Oklahoma was the 46th state to enter the union and is located in the South Central region of the United States. It has a population of 3,751,351 and is the 28th most populated state in the nation. At a size of 68,667 square miles and an average elevation of 1296 feet, it is located in the Central Standard Time zone of the United States (UTC-6). It entered the union as the 46th state on November 16, 1907. The current governor is Mary Fallin of the Republican Party.
Oklahoma is home to a large number of towns and cities. Some of its largest cities are Oklahoma City (the state’s capital), Tulsa, Norman, Lawton, Broken Arrow, Edmond, Midwest City, Moore, Enid, and Stillwater. Especially, Oklahoma City and Tulsa are counted among the 50 largest cities in the United States.
There are many reasons why Oklahoma is a good state to retire in for retired military personnel. First and foremost are the economic advantages. Also to be taken into consideration are the educational prospects, the cultural and recreational offerings, the healthcare offerings, and the large military presence.
One of the main economic reasons to retire to Oklahoma is the affordable housing cost. The median sales price for houses in Oklahoma is only $106,000. Also significant is that the unemployment rate is a very low 6.7%. The state’s biggest industries are aerospace, energy, and agriculture.
Another factor is Oklahoma’s educational offerings. The state offers fifty-two assorted colleges and universities, both four-year and two-year. The two biggest public universities in Oklahoma are the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. The University of Oklahoma is a public coeducational research university. Founded in 1890, the school has nearly 30000 students, undergraduate and graduate. The University of Oklahoma was named one of The Princeton Review’s “Best Value” colleges in 2007. Oklahoma State University is also a public coeducational research university. Founded in 1890, Oklahoma State University has an enrollment of around 35000. The Princeton Review listed it as one of the 120 “Best Western Colleges”.
Oklahoma has many interesting recreational and cultural offerings. The city is rich in several arts, such as jazz, classical music, ballet, and theater. It is ranked the 17th highest-ranking state in the nation in the arts. It contains more than 300 museums. It hosts many annual events, such as Native American pow-wows and other ethnic festivals. Both Oklahoma State Fair and the Tulsa State Fair attract over a million people every year, and Tulsa’s Oktoberfest was ranked by USA Today as one of the top 10 in the world.
The United States Department of Veteran Affairs has two hospitals and eleven community-based outpatient clinics located in Oklahoma. The two hospitals are in Muskogee and Oklahoma City.
There are four military bases in Oklahoma. The bases are: the Altus Air Force Base, the Tinker Air Force Base, the Vance Air Force Base, and Fort Sill. These bases feature commissaries, base exchanges, and clinics useable by veterans.
These are just some of the reasons that make Oklahoma one of the best places to retire in the United States for military retirees.
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