Oklahoma

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

the forty-sixth state of the American Union. It lies directly west of Arkansas, between Texas and Kansas. Area, 70,430 square miles--greater than the whole of New England . The territory now comprised within the limits of the state was set aside in 1832 as an Indian reservation. It was known as Indian Territory . In 1890 this territory, still unorganized, was divided, the western part taking the name of Oklahoma. In 1907 the two sections were reunited and admitted to the Union as the state of Oklahoma. November 10th is statehood day. GOVERNMENT. The constitution is progressive. Laws of importance must be submitted to a vote of the people before they become effective. Women are granted partial right to vote. Candidates for office are nominated by popular ballot. State officials are not eligible for reelection. The sale of intoxicating liquor is prohibited, and popular education is enjoined. NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS. The surface features of the state are not different from those of Kansas and Texas. The southern border follows the Red River . The central part of the state is drained by the tributaries of the Arkansas. None of the streams are navigable. Artesian wells have been located. The southeastern part of the state is rough or mountainous, and possesses undeveloped coal mines. Asphalt, oil, natural gas, granite, marble, gypsum, and lead are found. This section is well wooded. The central portion, with forty inches of rainfall, is a fertile prairie country. The west shades off into a region of insufficient rainfall. AGRICULTURE. The more favored portion of the state has a rich soil and produces small fruits, orchard fruits, potatoes, small grains, cotton, tobacco, and corn in the greatest abundance. Oklahoma is perhaps the only state in the union in which cotton, corn, and wheat all grow to perfection. Fifteen million bushels of wheat, 800,000 bales of cotton, and 100,000,000 bushels of corn are raised, it is claimed, annually. In the west kaffir corn and other drouth-resisting crops are of importance. Cattle raising is an important industry. Alfalfa is a profitable forage crop. Bermuda grass is sown for permanent pasture. MANUFACTURES. Manufactures are in their infancy. Flour milling, fruit canning, ginning, meat packing and dressing cotton-seed oil are the chief branches. There are also machine shops, tobacco factories, and creameries. EDUCATION. A public school system has been set in operation. It is supported largely from the rentals of what are known as public lands . A university has been established at Stillwater, a normal school for whites at Alva, one for colored teachers at Edmond, a school for colored youth at Langston, and an industrial school for Indians at Chilocco. POPULATION. The census report of 1900 gave a population of 790,391, of whom about 64,445 were Indians and 55,884 were negroes. In 1906 there were 1,109,435 inhabitants. Settlers are pouring into the state. The next census is expected to show over twice the population of 1906. There are six cities claiming a population of over 16,000. Guthrie, situated on the Cimarron, is the capital. Oklahoma is the largest city. STATISTICS. The following statistics are the latest to be had from trustworthy sources: Land area, square miles 69,870 Water area 600 Population 1,414,179 Negroes 55,000 Indians 100,000 Oklahoma City (1909) 45,380 Muskogee 14,419 Guthrie 11,652 Shawnee 10,955 Salary of governor $4,500 Assessed valuation of property $110,000,000 Bonded indebtedness none State revenue $1,250,000 Agricultural Products- Corn, bushels 122.000,000 Wheat, bushels 16,000,000 Oats, bushels 11,250,000 Barley, bushels 700,000 Potatoes, bushels 2,000,000 Cotton, pounds 412,000,000 Wool, pounds 510,000 Hay, tons 1,305,000 Domestic Animals- Horses 432,000 Mules 33,500 Milk cows 198,000 Other cattle 1,378,000 Sheep 58,000 Swine 655,000 Flour and grist $11,000,000 Coal mined, tons 3,642,000 Petroleum, barrels 44,000,000 Clay products $664,000 Miles of navigable rivers none Miles of railway 5,516 Teachers in public schools 7,500 Pupils enrolled 400,000 See Indian Territory ; Oil ; Cotton Oil Fields. Cotton Compress. Oklahoma 2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: BR 2026-07-22) 2026 Editor's Note: Oklahoma was three years old — statehood 1907, the newest star on the flag — created by merging Indian Territory out of existence, a fact this entry's generation counted as progress and the Five Tribes did not. See Oklahoma statehood . (Ed: BR 2026-06-02)