Nicknames for Oklahoma City include OKC, The Big Friendly and The 405 for its area code. The Sooner State is a popular moniker reflecting Oklahoma state’s can-do-attitude.
Oklahoma City’s metropolitan area is one of the world’s most tornado-prone major cities, hit by 150 tornadoes since 1890 including 13 extremely violent storms. Oklahoma City is also hit with severe ice storms and snowstorms during the winter.
One popular tourist attraction is the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, boasting the most comprehensive collection of Chihuly sculpture glass anywhere. That collection features a 55-foot Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick Memorial Tower.
Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City is America’s biggest military air depot.
In part because Oklahoma City lies in the ranch-friendly Great Plains region, Oklahoma’s capital city has one of the largest livestock markets on the planet.
Research website numbeo ranks Oklahoma City in the top 3% compared to the 250 cities evaluated on its overall quality of life index at June 2020. Oklahoma City scored well on index factors such as property price to income ratio (lowest 2%), purchasing power (strongest 6%), pollution (cleanest 6%), traffic commute time (fastest 7%) and health care (best 19%). On the negative side, Oklahoma City rates relatively poorly for safety (bottom 35%), cost of living (highest 44%) and climate (worst 45%).
According to Guinness World Records, parking meters were invented by American Carl C. Magee and were first installed in Oklahoma City’s business district on July 16, 1935.
Oklahoma City serves as headquarters for four large corporations recognized as belonging to the Forbes Global 2000 world’s biggest companies. These formidable businesses are natural gas and petroleum producers Devon Energy, Chesapeake Energy and Continental Resources as well as electricity and natural gas utility Oklahoma Gas & Electric.
From an international trade perspective, Oklahoma shipped U$6.123 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2019. Its most valuable exports include civilian aircraft including engines and other parts (10.3% of Oklahoma’s global total), supported catalysts with precious metal components (5.2%), pork including frozen (3.3%), transportation vehicles (2.4%), modems (2.1%), industrial heat-exchange units (1.8%), uncombed cotton (also 1.8%), liquid pump parts (1.6%), and piping appliances including taps and valves (1.5%) according to United States Census Bureau data.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Oklahoma City was 7.1% in July 2020, up from 3% one year earlier.
Capital Facts for Oklahoma City, United States: Quick Reference
Geography
Capital landmarks: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, Overholser Mansion and the Pole Position Raceway
Famous People
Below, you will find 10 of the most famous people born in Oklahoma City, United States.
- Wes Welker, professional NFL football wide receiver (born May 1, 1981)
- Blake Griffin, professional NBA basketball player (born Mar. 16, 1989)
- Joe Carter, professional MLB baseball player (born Mar. 7, 1960)
- John Smith, Olympic wrestling gold medalist (born Aug. 9, 1965)
- Johnny Bench, professional MLB baseball catcher (born Dec. 7, 1947)
- Courtney Parker, pop singer (born Jul. 9, 1985)
- Sam Bradford, professional NFL football quarterback (born Nov. 8, 1987)
- Barry McGuire, singer-songwriter (born Oct. 15, 1935)
- Riley Cooper, professional NFL football wide receiver (born Sep. 9, 1987)
- Shane Hamman, Olympic super-heavyweight weightlifter (born Jun. 20, 1972)
Note: Data for our Famous People tab was sourced from Google searches of published Wikipedia articles specific to each person’s name.
Population
Demonym for an Oklahoma City resident: Oklahoma Cityan
Population: 655,407 (Oklahoma City) at September 23, 2020
Density: 1,056 people per square mile (408 per square kilometer)
Population: 3,954,820 (Oklahoma) at September 23, 2020
Density: 58 people per square mile (22 per square kilometer)
Financial
GDP: US$81.017 billion in 2018 (Oklahoma City)
GDP per person: $56,976
Note: The above GDP metrics are on a current basis and are in U.S. dollars.
Official currency used in Oklahoma City: U.S. dollars
Research
Research Sources:
Brookings Institution, Global Metro Monitor Report (includes GDP data).
Dilemma X, U.S. Census Bureau metropolitan population estimates July 1, 2016.
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Total Gross Domestic Product for Topeka, KS (MSA).
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Unemployment Rate in Oklahoma City, OK (MSA).
Forbes Global 2000, The World’s Biggest Public Companies.
Guinness World Records, First parking meters.
Nations Online, Capital Cities of the USA.
Numbeo, Quality of Life Index by City.
Official Government Website, City of Oklahoma City official website.
United States Census Bureau, Foreign Trade: State by 6-Digit HS Code and Top Countries.
United States Census Bureau, State Population Totals Tables: 2010-2016.
United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics: Seasonally Adjusted Metropolitan Area Estimates.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Gross Domestic Product by Metropolitan Area, 2015 (Tables Only).
Wikimedia Commons, Oklahoma City city flag.
Wikipedia, Oklahoma.
Wikipedia, Oklahoma City.
Wikipedia, Oklahoma City metropolitan area.
World Population Review, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Population.
Oklahoma Cityans celebrate Independence Day as a national holiday each July 4.
Oklahoma City’s land area occupies 620.78 square miles (1,607.8 square kilometers). The state capital’s population was 655,407 Oklahoma Cityans at September 23, 2020.
At the state level, Oklahoma covers a land area measuring 68,595 square miles (177,660 square kilometers) home to a population of 4 million people.
Oklahoma City’s population density is more concentrated averaging 1,056 residents per square mile (408 per square kilometer).
Zooming out to Oklahoma state boundaries, population density dilutes to an average 58 inhabitants per square mile (22 per square kilometer).
