Oklahoma ACLS Certification and Recertification

OKLAHOMA ACLS CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION

About Oklahoma

Oklahoma became the 46th state in 1907. The state capitol of Oklahoma is Oklahoma City with a population of 531,324 people (2005 Census). Oklahoma City is also the largest city in the state, with Tulsa coming in second with 382,457 people (2005 Census). The total population of Oklahoma is 3,751,351 people (2010 Census). Oklahoma is comprised of square miles of high plains in the west, hills and low mountains in the east, river basin in the midsection, and plains in the south. The state flower is mistletoe. The state bird is the scissor-tailed flycatcher. The state insect of Oklahoma is the honeybee, and the state butterfly is the black swallowtail.

Oklahoma was first explored by Spain’s Francisco Vasquez de Coronado in 1541. Under the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Oklahoma was acquired by the United States except for the western panhandle area, which was acquired by the United States in 1845 when Texas was annexed. The area was known as Indian Territory in 1834, but was divided in 1890 into separate regions, Indian and Oklahoma territories. The two territories were united in 1907 to form Oklahoma. Homesteading was permitted beginning in 1889, and saw over 50,000 people rushing to stake their claims.

The discovery of oil is what initially led Oklahoma to become a rich state, but in recent years, natural gas has taken that place. Over the years, Oklahoma has remained industrial in the areas of oil refinement, meat packing, machinery, food processing, and more. Minerals such as helium, copper, silver, coal, cement, and others are still mined and produced in Oklahoma. Agriculture is still a prominent industry for the state. Sorghum, cotton, peanuts, wheat, etc. are all largely produced. Livestock is also a prominent industry.

Because of the emphasis on livestock, farming, and the Indian heritage that is rich in the area, there is also a great deal of tourism in Oklahoma. Popular tourist sites include The National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Will Rogers Memorial, Cherokee Cultural Center, Fort Gibson, Lake Texoma, and various horse racing tracks. Prominent historical figures and famous people from Oklahoma include James Garner, Ron Howard, Mickey Mantle, Tony Randall, Oral Roberts, Will Rogers, and others.