Northwestern Oklahoma facts for kids

Map of Oklahoma highlighting Northwestern Oklahoma.

The Glass Mountains are a series of flat-topped hills called mesas, located south of the Cimarron River.

Northwestern Oklahoma is a special part of the state of Oklahoma. It includes the long, narrow strip of land known as the Oklahoma Panhandle. This region stretches east towards Interstate 35 and south along the Canadian River.

Many people call Northwest Oklahoma "Red Carpet Country." This nickname comes from the area's reddish soil. It's like a "red carpet" welcoming visitors into Oklahoma.

This region is made up of many counties, including Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Woods, Alfalfa, Grant, Kay, Ellis, Woodward, Major, Garfield, Noble, Dewey, Blaine, and Kingfisher counties.

The city of Enid is very important to the economy of Northwestern Oklahoma. It has the biggest airport in the region. Other key cities include Guymon, Ponca City, Woodward, and Alva.

History of Northwestern Oklahoma

Map showing Oklahoma Territory, Indian Territory, and the "neutral territory" before Oklahoma became a state.

Northwestern Oklahoma became part of the United States in a few steps. First, it was part of the huge Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Later, when Texas joined the U.S. in 1845, some of this land was included.

The "No Man's Land" Area

At that time, a law called the Missouri Compromise said that slavery was not allowed in the area that would become the Oklahoma Panhandle. In 1850, Texas gave up its claims to lands north of a certain line (36°30' latitude). This created a 170-mile-long strip of land that didn't belong to any state or territory. People called it the "Public Land Strip" or, more commonly, "No Man's Land."

The western border of "No Man's Land" was set by the boundary of New Mexico Territory. The northern border was set by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854, which made it the southern edge of Kansas Territory.

Becoming Part of Oklahoma

In 1889, new lands were opened for settlement. In 1890, a law called the Organic Act officially added "No Man's Land" to the new Oklahoma Territory. It was first called Seventh County and then quickly renamed Beaver County.

Northwestern Oklahoma took its current shape in 1907. That's when Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory joined together to form the single U.S. state of Oklahoma.

Geography and Landscapes

Northwest Oklahoma has a very interesting landscape. It ranges from dry, flat plains to areas with mountains and flat-topped hills called mesas. This is because the region is part of the Southwest Tablelands ecoregion.

Unique Natural Features

You can find canyons and grasslands here, like the Rita Blanca National Grassland. These features give Northwest Oklahoma a look similar to the Southwest, different from other parts of the state.

Black Mesa is Oklahoma's highest point, standing at 4,973 feet tall. It's part of a large group of mesas in the panhandle that stretch into New Mexico. Another famous group of mesas is the Glass (or Gloss) Mountains. These are located in the middle of Northwest Oklahoma, just south of the Cimarron River along Highway 412.

You can also find Great Salt Plains Lake near Alva. It's one of the largest inland salt lakes in the United States.