Capital Planning McMullen, Ryan 135, 161 Commission 288 McNiel, Skye 135, 161 Long-Term Care Administrators, McPeak, Jerry 135, 162 Oklahoma State Board of Examiners Meacham, Scott 73, 77, 83, 88 for 288 Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board Lottery Commission 288 see Health Care Authority, Oklahoma 269 Love, county of 466–467 Medicaid, Governor’s Task Force county museums 881 on 289 Lucas, Frank 357 Medical Authority, Oklahoma State Lumpkin, Presiding Judge Gary L. 198 University 289 Luttrell, Ken 134, 157

1008 Oklahoma Almanac General Index

Medical Cost Reduction Military Children, Oklahoma State Committee 289 Council for Educational Opportunity Medical Examiner, Office of the for 292 Chief 290 Military Department 292 Medical Examiners, Board of Military (in Oklahoma) see Medical Licensure and Supervision, State Air Force, Department of the 370 Board of 289 Army, Department of the 370 Medical Licensure and Supervision, State National Guard 371 Board of 289 Navy, Department of the 370 Medical Trust, Oklahoma State Military Planning Commission, University 290 Oklahoma Strategic 293 Medicolegal Investigations, Board Military, Secretary of the 83, 93 of 290 Miller, Ken 135, 162 Office of the Chief Medical Examiner 290 Minerals 960–962 Mental Health and Substance Abuse in brief 11 Services, Department of 291 map 961 Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Advisory Council Nonfuel Mineral Production (table) 961 on 291 Mines, Department of 293 Consumer Advocacy, Office of 291 Oklahoma Miner Training Institute 293 Mental Health Centers and Mining Commission, Oklahoma 293 Hospitals 331 Mining Compact Commission, Mental Health, Interstate Compact Interstate 293 on 290 Mining/Petroleum Overview 931–933 Mental Retardation Nonfuel Mineral Production (table) 931 see Developmental Disabilities Council, Value of Petroleum and Natural Gas Oklahoma 248 Production 931 Merit Protection Commission 291 Minority and Disadvantaged Business Merit System Enterprises, Office for 240 see Personnel Management, Office of 300 Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Mesonet, The Oklahoma 240 Committee 294 Meteorites 979 Mitchell, III, Judge E. Bay 203 If You Suspect You Have Found A Monroney Aeronautical Center 373 Meteorite 980 Moon Phases 977 Meteor Showers 978 Moore 544, 553 Miami 544 Moore, Lewis H. 135, 163 Mickey Mantle Memorial Exhibit and Morgan, Danny 135, 163 Museum 874 Morrissette, Richard 135, 164 Mid-America Industrial Park Mortgage Broker Advisory see Ordnance Works Authority, Committee 294 Oklahoma 298 Motorcycle Safety and Education, Mid-South Industrial Authority 291 Advisory Committee for 294 Midwest City 544, 551 Motor Vehicle Commission, Midwestern Oklahoma Development Oklahoma 294 Authority 292 Mountains and Streams 967–971 Miles-LaGrange, Vicki 362 Mountains (map) 968 Military Children, Interstate Compact on Rivers and Lakes (map) 970 Education Opportunity for 292 Municipal Government 537–584 History and Facts 539

Oklahoma Almanac 1009 General Index

Oklahoma Chambers Of Commerce 559– Cabin Creek Civil War Battle Site 854, 904 564 Caddo Indian Territory Museum and Municipal Power Authority, Library 861 Oklahoma 294 Canadian Rivers Historical Society Murphey, Jason 135, 164 Museum 873 Murphy, Dana L. 73, 82 Cann Memorial Botanical Gardens 893 Canton Area Museum 861 Murray, county of 480–481 Carl Hubbell Museum 883 Murray, Johnston 761 Carmen Depot 861 Murray, William Henry 760 Cathedral of the Osage Immaculate Museums in Oklahoma 854–907 Conception Catholic Church 891 14 Flags Museum 896 Catoosa Historical Society Museum & 45th Infantry Division Museum 887 Depot 862 99s Museum of Women Pilots 887 Cherokee Courthouse, Tahlonteeskee 873 100th Meridian Museum 870 Cherokee Heritage Center 900 Ada Arts and Heritage Center 854 Cherokee National Museum/Adams A.D. Buck Museum of Science and Corner 900 History 901 Tsa-La-Gi Ancient Village 900 Alexandre Hogue Gallery of Art 901 Cherokee Strip Museum 855 Alfalfa County Historical Society 863 Cherokee Strip Museum/Rose Hill Alva Regional Airport Museum 855 School 893 American Banjo Museum 887 Cheyenne Cultural Center 865 Apache Historical Museum 856 Chickasaw Council House Museum 901 Apache Tribal Museum 855 Chickasaw Nation Visitor Center 854 Arbuckle Historical Museum 867, 899 Chisholm Trail Heritage Center 868 Ataloa Lodge Museum 884 Chisholm Trail Historical Museum 905 Autograph Rock 859 Chisholm Trail Museum 879 Bank Museum 893 Choate House Museum 878 Bank of Oologah 890 Choctaw County Historical Museum/Hugo Bank of the Chickasaw National Heritage Railroad 877 Museum 900 Choctaw Nation Museum 904 Barnes-Stevenson House 877 Chouteau Memorial Museum 896 Bartlesville Area History Museum 858 Cimarron Heritage Center Museum & Bartlesville Community Center 858 Information Center 860 Beavers Bend Wildlife Museum 860 Citizen Potawatomi Nation Museum 897 Belvidere Mansion 864 Civil War Monument/Second Battle of Cabin Bethany Historical Society and Creek 892 Museum 859 Coal County Historical and Mining Museum, Beulah Land Cemetery 879 Inc. 865 Bigheart Museum 858 Coal Miners Memorial Plaza 882 Black Kettle Museum 863 Colbert Historical Museum 865 Blue Whale 862 Coleman Theatre 883 Boley Historical Museum 860 Collinsville Depot Museum 866 Boley Historic District 860 Confederate Memorial Museum, Cemetery Bomb Memorial 860 and Information Center 857 Boswell Museum 880 Conoco Museum 893 Break O’Day Farms and Metcalfe Coo-Y-Yah County Museum 895 Museum 869 Cotton County Museum 904 Bristow Historical Museum 860 Creek Council House Museum 890 Broken Arrow Historical Society Creek Nation Council Oak Park 901 Museum 860 Cyril Museum 867 Buffalo Museum 861

1010 Oklahoma Almanac General Index

Darryl Starbird Rod and Custom Car Hall of Ghost Riders of the Oklahoma Land Fame Museum 859 Runs 864 Dave Sasser Memorial Museum 892 Gilcrease Museum 902 Delaware County Historical Society and Glass Mansion 886 Marie Wallace Museum 878 Goddard Center, Charles P. 857 Delaware Nation Museum 855 Goodland Presbyterian Children’s Del City Preservation Center 867 Home 877 Dewey County Jail House Museum 900 Governor A.J. Seay Mansion 879 Dewey Hotel Museum 867 Grady County Historical Museum 864 Diamond Point School 886 Grant County Museum and Historical Dinosaur Tracks 878 Society 883 Dobson Museum 883 Greater Southwest Historical Museum 857 Dodrill’s Museum of Rocks, Minerals, and Great Hope School House, District 22 893 Fossils 867 Greenwood Cultural Center 902 Dog Iron Ranch and Will Rogers Guthrie Historic District 874 Birthplace 890 Guthrie Scottish Rite Masonic Temple 874 Drumright Historical Museum 868 Hajek Motorsports Museum Museum 855 Dwight Presbyterian Mission 896 Har-Ber Village 874 Eastern Trails Museum 904 Harmon County Historical Museum 876 Edmond Historical Society Museum 869 Harn Homestead and 1889er Museum 887 Eliza Cruce Hall Doll Museum 857 Harrah Heritage and Historical Society Ellis County Servicemen’s Memorial 897 Museum 875 Elsing Museum 901 Haskell County Historical Museum 899 Eskridge Hotel Museum 906 Healdton Oil Museum 875 Firehouse Art Center 885 Heavener Runestone State Park 875 Five Civilized Tribes Museum 884 Henry Bellmon Library and Museum 859 Forest Heritage Center 860 Henryetta Art Association Museum 876 Fort Gibson Historic Site 871 Henryetta Territorial Museum 876 Fort Gibson National Cemetery 871 Hinton Historical Museum 876 Fort Reno 869 Historic Constantine Center 891 Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Historic Frisco Depot Railroad Museum 856 Museum 880 Historic Indian Agency Monument 892 Fort Supply Historic Site 871, 906 Historic Pawnee Lake Bathhouse 892 Fort Towson Historical Society Museum 872 Historic Washita Theatre 866 Fort Towson Historic Site 872 Holy City of the Wichitas 861 Fort Washita Historic Site and Museum 868 Honey Springs Battlefield Site 862, 895 Frank Lloyd Wright’s Price & Price Tower Arts Hotel Frederick 872 Center 858 Hugo Frisco Depot Museum 877 Frank Phillips’ Home 858 Humphrey Heritage Village 870 Fred Drummond Home 877 Ida Dennie Willis Museum 902 Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art 885 Indian City U.S.A. 855 Freedom Museum 872 International Gymnastics Hall of Fame 887 Frontier Country Historical Museum 866 International Linen Registry Museum 902 Gardner Mansion 861 International Order of Rainbow for Girls Garrard Ardeneum 882 Temple 882 Garrett Historic Home 871 International Photography Hall of Fame and Gateway to the Panhandle Museum 873 Museum 888 Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum 873 Jacobson House Native American Arts Gen. Thomas P. Stafford Air and Space Center 885 Museum 905 Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum 897 George M. Murrelll Home 891 J.G. Puterbaugh House 882 Geoscience Center 901, 902 Jim’s Scrap Metal Art Museum 873

Oklahoma Almanac 1011 General Index

Jim Thorpe Home 907 Museum of Pioneer History 862 J.J. McAlester Mansion 882 Museum of the Cherokee Strip 870 J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum 864 Museum of the Great Plains 880 Jones and Plummer Trail Museum 859 Museum of the Red River 877 Kanza Museum 878 Museum of the Western Prairie 854 Katy Depot Center 863 Muskogee War Memorial Park—USS Kaw City Museum 878 Batfish 884 Kenton Mercantile Museum 878 Myriad Botanical Gardens 888 Keystone Crossroads Museum 881 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Kiowa County Museum 876 Museum 888 Kiowa Tribal Museum and Resource National Hall of Fame for Famous American Center 862 Indians 855 Krebs Heritage Museum 879 National Lighter Museum 874 Laquinta Foster Mansion 858 National Route 66 Museum 869 Laverne Museum 879 National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse/Adventure Prague 894 Quest 870 National Softball Hall of Fame 888 Little Log Cabin on the Farm 899 National Wrestling Hall of Fame 899 Little River Zoo 885 Nellie Johnstone Oil Well 858 Loel Briggs Private Museum 863 Newkirk Community Museum 884 Log Cabin Museum 857 Newkirk Heritage Center 885 Love County Military Museum 881 Newspaper Museum 866 Love County Pioneer Museum 881 No Man’s Land Historical Museum 873 Lutie Coal Miner’s Museum 906 Northwestern Oklahoma State University Lynn Riggs Memorial 864 Museum of Natural History 855 Mac’s Antique Car Museum 902 Nowata County Courthouse 886 Major County Historical Society Nowata County Historical Museum 886 Museum 871 Nuyaka Mission Site 890 Marland Estate 894 Okfuskee County Historical Museum 887 Marland Station Wall of Memories 877 Oklahoma Aquarium 878 Martin Park Nature Center 888 Oklahoma City Museum of Art 888 Mattie Beal Home 880 Oklahoma City National Memorial 888 Matzene Art Collection 894 Oklahoma City Zoological Park 889 Maud Historical Museum 881 Oklahoma Country/Western Museum 867 McAlester Building Foundation Inc. 882 Oklahoma Firefighters Museum 889 McAlester Scottish Rite Masonic Center 882 Oklahoma Frontier Drug Store McCarter Museum of Tonkawa History 901 Museum 874 McClain County Museum 895 Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion 889 Medford Centennial Building 883 Oklahoma Heritage Center 889 Meeker Historical Society and Museum 883 Oklahoma History Center 889 Melvin B. Tolson Black Heritage Center 879 Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame 903 Midgley Museum 870 Oklahoma Military Academy Memorial Military Memorial Museum 857 Museum 864 Mission Bell Museum 866 Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame 884 Mohawk Lodge Indian Store 865 Oklahoma Prisons Historical Museum 882 Moore-Lindsay House Historical Oklahoma Railway Museum 889 Museum 885 Oklahoma Route 66 Museum 865 Morris House 879 Oklahoma’s First Oil Well Historical Site 863 Municipal Rose Garden 902 Oklahoma Sports Museum 874 Murray-Lindsay Mansion 880 Oklahoma State Capitol 889 Muscle Car Ranch 864 Oklahoma Territorial Museum 875 Museum of Osteology 888 Oklahoma Trolley Museum 882

1012 Oklahoma Almanac General Index

Old Cherokee National Capitol 900 Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural Old Church Center and Museum 893 History 886 Old Greer County Museum and Hall of Fame, Sand Springs Historical and Cultural Inc. 881 Museum 896 Old Town Museum Complex & Farm and Santa Fe Depot 886 Ranch Museum 870 Santa Fe Depot Museum 891, 898 Omniplex 889 Sapulpa Historical Museum 896 Oologah Historical Museum 891 Seminole Area Oil and Historical Osage County Historical Museum 892 Museum 897 Osage Tribal Museum, Library and Seminole Nation Museum 906 Archives 892 Sequoyah’s Cabin 896 Overholser Mansion 890 Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art 903 Overstreet-Kerr Historical Farm 896 Shortgrass Country Museum 897 Owasso Historical Society Museum 891 Showmen’s Rest/Mount Olivet Oxley Nature Center 903 Cemetery 877 Pawnee Bill Museum and Ranch 892 Skiatook Museum 898 Pawnee County Historical Society Sod House Museum 854 Museum 892 Sooner Theatre of Norman 886 Peter Conser Historic Home 875 Southern Plains Indian Museum and Pfeiffer Farm Collection 899 Oklahoma Indian Arts & Crafts Philbrook Museum of Art 903 Center 856 Phillips Petroleum Company Museum 858 Spiro Historical Society Museum 898 Philomathic Pioneer Museum 856 Spiro Mounds Archaeological State Pioneer/Community Museum Park 898 Complex 863 State Capital Publishing Museum 875 Pioneer Heritage Townsite Center 872 State Museum of History 890 Pioneer Woman Statue and Museum 894 Stephens County Historical Society Pittsburg County Genealogical and Historical Museum 868 Museum 882 Stillwater Airport Memorial Museum 899 Pittsburg County Historical Museum 882 Talbot Library and Museum 866 Plains Indians and Pioneers Museum 906 Tannehill Museum 883 Ponca City Art Center 894 T.B. Ferguson Home 905 Poncan Theatre 894 Territory Town Museum 887 Prague Historical Museum 895 The Crucible LLC 886 Prairie House Historic Site 868 The Crucified Christ 886 Prairie Song Indian Territory 867 The Thompson House 900 Quanah Parker Star House and Eagle Park The Whipping Tree 906 Ghost Town 861 Thomas-Foreman Home 884 Railroad Museum of Oklahoma 870 Three Rivers Museum 884 Ralph Cain Jr. Memorial Newspaper Three Valley Museum 869 Museum 862 Timberlake Rose Rock Museum 885 Ramona Theatre 872 Time Line Murals 897 Red Earth Inc. 890 Tobusky Indian Courthouse Museum 883 Renfro Miller Museum 859 Tom Mix Museum and Western Theatre 868 Robbers Cave Nature Center 906 Tonkawa Tribal Museum 901 Robert S. Kerr Museum 894 Top of Oklahoma Museum 859 Rock Island Depot 905 Totem Pole Park 872 Roger Miller Museum 871 Townsend’s Classic and Antique Auto Roll One-Room School Museum 863 Museum 898 Round Barn 856 Toy and Action Figure Museum 891 R, S, & K Railroad Museum 897 Travertine Nature Center 900 Salina Courthouse 880 Triangle Heritage Museum 865

Oklahoma Almanac 1013 General Index

Tucker Tower Museum and Nature Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control, Center 857 Oklahoma State Bureau of 295 Tulsa Air and Space Center 903 National Grasslands, U.S. Forest Service Tulsa Garden Center 903 Black Kettle District, Roger Mills County 372 Tulsa Historical Society Museum 903 Rita Blanca District, Cimarron County 372 Tulsa Port of Catoosa-Arkansas Waterway National Guard 371 Museum 862 National Guard Relief Program Review Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum 904 University of Central Oklahoma Museum of Board, Oklahoma 295 Art 869 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Veteran’s Museum 906 Administration Wagoner City Historical Museum 904 National Weather Service 371 Wallis Museum at Connors State National Park Service 372 College 905 Chickasaw National Recreation Area 372 Walters 1920 Rock Island Depot 905 Nations, Bill 135, 165 Washington Irving Trail Museum 895 Native American Cultural and Washita Battlefield 863 Educational Authority of Washita County Museum 866 Oklahoma 295 Washita Valley Museum 891 Natural Environment 10–12 Waynoka Historical Museum 905 Whitaker Children’s Home Museum 895 Natural History, Oklahoma Museum White Hair Memorial 895 of 296 Wildlife Heritage Museum 856 Nature, Wildlife and 943–992 Willard Stone Family Museum and Navy, Department of the 370 Gallery 880 Nelson, Jason 135, 165 Will Rogers Memorial 865 Newberry, Dan 104, 122 Windmill Museum and Park 897 New Economy Workforce, Council Woolaroc Museum 858 for 314 World of Wings Pigeon Center 890 Newspapers, Daily and Weekly 340– World Organization of China Painters Museum 890 345 Yukon Historical Society Museum and Art Nichols, Jonathan 104, 122 Center 907 Nigh, George Patterson 762, 763 Yukon’s Best Railroad Museum 907 Nine-One-One Advisory Board, Music Commission, Office of the Statewide 316 Oklahoma Film and Noble, county of 484–485 See Department of Tourism 295 Nonresident Violator Compact 296 Music Hall of Fame Board, Norman 544, 548 Oklahoma 295 North Central Oklahoma Municipal Muskogee 544, 555 Power Pool Authority 296 Muskogee, county of 482–483 Northeast Oklahoma Public Facilities Mustang 544 Authority 296 Mutual Aid Compact, Oklahoma Nowata, county of 486–487 Intrastate 295 Nursing Facility Funding Advisory Myers, David F. 104, 121 Committee, Oklahoma 296 Nursing Home Insurance Access, Task Force on 296 N Nursing, Oklahoma Board of 296 Nanotechnology Initiative, Oklahoma 295

1014 Oklahoma Almanac General Index

Ordnance Works Authority, O Oklahoma 298 Observatories 992 Organ Donor Education and Awareness Occupational Safety and Health Program Advisory Council 299 Administration (OSHA) 373 Organ Donor Education & Awareness OETA Program Advisory Council see Educational Television Authority, see Health, State Department of 267 Oklahoma 252 Ortega, Charles 135, 166 Offender Supervision, Oklahoma State Orthotics and Prosthetics, Advisory Council for Interstate Adult 297 Committee on 299 Office of Planning and Coordination for Osage, county of 494–495 Services to Children and Youth 238 Historical Museum 892 OIJIS (Oklahoma Integrated Justice OSBI (Oklahoma State Bureau of Information Systems) Steering Investigation) Committee 297 see Investigation, Oklahoma State Bureau Oil and Gas Prices in Oklahoma of 280 (graph) 933 Osborn, Leslie 135, 166 Oil and Gas Wells, Commission on Osteopathic Examiners, State Board Marginally Producing 297 of 299 Oil Compact Commission, Osteoporosis, Advisory Panel on 299 Interstate 297 Osteoporosis, Interagency Council Oilseed Commission, Oklahoma 298 on 299 OK-FIRST Project 240 Ottawa, county of 496–497 Okfuskee, county of 488–489 Ouachita National Forest 371 Oklahoma Center for the Advancement Owasso 544 of Science and Technology Ownbey, Pat 135, 166 see Science and Technology, Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of (OCAST) 310 P Oklahoma City 544, 545 Paddack, Susan 104, 123 Oklahoma, county of 490–491 Pardon and Parole Board 299 Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame Board of Parolees and Probationers, Interstate Directors 298 Compact for the Supervision of 299 Oklahoma’s Promise—The Oklahoma Party Affiliation of Governor, U.S. Higher Learning Access Program, Task Delegation, and State Legislature Force on 298 Since Statehood 839–843 Oklahoma Today Magazine 320 Pauls Valley State School (Southern Oklahoma Waterways Advisory Oklahoma Resource Center of Pauls Board 321 Valley) 331 Okmulgee 544 Pawnee, county of 498–499 Okmulgee, county of 492–493 Historical Society Museum 892 Olmstead Decision, Strategic Planning Payne, county of 500–501 Committee on the 298 Payne, James H. 362 O’Meilia, David E. 368 Peach, Terry 83, 85 Opala, Justice Marian 193 Peanut Commission, Oklahoma 299 Operation Homefront Task Force 298 Pedorthics, Advisory Committee Optometry, Board of Examiners In 298 on 300

Oklahoma Almanac 1015 General Index

Pension Commission, Oklahoma City of Tulsa-Rogers County Port State 300 Authority 303 Perfusionists, State Board of Examiners Muskogee City-County Port Authority 303 of 300 Sallisaw Port Authority 303 Personnel Management, Office of 300 Post Adjudication Review Advisory Personnel Management, U.S. Office Board 238, 303 of 370 Postsecondary Oversight Council 304 Pest Control Compact 301 Pottawatomie, county of 506–507 Pest Control Insurance Fund Executive Poverty 7 Committee 301 Precipitation 950 Peterson, Pam 135, 168 President Pro Tempore of the Peters, Ron 135, 167 Senate 105 Petroleum and Natural Gas 931–933 prisons Economic Overview 7 Institutions, Correctional 328 In Brief 7 see Corrections, State Department of 245 Value of Petroleum and Natural Gas Private Security Licensing Production 931 see Law Enforcement Education and Pharmacy, Board of 301 Training, Council on 284 Pharmacy Connection Council, Private Vocational Schools, Oklahoma Oklahoma 302 Board of 304 Phillips, Leon Chase 760 Probation and Parole Offices 329 Physical Fitness and Sports, Governor’s Proctor, Eric 135, 169 Council on 302 Professional Athletic Commission, Physician Manpower Training Oklahoma. See Athletic Commission, Commission 302 Oklahoma State Pittman, Anastasia 135, 168 Property Valuation 5 Pittsburg, county of 502–503 Protocol Office, Oklahoma Chief Genealogical and Historical Museum 882 International 312 Planetariums 992 Pruett, R.C. 135, 169 Planet Visibility 980–990 Psychologists, State Board of Examiners Plumbers, Licensing of of 304 see Construction Industries Board 243 Public Affairs Office Podiatric Medical Examiners, Oklahoma see Central Services, Department of 236 State Board of 302 Public Education Statistics, Police Pension and Retirement System, Oklahoma 723 Oklahoma 303 History of Comparative Data 725 Number of School Districts Voting Pollution Control Millage 723 see Environmental Quality, Department School District Net Valuations 723 of 258 Total General Fund Expenditures By Polygraph Examiners Board 303 Function 724 Ponca City 544, 557 Total General Fund Revenue Received 723 Pontotoc, county of 504–505 Public Employees Relations Board 305 population Public Employees Retirement System, cities and towns 579 Oklahoma 305 demographics 948 Public Finance in brief 2 see Finance, Office of State 261 Port Authorities 303

1016 Oklahoma Almanac General Index

Public Instruction, Superintendent Rail Service 3 of 80 Rapp, Judge Keith 205 Public Libraries In Oklahoma 333–339 Real Estate Appraisal Board 306 Public Retirement Systems Benefit Real Estate Commission, Design and Equity, Task Force for the Oklahoma 306 Study of 306 Records Center, State 286 Public Safety Recreation 11 see Safety, Department of Public 309 Recreation and Development Revolving Public Schools In Oklahoma 705–733 Fund Advisory Board, Oklahoma 307 Attendance and Teacher Information 728– Red Carpet Country 55 730 Red River Compact Commission 307 Consolidations of School Districts by Refinery Authorization Review County 731 Panel 307 County-by-County Education Revenue and Expenditures (table) 727 Regents for Higher Education, Oklahoma District Index 709–722 State 307 Dropout Rate 706 Rehabilitation Council, Oklahoma 308 Historical Expenditures Per Pupil in Average Rehabilitation Services, Oklahoma Daily Attendance 707 Department of 308 Operating Budget, Fiscal Year 733 School for the Blind, Oklahoma 331 Public School Funding 707 School for the Deaf, Oklahoma 332 Standardized Test Scores 706 Reif, Justice John 193 State Expenditures Per Pupil, 2003– Renegar, Brian 135, 169 2004 708 Renfrow, William Cary 757 Student Statistics 705 Representatives Since Statehood, House Teacher and Administrator Statistics 706 Pushmataha, county of 508–509 of 773–813 Respiratory Care Advisory Committee see Medical Licensure and Supervision, State Q Board of 289 Retirement System Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference see Public Employees Retirement System, Center and Nature Park, Board of Oklahoma 305 Trustees for 306 see Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma 319 Revenue Forecasting, Task Force on R Dynamic 308 Racing with Pari-mutuel Wagering, Reynolds, Jim 104, 123 Interstate Compact Committee on Reynolds, Mike 135, 170 Licensure of Participants in Live Rhodes Scholars, Oklahoma 918–919 Horse 306 Rice, Andrew 104, 124 Radiation Management Advisory Richardson, Phil 135, 170 Council 259 Richter, John C. 369 Radioactive Waste Compact Ritze, Mike 135, 171 Commission, Central Interstate Low- Rivers and Lakes (map) 970 level 306 Road Construction and Utility Relocation Radio Stations, Oklahoma 346–350 Task Force 308 Rail Compact, Interstate Midwest Roan, Paul 135, 171 Regional Passenger 306 Robertson, James Brooks Ayers 759

Oklahoma Almanac 1017 General Index

Rock and Roll Song Panel of Science and Technology, Oklahoma Experts 308 Center for the Advancement of Roger Mills, county of 510–511 (OCAST) 310 Rogers, county of 512–513 Science and Technology, Secretary Rousselot, Wade 135, 172 of 83, 95 Rural Action Partnership Program, Scott, Seneca 135, 173 Advisory Team for the 308 Sears, Earl 135, 174 Rural Area Development Task Seay, Abraham Jefferson 756 Force 308 Secretary of State 83, 84, 311 Rural Development, Center for 309 Protocol Office, Oklahoma Chief Rural Economic Development International 312 Loan Program Review Board, Secretaries of State Since Statehood 766 Oklahoma 309 Securities Commission, Oklahoma 312 Russell, David L. 363 Self-Directed Care Services Advisory Russell, Steve 104, 124 Committee 312 Seminole 514–515 Senate, State S Committees 128–129 Contact Reference List 104 Safety and Security, Secretary of 83, 93 District Maps 102–103 Safety, Department of Public 309 Leadership for the Senate 101 Driver’s License Medical Advisory President Pro Tempore of the Senate 105 Committee 309 Senate Since Statehood (history) 817–836 Injury Review Board 309 Senators by District 101 Sallisaw Port Authority 303 Senators, profiles of 101 Sanders, Mike 135, 172 Senate, United States 355 Sand Springs 544 Sentencing Commission, Santa Claus Commission 309 Oklahoma 312 Sapulpa 544 Sequoyah, county of 516–517 Savage, Susan 83, 84 Severe Thunderstorms 954 Scenic Rivers Commission, Sexual Assault Oklahoma 309 see Mental Health and Substance Abuse School and County Funds Management, Services, Department of 291 Oklahoma Commission On 310 Shannon, T.W. 135, 174 School for the Blind, Oklahoma 331 Shawnee 544, 556 School Funding Formula Task Sheep and Wool Utilization Research Force 310 and Market Development School Health Coordinators Pilot Commission 313 Program Steering Committee 310 Shelton, Mike 135, 175 School of Science and Mathematics, Sheriff’s Personnel Task Force 313 Oklahoma 310 Sherrer, Benjamin 135, 175 School Readiness Board, Oklahoma Shirley, Natalie 83, 85 Partnership for 310 Shoemake, Jerry 135, 176 Schulz, Mike 104, 125 Shorthand Reporters, State Board of Schwartz, Colby 135, 173 Examiners of Certified 313 Science and Technology Council, Shumate, Jabar 135, 176 Governor’s 310 Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel 259

1018 Oklahoma Almanac General Index

Small Business Regulatory Review State Officers Since Statehood 767– Committee 240, 313 771 Smithson, Glen Bud 135, 176 State Questions By Topic 612–644 Social Security Administration 373 State Records Center 286 Social Services State Travel Division. See Travel Office, see Human Services, Department of 274 State Soil Conservation State Use Committee 237 see Conservation Commission, Statewide Independent Living Oklahoma 241 Council 308 Solid Waste Management Advisory Steele, George Washington 756 Council 259 Steele, Kris 135, 177 Sorghum Commission 314 Stephens, county of 518–519 Southern Community, Council on Stillwater 544, 554 the 314 Streams 969 Southern Global Strategies Student Loan Authority 316 Council 314 Student Remediation, Task Force Southern Growth Policies Board 314 on 316 Southern Oklahoma Development Student Tracking and Reporting Association (SODA) 314 Coordinating Committee 316 Southern Technology Council 314 Substance Abuse South Western Oklahoma Development see Mental Health and Substance Abuse Authority (SWODA) 315 Services, Department of 291 Space Industry Development Suicide Prevention Council, Authority 315 Oklahoma 316 Spaceport Territory Advisory Sullivan, Daniel 135, 177 Council 315 Sullivan, John 357 Sparks, John 104, 125 Supreme Court 188 Speaker of the House of Commissioners of the Supreme Court Representatives 136 (history) 851 Special Advocate 315 Judicial Districts (map) 189 Speech-Language Pathology and Justices of the Supreme Court Audiology, Board of Examiners (current) 190–195 Justices of the Supreme Court (history) 849 for 315 Surplus Property Distribution 317 Sperling, Sheldon 368 Surplus Property Sales (State) 316 Stanislawski, Gary 104, 126 Sweeden, Joe 104, 127 Star Charts for Evening Skys of Sykes, Anthony 104, 127 Oklahoma 984 State Agency Review Committee 315 State Arts Council of Oklahoma T (Oklahoma Arts Council) 230 Tahlequah 544 State Bureau of Standards 227 Tax Commission 317 State Capitol, Oklahoma 889 Taxes 8 State Dimensions (map) 947 Tax Reform, Advisory Task Force on State Employee Compensation, Oklahoma Corporate Income 318 Governor’s Task Force on 316 Tax System 318 State Facility Capital Needs Taylor, Justice Steven W. 194 Committee 316

Oklahoma Almanac 1019 General Index

Teacher and Administrator Tornadoes in Oklahoma 953 Statistics 706 Annual Number of Tornadoes (chart) 954 Teacher Certification.See Educational Average Number of Tornadoes by Month Personnel, Interstate Agreement on (chart) 953 Qualification of Total Votes Cast in General Elections Teacher Competency Review for President and Governor Panel 318 (tables) 589–590 Teacher Education and Certification Tourism and Recreation Department, Interstate Contract, National Oklahoma 320 Association of State Directors of Townships and Ranges (map) 946 see Educational Personnel, Interstate Transformation Advisory Board, Agreement on Qualification of 252 Governor’s Mental Health Plan 320 Teacher Preparation, Oklahoma Transportation Authority, Commission for 318 Oklahoma 321 Teachers’ Retirement System of Transportation, Department of 321 Oklahoma 319 Coast Guard Institute 373 Teacher’s Retirement System Task Force, Federal Aviation Administration 373 Governors 319 Federal Highway Administration 373 Oklahoma Waterways Advisory Board 321 Technology Council Transportation Safety Institute 373 see Science and Technology Council, Transportation overview 8 Oklahoma 319 Technology, Oklahoma Institute of 319 Transportation Safety Institute 373 Television Stations, Oklahoma 351 Transportation, Secretary of 83, 94 Temperatures 952 Trapp, Martin Edwin 759 Extreme Temperatures 956 Trauma Systems Improvement and Normal Annual Temperatures (map) 952 Development Advisory Council, Terrill, Randy 135, 177 Oklahoma 321 Territorial Governors 756 Travel Office, State 321 Texas, county of 520–521 Treasurer, Office of the State 77 Textbook Committee, Oklahoma Treasury, U.S. Department of State 319 Internal Revenue Service 373 Thompson, Mike 135, 178 Social Security Administration 373 Thomsen, Todd 135, 178 Trebilcock, John 135, 179 Tiak District, U.S. Forest Service 371 Tribal Offices, Indian 276–277 Tibbs, Sue 135, 179 Tuition Aid Grant Program, Oklahoma Tillman, county of 522–523 (OTAG) 321 Time Zones 2 Tulsa 544, 546 Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Tulsa, county of 524–525 Fund Tulsa-Rogers County Port Authority, City Board of Directors 319 of 303 Board of Investors 320 Turner, Roy Joseph 761 Tobacco Tax Advisory Committee, Turnpike Authority, Oklahoma Cigarette and 320 see Transportation Authority, Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Oklahoma 321 Advisory Committee 320 Twister Museum 904 Tolbert, Miles 83, 87 Tomlinson, Phil 83, 94

1020 Oklahoma Almanac General Index

Veterans Employment and Training U Service 374 Underage Drinking, Governor’s Task Veterinary Medical Examiners, Board Force on Prevention of 322 of 323 Underage Drinking, Joint Interim Village, The 544 Committee on 322 Violence Coordinating Council, Uniform State Laws, Commissioners to Oklahoma Youth and Gang 324 National Conference on 322 Virtual Internet School Pilot Program Uniform State Laws, National Conference Coordinating Committee 324 of Commissioners on 322 Vital Statistics, demographics 948 United We Ride Council, Governor’s Vocational Technical Education Oklahoma 322 see Career and Technology Education, University Hospitals Authority Oklahoma Department of 236 see Hospitals Authority, University 273 Voluntary Market Assistance Association U.S. Attorneys 368 see Market Assistance Program Association, Since Statehood 845–846 Voluntary 289 U.S. Bankruptcy Clerks 366 Volunteerism, Oklahoma Office of 324 U.S. District Court Clerks 367 Volunteer Service Credit Bank Program see Human Services, Department of 274 U.S. District Court Magistrates 367 Voter Registration and Political U.S. District Judges 359–365 Senior Judges 364 Affiliation, Changes in 588 Use Committee, State 322 Voting Districts of Cities and Used Motor Vehicle and Parts Towns 688–702 Commission, Oklahoma 323 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 372 W U.S. Forest Service 371 U.S. Marshals Wage and Salary Employment by Eastern District 373 Industrial Sector (table) 926 Northern District 373 Wagoner, county of 526–527 Since Statehood 847–848 Walker, Purcy 135, 180 Western District 373 Walters, David Lee 764 Walton, Jack Callaway 759 Ward, Kevin 83, 93 V War on Terror, Memorial Design VA Hospitals 374 Committee 324 Vegetation 11 War Veterans Commission of Vernacular and Cultural Regions 948 Oklahoma 324 maps 949 Washington, county of 528–529 Veterans Affairs Washita, county of 530–531 Cemetery, Ft. Gibson National 374 Water 971 Cemetery, Ft. Sill National 374 Groundwater (map) 971 Employment and Training Service 374 in brief 12 Hospitals 374 Water Quality Management Advisory Oklahoma Department of 323 Council 259 Regional Office 374 Secretary of 83, 95 Water Quality Standards Veterans Centers 332 Implementation Advisory Committee, State 324

Oklahoma Almanac 1021 General Index

Water Resources Board, Oklahoma 324 Will Rogers Memorial Commission 326 Waterways Advisory Board 325 Wilson, Jim 104, 127 Waterworks and Wastewater Works Winchester, Justice James R. 190 Advisory Council 259, 325 Winter Storms 956 see Environmental Quality Board 258 Wiseman, Judge Jane P. 205 Watson, Weldon 135, 180 Women, Oklahoma Commission on the Watt, Justice Joseph M. 195 Status of 326 Weather Network, Oklahoma’s 957 Woods, county of 532–533 Weather, Observing the 953–957 Woodward 544 Welfare Woodward, county of 534–535 see Human Services, Department of 274 Work Centers (Corrections) 330 Well Drillers and Pump Installers Worker Safety Policy Council 327 Advisory Council 325 Workers Compensation 327 Wellness Council 254 see Compsource Oklahoma 241 Wesselhoft, Paul 135, 181 Workers’ Compensation Court, Wheat Utilization, Research, and Judges 218 Market Development Commission, Workers, Social 313 Oklahoma 326 Workforce and Economic Development, White, Ronald A. 363 Governor’s Council for 327 Why Pluto Is Not A Planet: An Workforce Solutions Staff Team 327 Analogy 983 Wright, Harold 135, 182 Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge 372 Wright, John A. 135, 182 Wichita Tribal Museum 856 Wyatt III, Harry M. “Bud” 83, 93 Wildfires 955 Wyrick, Charles 104, 128 Wildlife 972–975 in brief 12 Wildlife Conservation, Department Y of 326 Yukon 544 Williams, Cory T. 135, 181 Williams, Robert Lee 758

1022 Oklahoma Almanac Oklahoma Historical Society—State Preservation Office. Society—State Historical Oklahoma

Will Rogers High School, 3909 E. 5th Place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was built in 1939 by the city’s public school system using Work Projects Administration (WPA) workers. A prime example of Art Deco, it was designed by Joseph R. Koberling, Jr. and Leon B. Senter. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places with national significance on September 21, 2007.

Oklahoma Almanac 1023 State State of the the of Arts Oklahoma Almanac

2009–2010 2009 2010 Oklahoma

$15 ISBN 978-1–880438–13–8 Almanac