State of Oklahoma and Its Capital
A relatively short time later, Oklahoma became a state. On November 16, 1907, it was officially the 46th state of the Union. Based largely on the proposition of striking it rich through oil, Oklahoma grew exponentially in its early years.Guthrie, several miles North of Oklahoma City, had been the territorial capital of Oklahoma. By 1910, Oklahoma City's population had surpassed 60,000, and many felt it should be the state's capital. A petition was called, and the support was there.
The Lee-Huckins Hotel served as the temporary capitol building until the permanent capitol was built in 1917.
Continued Oil Boom
Oklahoma City's various oil fields not only brought people to the city; they also brought money. The city continued to expand, adding commercial areas, public trolleys and a variety of other industries.Oklahoma City suffered during the Great Depression like everyone else, but many had already become quite rich from the oil boom.
In the 1960's, though, Oklahoma City began to seriously decline. The oil had dried up, and many were migrating outside of the metro to various suburban areas. Various recovery attempts for the most part failed until the early 1990's.
