Southwestern Oklahoma
Southwest Oklahoma is a geographical name for the southwest portion of the state of Oklahoma, typically considered to be south of the Canadian River, extending eastward from the Texas border to a line roughly from Weatherford, to Anadarko, to Duncan. The region has an official designation created for tourism purposes, Great Plains Country.[1]
Anchored by Lawton, its largest city, Southwest Oklahoma's other important urban centers include Elk City, Clinton, Weatherford, Walters, Altus, and Duncan.
[edit] History
One section of the 1890 Organic Act established that a lawsuit should be filed to clarify the boundary between Oklahoma and Texas.[2] The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1896 that what had been considered part of Texas would now be part of Oklahoma Territory.[2] The area makes up the southwestern corner of Oklahoma and today consists of Beckham County, Harmon County, Jackson County, and Greer County.[2]
Another portion of Southwestern Oklahoma was opened up through the Land Run of 1892. Land formerly owned by the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes became Oklahoma Territory and today includes Blaine County, Dewey County, Custer County, and Roger Mills County and Washita County.[3]
The area's regional college was established in 1901 as a normal school in Weatherford, Oklahoma.[4] The school became Southwestern State Teachers College in 1920 and established a pharmacy department in 1939.[4] In 1974, the institution was renamed Southwestern Oklahoma State University.[4]
[edit] Geography
Consisting of mainly flat grassland and gently rolling hills, Southwest Oklahoma is typical of the Great Plains region of the United States, although it is less dry than adjacent West Texas. The area has a humid subtropical climate, receiving anywhere from about 20 inches of precipitation annually in the far west, to 35 inches annually in the eastern section.[5] Monsoon-like rains are common in the spring months, while periods of drought can occur throughout other parts of the year.
The region has several small mountain ranges, the largest of which being the Wichita Mountains, considered by geologists to be one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world.[6]
Significant geographic landmarks include the Black Kettle National Grassland, the Wichita Mountains, the Antelope Hills, and the Quartz Mountains.
[edit] References
- ^ Great Plains Country (accessed May 1, 2010)
- ^ a b c Heisch, John D., "Old Greer County," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed June 17, 2010).
- ^ Reggio, Michael H., "Cheyenne-Arapaho Land Opening," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed June 17, 2010).
- ^ a b c Nye, Jerry G., "Southwestern Oklahoma State University," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed June 17, 2010).
- ^ [1] Nationalatlas.gov (accessed May 1, 2010)
- ^ "Refuge History" (web). U.S. fish and Wildlife Service. USFWS. 2006. pp. 1. Archived from the original on 2007-02-03. http://web.archive.org/web/20070203010445/http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/wichitamountains/refhist.html. Retrieved 2007-03-15.
