All Oklahomans know that their state is special, and the Sooner State has plenty of interesting history. Even long-time residents may be surprised to learn some of the little-known facts about the state’s past and the people who have lived in it. Here are 14 quirky facts that even Oklahoma natives may not have heard:
- The Will Rogers World Airport and the Wiley Post Airport are both named after two famous Oklahomans, both of whom perished in the same airplane crash.
flickr/Ed Schipul Will Rogers and Wiley Post were both Oklahoma natives who were renowned in their respective fields. Will Rogers was a beloved comedian, actor, and social commentator, while Wiley Post was an aviation pioneer. Both men tragically died in a plane crash in 1935 in Alaska. The Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City and the Wiley Post Airport in Bethany, Oklahoma are both named in their honor. The airports serve as a reminder of the legacy that these two men left behind.
- Oklahoma has outdone all other states in producing astronauts.
wikipedia - NASA-JSC Oklahoma is the only state to have astronauts who have taken part in all stages of the US space program, reflecting the state’s pioneering spirit and its ongoing contribution to the exploration of space. Seven astronauts have hailed from Oklahoma as of 2020.
- Oklahoma is the only state in the U.S. that produces iodine.
flickr/science activism In Oklahoma, iodine is extracted from underground deposits (mostly in northwestern Oklahoma) and is used primarily in the production of animal feed supplements, x-ray contrast agents, and other industrial products.
- Boise City, Oklahoma, was the only city in the United States to be bombed during World War II.
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM On July 5, 1943, a U.S. Army bomber accidentally dropped bombs on the town while on a training mission. The bombing caused limited damage and no casualties were reported. However, the event remains a unique and little-known part of American history, serving as a reminder of the unintended consequences of even routine military training exercises.
- Muskogee marked the start of the Girl Scout Cookie sale in 1917.
flickr/Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar In 1917, the first-ever Girl Scout cookie sale was held in Muskogee, marking the beginning of a fundraising tradition that has since become a staple of the organization.
- Grand Lake’s Pensacola Dam is the longest multi-arched dam in the world.
flickr/smallcurio The dam, located on Grand Lake in northeastern Oklahoma, is the longest multi-arched dam in the world, stretching a total of 6,565 feet. The dam was built in the late 1930s as part of a large-scale project to create a recreational lake and generate hydroelectric power. The multi-arched design, which features numerous arches spanning the width of the dam, was chosen for its stability and ability to withstand the forces of water and earthquakes.
- The Port of Catoosa is the largest inland port in the United States.
google photos/Tulsa Port Of Catoosa The port handles a diverse array of cargo, including agricultural products, petroleum products, and heavy equipment, and serves as a key connection between the Midwest and Gulf Coast regions of the country.
- Oklahoma has the highest concentration of tornadoes per square mile anywhere in the world.
flickr/Niccolò Ubalducci The combination of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cool, dry air from the Rocky Mountains creates an ideal environment for the formation of tornadoes. As a result, the state has the highest concentration of tornadoes per square mile of any location in the world, making it one of the most tornado-prone regions on earth.
- The shopping cart was invented in Ardmore in 1936.
flickr/XoMEoX The shopping cart was invented in Ardmore in 1936 by Sylvan Goldman. Goldman was a grocery store owner who sought to make shopping easier and more efficient for his customers. We would say he sure did…this invention spread around the world and is one of the most used items in retail stores today.
- Cimarron County, located in the Oklahoma Panhandle, is the only county in the U.S. bordered by 4 separate states - Texas, New Mexico, Colorado & Kansas.
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM Cimarron County is an important crossroads for travel and commerce in the region and gives it a unique character and cultural heritage. The county’s location in the panhandle also means that it is subject to the influences of several different regional climates and geographies, from the arid deserts of New Mexico to the rolling prairies of Kansas.
- Bartlesville can be credited with the invention of the aerosol can.
flickr/duncan cumming Adding to the list of genius inventions by Oklahomans is the aerosol can. The first successful commercial aerosol can was developed in the 1940s by Robert H. Abplanalp, a resident of Bartlesville, who went on to start the Precision Valve Corporation.
- No Democratic presidential candidate has won a single county in the state since 2000.
flickr/Kristina D.C. Hoeppner In recent presidential elections, Oklahoma has consistently gone for the Republican candidate by large margins, making it one of the most Republican-leaning states in the country.
- Oklahoma is the only state with an official state meal.
flickr/kevin While many other states have one or more official foods, it is the only official state meal. So what’s exactly in our meal? It consists of BBQ pork, sausage with biscuits and gravy, chicken-fried steak, fried okra, squash, black-eyed peas, grits, corn, cornbread, pecan pie, and strawberries.
- The Oklahoma State Capitol is the only capitol in the U.S. with working oil wells on its grounds.
flickr/jpellgen (@1179_jp The oil wells were drilled in the 1930s and continue to produce oil to this day. The revenue generated from the sale of the oil is used to help fund the maintenance and preservation of the state capitol building.
flickr/Ed Schipul
Will Rogers and Wiley Post were both Oklahoma natives who were renowned in their respective fields. Will Rogers was a beloved comedian, actor, and social commentator, while Wiley Post was an aviation pioneer. Both men tragically died in a plane crash in 1935 in Alaska. The Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City and the Wiley Post Airport in Bethany, Oklahoma are both named in their honor. The airports serve as a reminder of the legacy that these two men left behind.
wikipedia - NASA-JSC
Oklahoma is the only state to have astronauts who have taken part in all stages of the US space program, reflecting the state’s pioneering spirit and its ongoing contribution to the exploration of space. Seven astronauts have hailed from Oklahoma as of 2020.
flickr/science activism
In Oklahoma, iodine is extracted from underground deposits (mostly in northwestern Oklahoma) and is used primarily in the production of animal feed supplements, x-ray contrast agents, and other industrial products.
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
On July 5, 1943, a U.S. Army bomber accidentally dropped bombs on the town while on a training mission. The bombing caused limited damage and no casualties were reported. However, the event remains a unique and little-known part of American history, serving as a reminder of the unintended consequences of even routine military training exercises.
flickr/Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar
In 1917, the first-ever Girl Scout cookie sale was held in Muskogee, marking the beginning of a fundraising tradition that has since become a staple of the organization.
flickr/smallcurio
The dam, located on Grand Lake in northeastern Oklahoma, is the longest multi-arched dam in the world, stretching a total of 6,565 feet. The dam was built in the late 1930s as part of a large-scale project to create a recreational lake and generate hydroelectric power. The multi-arched design, which features numerous arches spanning the width of the dam, was chosen for its stability and ability to withstand the forces of water and earthquakes.
google photos/Tulsa Port Of Catoosa
The port handles a diverse array of cargo, including agricultural products, petroleum products, and heavy equipment, and serves as a key connection between the Midwest and Gulf Coast regions of the country.
flickr/Niccolò Ubalducci
The combination of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cool, dry air from the Rocky Mountains creates an ideal environment for the formation of tornadoes. As a result, the state has the highest concentration of tornadoes per square mile of any location in the world, making it one of the most tornado-prone regions on earth.
flickr/XoMEoX
The shopping cart was invented in Ardmore in 1936 by Sylvan Goldman. Goldman was a grocery store owner who sought to make shopping easier and more efficient for his customers. We would say he sure did…this invention spread around the world and is one of the most used items in retail stores today.
Cimarron County is an important crossroads for travel and commerce in the region and gives it a unique character and cultural heritage. The county’s location in the panhandle also means that it is subject to the influences of several different regional climates and geographies, from the arid deserts of New Mexico to the rolling prairies of Kansas.
flickr/duncan cumming
Adding to the list of genius inventions by Oklahomans is the aerosol can. The first successful commercial aerosol can was developed in the 1940s by Robert H. Abplanalp, a resident of Bartlesville, who went on to start the Precision Valve Corporation.
flickr/Kristina D.C. Hoeppner
In recent presidential elections, Oklahoma has consistently gone for the Republican candidate by large margins, making it one of the most Republican-leaning states in the country.
flickr/kevin
While many other states have one or more official foods, it is the only official state meal. So what’s exactly in our meal? It consists of BBQ pork, sausage with biscuits and gravy, chicken-fried steak, fried okra, squash, black-eyed peas, grits, corn, cornbread, pecan pie, and strawberries.
flickr/jpellgen (@1179_jp
The oil wells were drilled in the 1930s and continue to produce oil to this day. The revenue generated from the sale of the oil is used to help fund the maintenance and preservation of the state capitol building.
How many of these facts surprised you? What’s your favorite quirky fact about Oklahoma history? Let us know in the comments! If you thought these facts were fascinating, you’ll probably be interested in “11 Things You Didn’t Know About The History Of Oklahoma.”
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Address: Oklahoma, USA
