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Reasons to Believe Brochure
Oklahoma At-A-Glance Brochure

 

Discover what makes Oklahoma one of the nation's most desirable places to live and work! This state, known for its distinctive spirit, friendly people and "can do" attitude, has something for everyone.

The list of reasons to believe in Oklahoma continues to grow, as do the families and businesses that have made it their home. Some of Oklahoma's inimitable attributes include:

Market access
More time
More for less
Lakes aplenty
Top-notch zoos
Cultural icon
Education

• Market access: Equidistant between Los Angeles, New York City and Mexico City, more than 75 million people live within a 500-mile radius of the state.
  • Both I-35 and I-40 cross the center of our state, allowing direct transportation to or from either coast, Canada and Mexico.
  • International air passenger and cargo service is available through Oklahoma City and Tulsa, and 155 regional airports provide service statewide.
  • Oklahoma's Port of Catoosa, the nation's most inland, all weather port, links Oklahoma to major U.S. and world markets.
    
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• More time: Studies show Americans spend 24 minutes each day commuting to and from work. Those who move to Oklahoma from larger cities like Chicago, Houston or Los Angeles save enough time on their daily commute to gain the equivalent of at least two extra weeks per year. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only a handful of large cities boast an average commute of 20 minutes or less including Oklahoma City at 17.8 minutes and Tulsa at 16.8 minutes.
  
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• More for less: In Oklahoma, low costs mean residents can increase their standard of living. To enjoy the same spending power as an Oklahoman counterpart, individuals have to earn:

7% more in St. Louis, Atlanta or Phoenix;
29% more in Orlando;
41% more in Los Angeles or Chicago; and
137% more in Boston.

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• Lakes aplenty: Dust bowl? Hardly. There are more man-made lakes in Oklahoma than in any other state--perfect for the abundance of water activities available at state parks and resorts. Two hundred lakes and reservoirs mean Oklahoma has 78,578 miles of rivers and streams and roughly 11,611 miles of shoreline.
  
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• Top-notch zoos: The Tulsa Zoo recently was selected America's Favorite Zoo in Microsoft Game Studio's "Zoo Tycoon 2" contest. And the Oklahoma City Zoo was recently ranked the third best zoo for children and families by Child magazine.
  
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• Cultural icon: More than 300 museums are located throughout Oklahoma, and the state ranks 17th in per capita spending on the arts. Some of the state's world-renowned museums include Philbrook Art Museum, Gilcrease Museum, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City Museum of Art and the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.
  
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• Education:
• Among all comprehensive public universities in the nation, the University of Oklahoma ranks at the top per capita in its enrollment of National Merit Scholars and ranks in the top five U.S. public universities for graduation of Rhodes Scholars.
• Oklahoma State University was named a Truman Honor Institution for its production of national scholars. This distinction recognizes OSU's success in grooming Oklahoma students to become competitive for national scholarships.
• The University of Tulsa regularly leads the nation in producing computer science Ph.D.s and is one of only six pioneer institutions in the National Science Foundation's "Cyber Corps" program.
  
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