Economy

Until about the 1950's, Oklahoma's economy was based primarily on agriculture and mining. Since that time, service industries and manufacturing have become a major part of the state's economy.

Community, business, and personal services form Oklahoma's leading service industry group. These services include private health care and equipment rental companies. The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City is one of the nation's leading medical facilities. Also, companies that rent oil field equipment are important to the state.

Manufacturing activities have become more diversified in the past several decades. The making of transportation equipment, machinery, fabricated metal products, rubber and plastic products, and processed foods are prominent industries, both in terms of employment and in terms of value added by manufacture. The major part of the state's production of manufactured goods comes from the Tulsa and Oklahoma City areas.

About three-fourths of the state's land area is in farms. The raising of beef cattle, carried on throughout the state, is the chief agricultural activity. Cattle make up the vast majority of all the livestock raised and by value are the most important agricultural product. Dairying and the production of eggs are also significant.

Wheatis the principal crop—both in area planted and by value—and Oklahoma is one of the nation's top producers of this commodity. Other important crops include cotton, peanuts, soybeans, and animal feeds, such as hay and sorghum.

Oklahoma is among the leading states in total value of mineral production. It is a major producer of petroleum and natural gas, which together account for most of the value of the state's total mineral output. Central Oklahoma is the leading petroleum-producing area; the western part of the state leads in natural gas production. Coal is also produced in substantial amounts. Nonfuel minerals produced in sizable quantities include helium, stone, sand and gravel, clay, and gypsum.

About one-fifth of the state's land area is in forests. Most of the commercial-quality forests are in the eastern and southeastern parts of the state.

Much of Oklahoma's transportation network is in the central part of the state, with Tulsa and Oklahoma City the focal points for most traffic. The state is served by three Interstate highways and several toll highways, called turnpikes. Oklahoma is also served by several major railways. International airports are at Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Tulsa and Muskogee are Oklahoma's chief ports.