Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is the capital Oklahoma State with nearly 600,000 inhabitants. The city of Oklahoma also serves as the county seat of Oklahoma County. Oklahoma City's rural and suburban areas extend into three nearby counties. The larger metro-area population is 1,252,987. When it comes to total land area, Oklahoma City is the 8th-largest within the US. The city of Oklahoma is occasionally referred to as "OKC".
The city of Oklahoma is oil rich. In fact, the city itself is situated in the middle of an oil field. Oil derricks are a common sight. Petroleum, oil and natural gas form the main sector of the economy. Oklahoma City is also one of the top livestock markets within the world. The Tinker Air Force Base and the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center employ numerous local people.
Homesteaders started to settle within the area in 1889. In one day, the population grew by 10,000 people. In the year 1910, the city was named state capital. The population quickly grew again in the 1920s with the discovery of oil. The city became a regional power center of government and energy exploration. The oil business has been the city's main sector up to now. The city of Oklahoma is where the parking meter and the traffic signal were invented.
The economy of Oklahoma City is extremely diversified with much business focused on services, information technology, administration sectors and health services. Two Fortune 500 companies are located within the city of Oklahoma: Devon Energy Corporation and the Chesapeake Energy Corporation. There are several Fortune 1000 companies here as well. Oklahoma City is home to the corporate restaurants and corporate head office of Sonic Drive-In. Devon Energy has plans for a huge skyscraper in the city downtown, expected to open in the year 2013. Continental Resources plans to base its new headquarters downtown during the year 2012.
Many residents find employment with federal and state government agencies, and at Tinker Air Force Base, the University of Central Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma. Significant companies include AAA, AT&T, American Fidelity, Bank of America, The Boeing Company, Bank of Oklahoma, Braum's, Dell, Farmer's Insurance, The Hertz Corporation, The Hartford, Integris Health JP Morgan Chase, St. Anthony Health System, Mercy Health System, Williams-Sonoma, Sprint/Nextel, Xerox and United Parcel Service.