5 Oklahoma Myths People Still Believe

Kicking this list off with a bang, and yes, I've had this discussion before. Someone thought there were still disputes and prairie wars with our Native American populations here.

They may say it in a way that's far more insensitive, but it was a real question from someone who truly believed Oklahoma was still the Wild West.

I remember being confused when asked, and seeing the gears work behind their eyes in explaining how much stronger Oklahoma is working in conjunction with the various tribes that call this land home.

I'd honestly hate to see an economy without that diversity, especially considering how much our tribes contribute to this state.

Yep. I was asked that on a trip to California a few years ago.

After talking with this person about how they could think that, it's sort of understandable. By far, the most famous thing Oklahoma is known for is our tornado season. As news media big and small have moved beyond reporting factual and objective news, there is a narrative to sensationalize everything all over the country.

Apparently, since they are so susceptible to high winds and twisters, torn-up mobile homes are usually the "stock footage" most places use when talking about Oklahoma's wild weather.

Luckily, it's been nearly ten years since our last record event... a trend we all hope will continue.

This might actually be the most common thing people from anywhere else ask me.

People know Oklahoma for being part of the Great Plains. What they don't realize is, Oklahoma's plains area doesn't even represent half of this state... but it's probably the most of any one type of topography.

If you didn't know, Oklahoma is the most ecologically diverse place on the entire planet. High desert, caprock plateau, mountain ranges, rolling hills, Ozark basin, forests, and even alligator swamps. We're literally alpine hills and frozen tundra away from having it all, but we'll settle for what we do have.

Oklahoma is not flat or plains all over.

You may laugh, but I've been asked this more than a few times. City slickers tend to romance the things they see in movies and what they read in books. As such, when I tell people I live in Oklahoma, this is usually the second topic that comes up after our famous weather.

People don't quite understand that while Oklahoma may have once been famous for the roaming bison, they were hunted to near extinction everywhere across this country.

These days, if you live near Lawton, you know you can see bison roam out in the Wichita's, but there's a lot more out in the wilds of the Sooner State.

There is a handful of places that host herds of bison across this land, but if you really want to see the buffalo roam you have to visit the Tall Grass Prairie Pawhuska.

You can drive through it just like the wildlife refuge here in the mountains, but you won't see a handful of buffalo wandering around far from the road... In Pawhuska, you'll see herds of thousands all moving around as one, like a thunderstorm on the prairie.

I get it. It's understandable. In movies, the news, tv shows, and pop culture, Oklahoma is the land of tornadoes.

I don't know about you, but I love watching weather-type informational entertainment. It's been that way ever since Twister was filmed in my hometown when I was eleven or twelve, and to be honest, more research has been done since then than ever before.

That being said, every show about tornadoes out there usually begins in Oklahoma. It's especially weird since Oklahoma isn't at the top of the "States With The Most Tornadoes" list.

Technically, we're number four.

Texas is number one, any state that big is bound to rule the numbers. Kansas is number two, Florida is number three and we find an average number next down the list.

All the same, Oklahoma has the most violent and biggest tornadoes in the world, which is probably why everyone assumes tornadoes happen all the time, and if you live here, you'll be affected by one.