National Park Service A Study of the Park and Recreation Problem of the United States

THE POPULATION is well distributed over the State, with the greatest concentrations in the central section between Oklahoma City, the largest city, McAlester, and Tulsa. In this section are located the oil fields, chiefly responsible for the density of population. The western and southeastern sections of the State have the lowest density, due to the light rainfall in the former and poor soils and rugged topography in the latter. Approximately two-thirds of the total was classed as rural in 1930-89. 7 percent native-born white, 7 percent Negro, and about 3 percent Indian.

The forested mountain country of the eastern quarter of the State and the Arbuckle Mountain area in the south-central section constitute the major recreational areas.

During the last six years, the State of Oklahoma has made definite strides in developing a State park system which will meet the outdoor recreation needs of the people. At the present time, most of the people of the State are within a 50- to 75-mile radius of a State park. The great est recreational area deficiency is near Oklahoma City.

Many of Oklahoma's future State parks and recreational areas should be adjacent to the several large reservoirs which are nearing completion. Water is the greatest attraction for recreation enthusiasts for either day, week-end, or vacation use. The most important recreational need is for day-use areas within the 15- to 25-mile zone of the population centers.

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¹ Area under Federal administration June 1938.

² Area transferred to Oklahoma A. & M. College for administration.

³ The Oklahoma Recreation Study Report, Parks and Recreation in Oklahoma, March 1939,lists 65 out-of-town municipal parks, the ones listed here are the more important ones in the State recreation picture.