Wikipedia:Today's featured article/November 16, 2007

Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With 3,579,212 residents in 2006, it is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state by land area. Its name is derived from the Choctaw words okla and humma, meaning "red people", and its capital and largest city is Oklahoma City. Formed from Indian Territory on November 16, 1907, it was the 46th state to enter the union. A major producer of natural gas, oil and food, Oklahoma relies on an economic base of aviation, energy, telecommunications, and biotechnology. It has one of the fastest growing economies in the nation, leading states in gross domestic product growth and ranking third in per capita income growth. With small mountain ranges, prairie, and eastern forests, most of Oklahoma lies in the Great Plains and the U.S. Interior Highlands—a region especially prone to severe weather. Part of the Bible Belt, widespread beliefs in evangelical Christianity make Oklahoma one of the most conservative states, though its voter registration in the Democratic Party exceeds the Republican Party. (more...)