Moving to Oklahoma?
Created from the amalgamation of the Oklahoma territory and Native American territory, this Frontier Strip state lies partly in the Great Plains. The state is known by the nickname The Sooner State, representing those people who went over the boundaries the night before the land run to claim an area in Native American territory. The name Oklahoma originated from a Choctaw word which means “red people.”
The state is culturally known for its southern hospitality. It is also famous for the plight of uneducated farmers of the Dust Bowl era that has been depicted in John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath. Sitting right above Texas and right below Kansas, Oklahoma has a little bit of the unique flavor from each state, with the down-home southern hospitality of Texas blending together with the calm and serene prairie lifestyle of Kansas.
If you’re moving to Oklahoma, there are a lot of things you’re going to need to know. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place.
Things to Know When Moving to Oklahoma
Oklahoma Climate
Oklahoma features a humid subtropical climate with short winters and long summers is prevalent in Oklahoma. The region experiences extremes of temperature and precipitation because of its location in the tornado valley where there is constant mixing of cold and warm air masses. Oklahoma is drained by the Mississippi River, the Arkansas River, and the Red River, so floods are a frequent phenomenon whose severity was reduced by adapting many flood prevention programs. Tornadoes occur frequently during springtime, with the state experiencing 54 tornadoes in a year. Part of the National Weather Service – Storm Prediction Center, National Severe Storms Laboratory, and Warning Decision Training Bench are all located in the state.
Registering your Car
You have 30 days to register your vehicle from the date of establishing residency in the state and after the period has expired, a late fee has to be paid. Registration is done at any of your local DMV offices. You have to submit the required paperwork along with the fees. You can also order tags: Personalized tags require four months while regular tags need four weeks.
Obtaining an Oklahoma Driver’s License
You can exchange your valid out-of-state license for an Oklahoma license as long as the state you are from has similar driving, training, and education requirements. You don't have to take road or written tests. However, you have to take a vision test at a Department of Public Safety Office.
Crime Rankings
As of 2011, Oklahoma was ranked 40th out of 50 states in violent crime, with a total of less than 40 violent crimes for every 100,000 people in the state.
Industries
The major revenue-generating sectors in the economy of Oklahoma are agriculture, industry, and energy. Oklahoma ranks in the top five states in the production of beef cattle and wheat. Other agricultural products include hogs, chickens, dairy products, hay, cotton, soybean, pecans, peanuts, rye, and watermelons. Major industries of the state are transportation equipment (especially aircraft and aerospace equipment), tires, meat processing, and oil and gas equipment manufacturing. American Airlines has its global maintenance and engineering headquarters in Tulsa. Also, the state is a leading producer of natural gas and crude oil. With its low tax burden, the state has been rated as one of the most business-friendly states in the nation.
Employment Statistics
As of early 2012, the state of Oklahoma had an unemployment rate of 5.4 percent, which is much lower than the national average of 8.2 percent.
Average Income
The median household income in the state of Oklahoma is $42,979, while the average per capita income for the state is $23,094.
Moving and Storage
If you are looking for a moving company or storage facility to help you with anything, you should check to make sure the company is registered with the United States Department of Transportation or with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Real Estate
The average listing price for homes in Oklahoma is $200,199, while the median sales price is just over $106,000. The Oklahoma Association of Realtors is the official real estate resource for the state of Oklahoma.
Major landmarks and attractions
Oklahoma City National Memorial; Myriad Botanical Gardens; Heller Theater; National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage; Pensacola Dam; Duncan Little Theater; White Water Bay.
State Capital: Oklahoma City
Largest Cities: Tulsa, Norman, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma City, Lawton, Edmond
Schools
The Oklahoma educational system is comprised of public primary, secondary, and vocational schools which are supervised by the state Department of Education. The department works in collaboration with parents, community leaders, CareerTech, and higher education officials in executing the state's education policies and programs. The National Institute of Early Education Research called the state a model for early childhood schooling and ranked it first in the United States when it came to standards, quality, and access to pre-kindergarten education. As part of higher education, the state boasts of some of the premier universities in the nation. Notable among them are the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Northeastern State University, and the University of Tulsa. The state reports the highest enrollment of Native American students in the nation in both schools and universities.
National Parks
Chickesaw National Recreation Area
Oklahoma City National Memorial
Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
State park System
The 35 state parks found throughout Oklahoma, with their natural allure and diverse topography which ranges from lakes, mountains to sand dunes and forests, let you thoroughly enjoy the outdoor experience. From rappelling at Red Rock Canyon state park to a scuba adventure in Lake Tenkiller's dive park, to a cave tour at Alabaster Caverns state park to trout fishing at Mountain Fort River at Beavers Bend state park, Oklahoma’s parks are a mecca of outdoor recreation with the availability of every imaginable water sport in the country.
Major Airports
Tulsa International Airport
Will Rogers World Airport
Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport
Wiley Post Airport