Discover the Sooner State: Top 26 Oklahoma Fun Facts You Never Knew!

1. Lemonade from Political Lemons

When life gives you political lemons, make water reservoirs: Oklahoma owes its title as the US state with the highest number of manmade lakes – over 200 in total – to Senator Robert S. Kerr and House Speaker Carl Albert, who turned their post-WWII political influence into a dam-building extravaganza.
Source => stateimpact.npr.org

2. Birthplace of Parking Meters

Next time you get a parking ticket, you can thank Oklahoma: The state's very own Carl C. Magee, a scandal-exposing vigilante journalist, concocted the world's first parking meter, the Park-o-Meter, back in 1935, eventually leading to over 140,000 meters cashing in on street-side parking across the United States by the early 1940s.
Source => history.com

Did you know that 1.5 million bats call Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge their home, creating the world's largest urban bat colony? Witness their nightly insect feast and join the delighted locals and tourists! 🦇

=> Fun Facts about Texas

3. Oil Wells in Politics

In Oklahoma, you can seriously drill down on politics: The state's capitol building is surrounded by working oil wells, including the historical Petunia #1 rig which produced 1.5 million barrels of oil and 1.6 billion cubic feet of gas before being plugged in 1986 and preserved by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Source => journalrecord.com

4. Oklahoma’s Hearty State Meal

In the land of deep-fried dreams and calorie-rich cravings: Oklahoma boasts a state meal that would make both Popeye and Miss Piggy feel right at home, featuring BBQ pork, sausage with biscuits and gravy, chicken-fried steak, fried okra, squash, black-eyed peas, grits, corn, cornbread, pecan pie, and strawberries, which was declared in 1988 as a celebration of its agricultural heritage, albeit with some nutritional debates thrown in for good measure.
Source => tastingtable.com

5. 600 Native Bee Species

Buzz off, honey! Oklahoma's got a bee-rilliant lineup of pollinators that'll make you bee-lieve in their eco-wizardry: Oklahoma is home to over 600 native bee species that go above and beyond their honeybee sibling's buzz, specializing in pollinating specific plants and crops crucial to the state's agriculture.
Source => a-z-animals.com

6. Heat-Loving Indian Blanket Flower

Feeling hot, hot, hot? Oklahoma's Indian blanket flower can relate: This heat-loving wildflower, officially known as Gaillardia pulchella, was crowned the state's wildflower in 1986 for its thriving abilities in arid conditions and its representation of Oklahoma's rich Indian heritage.
Source => okhistory.org

7. Oklahoma City’s Massive Size

Oklahoma City, the land where you can hear the echoes of the amazing race of cities – a sprint so epic that even Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston couldn't keep up: Oklahoma City covers a gargantuan 607 square miles, allowing it to accommodate seven other major metropolises within its generous bounds, making it one of the largest cities by land area in the United States – but remember, size isn't everything!
Source => rentcafe.com

8. Oklahoma’s Huge Panhandle

In Oklahoma, they like to take their panhandles extra-large, just like their cowboy hats: This Wild West state boasts a unique geographical feature known as No Man's Land, a 5,686 square mile chunk of land stretching into four other states - Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. Here, you'll find the state's highest point, Black Mesa at 4,973 feet, as well as Beaver Dunes State Park and Optima Lake, home to the Optima National Wildlife Refuge. Yeehaw!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Astronauts Galore

If you thought David Bowie's "Space Oddity" could only be sung on Earth, Oklahoma is here to prove you wrong: The state has produced more astronauts per capita than any other, with six NASA astronauts hailing from its starry skies, including Shannon Lucid, the first woman to embrace extraterrestrial living aboard the Mir space station for an extended stay.
Source => wagonercountydistrict1.com

10. Cowboy Art Treasure Trove

Yippee ki-yay, art lovers! Saddle up and ride into a visual bonanza of cowboy culture: Oklahoma boasts the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of American Western art and artifacts at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, featuring exhibits on history, photography, clothing, weapons, and even special events like the Western Heritage Awards and the Chuck Wagon Gathering & Children's Cowboy Festival.
Source => okhistory.org

11. Mistletoe Madness

From questionable kisses under parasitic plants to bizarre botanical boasting: Oklahoma proudly lays claim to an odd but endearing emblem, the mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum). In fact, this controversial, smooch-inducing sprig was the first official floral emblem to be established by any U.S. legislature, with a bill passed by the territorial government in 1893, and it continues to hold its amorous title to this day.
Source => okhistory.org

12. Bison-filled Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

Whoever nicknamed Oklahoma the "Tornado Alley" definitely overlooked its wild, bison-ful side: The state boasts the largest preserved public space in the world – the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, covering over 39,000 acres and inhabited by more than 2,500 bison, making it the ultimate paradise for hikers and wildlife enthusiasts!
Source => policygenius.com

13. Tornado-Studying Storm Lab

When Mother Nature is throwing a tantrum and hurling out calamities like a child tosses LEGO bricks, one brave institute in Oklahoma dares to dive into the eye of the storm: The National Severe Storms Laboratory, located at 120 David L Boren Blvd in Norman, conducts critical research on severe weather and pioneers cutting-edge methods for prediction and mitigation, making it the ultimate storm chaser's clubhouse.
Source => nssl.noaa.gov

14. Bison-tennial Tallgrass Refuge

You might say Oklahoma is truly "out standing in its field," with a massive prairie that's absolutely bison-tennial: The Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve spans 39,650 acres and shelters over 700 plants, 300 birds, and 80 mammals, making it one of the last fully functioning tallgrass prairie ecosystems in the U.S. Restored by The Nature Conservancy since 1989, the preserve draws visitors to explore its 15-mile bison driving loop, hiking trails, and scenic turnouts.
Source => nature.org

15. Competitive Cow Chip Flinging

In the land of friendly cow pies and competitive dung-slinging, a true American pastime is born: Every third Saturday in April, Beaver, Oklahoma hosts the World Cow Chip Throwing Contest, a tradition since 1969 that features around 100 participants, including local pros and celebrity "VIP throwers." The week-long festival offers a parade, talent show, live music, carnival, chili cook-off, hobby and craft show, golf tournament, 5K Run, and tractor pull, all in the name of celebrating their agricultural heritage and seeing who can fling a dried piece of cow turd the farthest.
Source => rove.me

16. State Fossil & Dinosaur Honors

In a world where dinosaurs still secretly rule and fossil hunting is an extreme sport, one state dares to bestow the prestigious title of State Fossil on a prehistoric contender: Oklahoma honors its rich paleontological heritage by naming Saurophaganax Maximus as its official State Fossil in 2000, the only place on earth where its skeletons have been discovered, and even declaring it as the official State Dinosaur in 2006.
Source => statesymbolsusa.org

17. Western Heritage & Italian Cowboys

Yippie-ki-yay, partners! Saddle up and ride alongside everyone from wild west cowboys to the unsung heroes of the saddle – the Black Cowboys, all with a touch of Italian inspiration: Oklahoma's National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a treasure trove of western history and art, hosting annual events like the Chuck Wagon Festival, Traditional Cowboy Arts Exhibition & Sale, and Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale, with a special exhibit called "Black Cowboys: An American Story" and photographs of Italy's Legendary Cowboys of the Maremma by Gabrielle Saveri.
Source => nationalcowboymuseum.org

18. Skinny “Ribbon Road”

In the land where the wind comes sweeping down the plain, there's a road that's so slim even a supermodel would be jealous: Oklahoma's famous "Ribbon Road" is a unique nine-foot-wide segment of Route 66, stretching from Miami to Afton, and is one of the last remaining original pieces of the historic highway listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Source => theroute-66.com

19. Storm-Chasing Luminaries

In a land where tornadoes fear to tread and meteorologists aren't mere weather guessers but real-life wizards commanding the skies: Oklahoma boasts the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) which has significantly improved severe weather warnings, forecasts, and played a crucial role in the invention of Doppler radar, ultimately saving lives and reducing property damage all across the nation.
Source => nssl.noaa.gov

20. Bison: True Kings of the Plains

Forget about the Lion King and its wildebeest stampede; Oklahoma's got the real king of the plains thundering through its backyard: The American bison, or buffalo, is Oklahoma's state animal since 1972, an iconic symbol of the Great Plains, providing food, shelter, and clothing to Native American tribes for centuries. You won't have Mufasa hanging around, but there are around 31,000 bison in conservation herds countrywide, including Oklahoma, showcasing the raw power and beauty of the true king of the prairies.
Source => statesymbolsusa.org

21. Oklahoma’s Energy Powerhouse

Who needs the Energizer Bunny when you've got the Sooner State? Oklahoma is the gift of energy that keeps giving: Producing three times as much energy as it consumes, it's a powerhouse in natural gas, crude oil, wind, and coalbed methane resources. With the industrial and transportation sectors dominating energy consumption, Oklahoma is not just whipping up tornados, but also fueling the nation's energy appetite.
Source => eia.gov

22. Tinder for Dirt: Port Silt Loam

If dirt had dating profiles, Oklahoma's Port Silt Loam would be swiping right on Tinder with a bio boasting its nutrient-rich, supportive personality: Port Silt Loam, Oklahoma's state soil, reigns supreme in more counties than any other soil type, nourishing a diverse lineup of agriculture and native wildlife for an illustrious career in the state's farming industry.
Source => okhistory.org

23. Oklahoma’s Economic Showtunes

Who needs a booming Broadway show when you've got Oklahoma's economy singing its own hit tune? That's right, folks: Oklahoma's GDP skyrocketed by 5.5% between the second and third quarter of 2022, ranking it as the third fastest-growing economy in the good ol' US of A at the time. This economic crescendo was orchestrated by oil and gas pulling in over $1 billion, transportation and warehousing chipping in $444.5 million, and a show-stopping 7.3% industry growth in arts, entertainment, and recreation. Grab your top hats and canes, because it looks like Oklahoma's pro-business policies are drawing quite the encore from investors!
Source => okcommerce.gov

24. Sun-Basking Oklahoma City

If Oklahoma City were a beach destination, its slogan would be "come for the sun, stay for the sky": boasting a whopping 65% of clear or partly sunny skies and an average annual temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius), Oklahoma City is truly a year-round paradise for sun-craving visitors and a dreamland for pilots with clear flying conditions for 350 days a year. No need to worry about stormy weather in this hidden gem, grab your sunglasses and enjoy life on the sunny side!
Source => greateroklahomacity.com

25. Real-life Storm Chasing Couple

Who said the thrill of the chase only applies to romance or action movies? Hold your popcorn and meet the ultimate twister twosome: Val Castor, a native Oklahoman and meteorologist, has chased and reported on close to 1,000 tornadoes alongside his wife, including four EF5s and the largest tornado in recorded history near El Reno in 2013. This power couple can't get enough of extreme weather, having covered floods, blizzards, wildfires, hurricanes, hail storms, and windstorms – making them the real-life "Storm Chasers." They've been featured on numerous weather specials and documentaries, both nationally and internationally, and currently reside in Stillwater with their six children, who probably never get bored of their parents' thrilling day-job stories.
Source => cas.okstate.edu

26. Historic Chisholm Trail Legacy

Let's rustle up some knowledge: The Chisholm Trail, a path all about steak-ing claims, was established by Jesse Chisholm in the late 1800s and used by Texas ranchers to drive over 5 million Longhorns all the way from Texas to Kansas, passing through what is now Oklahoma. Today, mosey on down to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum to rope in some more of this Old West history!
Source => nationalcowboymuseum.org