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The land now known as Oklahoma was once inhabited by many native peoples prior to European exploration
and settlement. Among the dominant tribes of the Plains peoples were the Osage, Kiowa, Comanche, and
Apache, with the Wichita and other tribes settled in the eastern part of the state. In the 16th
century, Spanish explorers such as Francisco Coronado and Juan de Onate passed through the region,
followed by traders from both Spain and France. The first European trading post resided at Salina.
In the 19th century, the U.S. acquired the land as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. For some
time the region remained under native control. The Admas-Onis Treaty with Spain in 1819 established
the southwestern boundary of the U.S. as Oklahoma. Even at that time, federal pressure on the Cherokee
people of Georgia and Tennessee resulted in some settlement by them in the area. Eventually the
members of the Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole) were forced
to leave their homes in the east. During this sad chapter of American history, these peoples traveled
along what is now known as the Trail of Tears, and settled in the eventual Indian Territory. Despite
some friction between these tribes and the Osage tribes, the newcomers established their cultures with
relative success.
The American Civil War brought minor battles to what is now Oklahoma. Because the Five Civilized
Tribes sided with the Confederacy, they lost the western part of Indian Territory to other eastern
tribes. The region witnessed additional changes from the famous cattle drives from Texas to Kansas,
such as the Chisholm Trail. The railroad arrived in the 1870s, resulting in increasing numbers of
white settlers. The 1880s brought a land grab to claim homesteads; illegal settlers who claimed land
prior to the set schedule of high noon were called "sooners". In 1890, the western part of
modern Oklahoma became the Oklahoma Territory. The Dawes Commission of 1893 brought about division of
tribal lands, and ultimately more land opened for white settlers. Indian Territory and Oklahoma
Territory joined in 1907, to create the state of Oklahoma.
The 20th century witnessed the advent of the oil boom and valuable cash crops. However, the 1920s
brought difficult times, with drought and poor farming methods leading to the Dust Bowl. Eventually
the region learned better farming techniques, and with the advent of World War II, the agricultural
bounty of Oklahoma greatly aided the state. The latter half of the 20th century resulted in improved
irrigation for farms, along with the creation of reservoirs for water conservation. Oklahoma
experienced fluctuations in oil prices, revealing its vulnerability to the volatile oil market. A
tragic chapter of American history occurred on April 19, 1995, the date of the Oklahoma City attack.
The Sooner State has weathered much throughout its history. Today, the state shows great promise in
diversifying its economy to meet the needs of the 21st century. Indeed the state lives up to its motto,
Labor omnia vincit, "labor conquers all things".
Many notable individuals have called Oklahoma their home. These include former president Woodrow
Wilson; singers Woody Guthrie, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Patti Page, Vince Gill, and Jeremy Castle;
actors Brad Pitt, James Garner, Van Heflin, Ben Johnson, Jennifer Jones, Tony Randall, Dale Robertson,
Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Ted Schackleford; director Ron Howard; astronauts Gordon Cooper, Owen K.
Garriott, and Shannon Lucid; baseball players Mickey Mantle and Johnny Bench; evangelist Oral Roberts;
journalist Bill Moyers; and broadcaster Paul Harvey, among others.
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