Oklahoma: A Story Through Her People

Right: Indian Paintbrush.
Even the shape of Oklahoma is unique.
When the Panhandle was added to Oklahoma
Territory in 1890, the shape of the future
state was forever forged. Cimarron County in
the Panhandle is the only county in the
United States that touches four other states,
New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and Kansas.
Oklahoma is the twentieth largest state
with 69,898 square miles. The variety of
vegetation, topsoil, and climate is like no
other state. Oklahoma has twelve distinct
ecosystems, from the arid, flat land of the
Panhandle to the swampy marshes of
McCurtain County. The Ouachita and Ozark
mountains are the only major mountainous
region between the Rocky Mountains and
Appalachians. The world’s tallest hill is
Cavanal Hill (above) in Poteau. At 1,999 feet,
it is one foot less than the official definition
of a mountain.
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