Southwest Oklahoma is a geographical name for the southwest portion of the state ofOklahoma, typically considered to be south of theCanadian River, extending eastward from theTexas border to a line roughly fromWeatherford, toAnadarko, toDuncan. Geologically, the region is defined by a failed continental rift known as theSouthern Oklahoma Aulacogen. The austere nature of the prairie landscape with intermittentisland ranges has made it a favorable place for artists and photographers alike. For tourism purposes, theOklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department has designated Southwestern Oklahoma asGreat Plains Country, and defined it to consist of 14 counties includingRoger Mills,Custer,Beckham,Washita,Caddo,Kiowa,Greer,Harmon,Jackson,Comanche,Tillman,Cotton,Stephens, andJefferson counties.[1]
Anchored byLawton, its largest city, Southwest Oklahoma's other important urban centers includeElk City,Clinton,Weatherford,Walters,Altus, andDuncan.
One section of the 1890 Organic Act established that a lawsuit should be filed to clarify the boundary between Oklahoma and Texas.[2] The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1896 that what had been considered part of Texas would now be part of Oklahoma Territory.[2] The area makes up the southwestern corner of Oklahoma and today consists ofBeckham County,Harmon County,Jackson County, andGreer County.[2]
Another portion of Southwestern Oklahoma was opened up through theLand Run of 1892. Land formerly owned by the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes becameOklahoma Territory and today includesBlaine County,Dewey County,Custer County, andRoger Mills County andWashita County.[3]
Consisting of grassland and gently rolling hills, Southwest Oklahoma is atypical to the rest of theGreat Plains region of the United States, as it is less dry than adjacentWest Texas and contains many geographic features which further differentiates the unique climate. The area has ahumid subtropical climate, receiving anywhere from about 20 inches of precipitation annually in the far west, to 35 inches annually in the eastern section.[4] Monsoon-like rains are common in the spring months, while periods of drought can occur throughout other parts of the year.
The region has several small,sky island mountain ranges, the largest of which being theWichita Mountains, considered by geologists to be one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world.[5]
The region is known for its many rare, relic plant species, acting as the northern and western boundaries for many iconic plant species such as theescarpment live oak,nolina,bigtooth maple, andsugar maple.
Significant geographic landmarks include theBlack Kettle National Grassland, theTaovayan Valley, theWichita Mountains, theAntelope Hills, and theQuartz Mountains.
Southwestern Oklahoma has a humidsubtropical climate with frequent variations in weather.[6]
The average mean temperature for Southwestern Oklahoma is 61.9 °F (16.6 °C). The summers have an average 21 days with temperatures 100 °F (37.8 °C) and above.[7] The area averages eight days that fail to rise above freezing.[7] The region receives about 31.6 inches (800 mm) of precipitation.[7]
Typically in late April through early June, Southwestern Oklahoma is prone tosevere weather which can include tornadoes.[8] Notably in1957, anF4 tornado and again in1979 an F3 tornado struck the southern region of Lawton.[9]
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Southwestern Oklahoma's economy is anchored in theUnited States Armed Forces and agriculture, manufacturing, and energy industries. Two military bases,Fort Sill inLawton andAltus Air Force Base east-northeast ofAltus, Oklahoma, are large employers in the region. Cattle is a major agricultural product of the region.Wind farms and oil and gas companies are other major employers in the region.
Southwestern Oklahoma is home to both public and private primary and secondary schools, though there are fewer private schools than in other parts of the state, such asOklahoma City andTulsa.
The Oklahoma public school system is known for itspre-kindergarten education. The National Institute for Early Education Research rated it first in the United States with regard to standards, quality, and access to pre-kindergarten education in 2004, calling it a model forearly childhood education.[10] In 2004, the state ranked 36th in the nation for the relative number of adults withhigh school diplomas, though at 85.2 percent, it had the highest rate among southern states.[11][12]
Private schools in the Southwestern Oklahoma include Western Oklahoma Christian School inClinton and Corn Bible Academy inCorn.
Cameron University is the largest four-year, publicuniversity in Southwestern Oklahoma.[13] The university has an average fall enrollment of 6,000 students with 70 endowed faculty positions.[14]
The region is also home toSouthwestern Oklahoma State University, apublic university with locations inWeatherford andSayre. It was placed at Tier 1 in the category "Regional Universities (West)" in the 2011U.S. News & World Report.[15] SWOSU has 15 nationally accredited academic programs—the most among Oklahoma's senior regional universities.fore i
TheComanche Nation College in Lawton provided lower division programs, before its closure on July 31, 2017.[16]
The region is also served by theGreat Plains Technology Center andWestern Technology Center, both of which are part of theOklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education System.
