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Home » Oklahoma » Tulsa, Oklahoma: Overview and History » History

Tulsa, Oklahoma, was originally part of an Indian territory, inhabited by a group of Indians who were forced out of their native state, Alabama. In 1901 oil was discovered in Red Fork, a community southwest of Tulsa. The town began to flourish as investors flooded the region. When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Tulsa’s population was 7,300, and it would blossom to 72,000 in just thirteen short years.

Tulsa is located in the northeast part of the state and is the county seat of Tulsa County. With a population in Tulsa proper of around 390,000, Tulsa is the second largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The population of the entire metropolitan area is about 930,000.

Tulsa is the 45th largest city in the United States. It used to be known as “The Oil Capital of the World,” before relinquishing that title to Houston, Texas, after the “Oil Bust” of 1982-1984. The Arkansas River runs right through the heavily wooded town with lush green vegetation. Tulsa is about 100 miles from Oklahoma City, the state’s capital.

Tulsa is in prime location as far as travel, being located ideally for travel by car for a large portion of the nation. Tulsa International Airport serves the city’s air travelers, and is mostly served by Interstate 44, although Interstates 244 and 444 along with many state routes provide good traffic flow in the downtown area. One of the world’s most famous roads also provides service to Tulsa: Route 66.

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