History: Oklahoma Becomes 46th U.S. State 117 Years Ago

Saturday is a special anniversary for the state of Oklahoma!

On November 16, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt signed a proclamation admitting Oklahoma as the 46th state in the Union.

Statehood Day activities and the inauguration of Charles N. Haskell, Oklahoma’s first governor, took place in Guthrie at the Carnegie Library, which is still open to the public today as part of the Oklahoma Territorial Museum.

Statehood Proclamation

President Theodore Roosevelt signed the statehood proclamation, officially admitting Oklahoma into the Union. "Oklahoma has become a state, standing on full equity with her elder sisters, and her future is assured by her great natural resources," President Roosevelt said to Congress in his annual message on Dec. 3, 1907.

Union of Two Territories

The state of Oklahoma was formed by combining Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory, which had previously been separate entities. According to the National Archives, the people of the Indian and Oklahoma Territories voted favorably on statehood on Sept. 17, 1907.

The Name "Oklahoma"

The name comes from the Choctaw words "okla" (people) and "humma" (red), translating to "red people." Choctaw Chief Allen Wright suggested the name during treaty negotiations.

First Governor

Charles N. Haskell became Oklahoma's first governor, inaugurated immediately after statehood was declared. He served until 1911 and Haskell County is named after him.

Capital Dispute

Guthrie was initially designated as the state capital, but a contentious decision in 1910 moved the capital to Oklahoma City, sparking political debates.  According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, "Rivalry between Guthrie and Oklahoma City for the capital existed until June 11, 1910. By a majority vote of the people on that date, Oklahoma City was selected as the state capital, and the state seal was moved from Guthrie to Oklahoma City."

Flag of 1907

The original state flag, adopted shortly after statehood, featured a white star with the number 46 in the center, representing Oklahoma's place as the 46th state. The original flag was used until the adoption of the current flag in 1925.

State Vegetable is a Watermelon

The watermelon officially became the state vegetable in 2007, introduced in the state House by Democratic Representative Joe Dorman of Rush Springs and sponsored by State Senator Don Barrington, R-Lawton.

Watermelon grows well in Oklahoma weather; in 2015, Oklahoma produced 54,000 hundredweight of watermelon (over 3,000 tons), generating $7 million for the state’s economy, according to Oklahoma Agriculture in the Classroom.