I've been looking for somewhere to move for a while now. So far narrowed it down to Tennessee or Texas, but in my research, I found out Oklahoma has a bunch of mountains in the eastern half of the state. Since I'm a sucker for mountain views, I've decided to look into it a bit more. I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty much ignorant about Oklahoma. All I know is it has the second highest population of Indians, it's super religious (a big plus), and there's lots of modern cowboys and tornados.
So figured I'd ask some fellow patriots what it's like and see if it's a nice place to live. From what research I've done so far, it LOOKS freaking beautiful when you're in the mountainous parts.
I live near the Wichita Mountains in the Southwest, and they have some amazing hiking trails for you if you're the mountain type!
We've also got America's largest artillery base in the Wichita Mountains, so if you like the sound of Freedom, this is a great place for some BOOMS. (Also a good place to be if shit ever hits the fan, Ft. Sill will be like the Alamo if it came down to it.)
I've lived here my entire life, I'm well traveled but still decided to raise my family here because it is the most free and friendly place I have ever seen.
People leave you alone for the most part, but when you need some help, Okies are always sure to step up and offer a hand.
We have more churches than gas stations, which like you said is a plus, and we live in harmony with the Native Americans (I'm actually part Chickasaw).
If you've got more questions, I'm probably your guy, so fire away.
All pluses so far for me. I guess my only real concern would be the tornados. I'd imagine it's an infrequent thing, but I've never really had to deal with Tornados before where I live so I'm curious how bad it is down there?
I've actually seen 2 tornadoes in person, they're not as bad as the media portrays.
So... a cool story about the Wichita Mountains, legend has it that the Comanche Indians chose to settle in this area because the Mountains offered them protection from the elements more than anywhere else in the state.
And from my experience, they actually do, many of the tornado warnings come to pass as the storms split over the mountains.
So, if tornadoes are a real concern for you, Lawton is a good area to avoid them.
Now for the rest of the state... yeah we get tornadoes, especially in Moore, but if your home is insured and you have a tornado shelter installed, you'll be alright even if a tornado takes your home.
That's because you only seen them. When you get hit by them, they are every bit as bad as they are reported to be.
Your chances of survival in a tornado are actually pretty high.
One of the tornadoes I saw up close took my neighbors house, pretty much the whole thing.
They were all laying in their bathroom tub and they survived, they walked out of all the debris just fine and we started cleaning up.
Wow sounds like you friends were pretty lucky.
Surviving is nice, but I had just as soon not have a tornado hit and have to go through all work to recover from a tornado hit.
I agree. Tornadoes suck, but we seem to have really good alert systems. Just make sure to have proper shelter and use it. We have a large safe room (16x24) that has a cellar underneath it. I turned the safe room into my man cave and installed a over the air antennae so we can watch the local weather during storms. The cellar has electricity and battery back up, television, Nintendo Wii, movies, and an all in one computer that acts as a hot spot. Our router has a battery backup on a trickle charger. Normally I sit at the bar and have a few drinks while the kiddos go down and play games or watch a movie. The main thing it not to panic and just accept that it happens. Now days they are happening world wide, so I'd expect it to continue until we quit pissing off the God who created us.
Hmm actually looking better and better, doesn't Oklahoma have Constitutional carry too?
Yep, open carry allowed, many of my customers at work have a .45 on display while shopping
And for those that are worried by this kind of policy... of course my employees are better armed than the customers
They leave you alone. Great place
Old Joke:
How do know someone is from Oklahoma?
When they go outside to watch the tornado.
I have been a resident my entire life. Fire away.
Mountains. These aren't Colorado Mountains.
There is a very involved river and lake system on the entire Eastern Side. Lots of outdoor activities.
You should visit before making any decisions.
Having grown up in OK, my husband and I go stand on our front porch when storms hit where we live now (another state). It brings back memories.
What do you do for work? Depending on what you do it narrows it down.. But eastern Oklahoma is beautiful, moving too close to any city is cancer in my mind..
I'm lucky enough that work isn't really a factor in this. I can just pick up and move if I wanted to. I've just been holding out hope that my state would turn around, but I've finally got sick of it all. Though I know it's probably actually a red state, I have basically no close family around here anymore other than my parents, who are going to move first chance they get as well, so I figured it's a sign to move somewhere new and meet new people.
You are welcome here, people have no problem with newcomers. I know I moved here to ok 30 years ago from Denver. Denver had better mountains,but is a shithole.
It’s the reddest state in the union, so ya got that going for you.
Also a good point. Pretty sure Oklahoma and West Virginia are the only states with consistent 30%+ red win margins.
Southeastern OK is absolutely gorgeous. We've spent thirty years or more going down there to just ride trails, camp, and just get away. Find somewhere that is close to some fresh water just in case, no matter where you go. Oklahoma seemed kind of backwards as I grew up, but Grandma always called it God's country, and now I know why. Wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. We live in the boonies on a ranch with all kinds of wild hogs, deer, small game, fishing, and plant life...not to mention our livestock. We're prepared for just about anything and so are our neighbors. Don't be a stranger..get to know your neighbors. They might not trust you much at first, but stay kind and respectful and they will come around. Act like a dick and you will be treated like a dick, or worse.
Take a look at Arkansas...
Wasn’t there a thing in Arkansas about putting a statue of baphomet at the state capitol?
Bill Clinton is from there too, so if you’re running from Satan, you should be careful about Arkansas
Lived in oklahoma 30 years, and love the people here.
Just don't move to Moore it's a tornado magnet.
Fucking awesome, that's how it is. Boomer Sooner.
Their college football teams can’t play defense. Other than that, I have no idea.
Hey now, we just make sure to score more than the other guys... BOOMER SOONER
Boomer Sooner!!! We actually have a markedly better defense now. I can't wait!
First time in almost 2 decades I am more excited to see the defense than the offense.
For sure!! Grinch has done some awesome work with those boys.
That sounds great, but I'm having a hard time getting past the OU CRT liberal bullshit. My oldest daughter decided to go there against my warnings, and now she is a liberal POS that won't let us see our Grandchild because we're racist, misogynist (I stay home and home school our kids, and my wife works..haha), and conspiracy theorist who won't take our covid shots to keep her safe. In reality, she's just like her mom (my ex) and using a child I love as a weapon. Call me callous, but after twenty years of that nonsense I do not negotiate with terrorist.
I grew up in that area and it is nice. Though, ice storms tend to break the trees a lot and it looks spacious after it. ;)
Also, Okies have no clue how to drive on ice
I never liked it. It's more treacherous than snow!
I live in Texas and my plan is to move to Arkansas. It’s red, wetter than Oklahoma so I can water my crops and animals, and has mountains. Also I think it’s cheaper to buy land there than OK.
Well its not Michigan so its probably way better...
Texan here. Drove to Oklahoma twice in the last year. OKC and Stillwater. It depends on what you are looking for friend. If you are looking for small town vibes, there are good ones in both Oklahoma and Texas. Moving to a new place requires that you do as much research as humanly possible both online and go there to see it with your own eyes. I drove to Lawton, OK when I was up there and it was different in person than it seemed online. OKC is definitely a major city with a big economy compared to the rest of the state. Stillwater is a nice college town but a small economy
Windy the more north you go. Beautiful land.
Don't fall for the Buffalo burger billboards, like eating cardboard.
is there alot of drugs in rural OK? like meth labs everywhere, heroine etc etc? or is it pretty decent? im sure certain areas are worse than others but where would be a good rural area to move to?
Small towns - oklahoma, texas, or arkansas - take some getting used to. Life is just slower & change is NOT welcome! But they are wonderful places to live!
Flat
We have mountains! They're not Colorado mountains or anything, but it's not Nebraska
I'll admit that it's been awhile and my observation is limited to what I could see while driving across OK on I-40.
Like, actual North Texas or is this some kind of in joke about Oklahoma being "North" Texas?
I've heard DFW is a living hell anymore, but I wouldn't really say it's californication. More like, it's rapidly becoming the biggest metro in the country so it's getting all of the problems that come with having the population of a small nation packed into 3-ish counties (I'm counting Denton).
But yeah, not interested in that area. If I were to live in Texas I'd pick somewhere in hill country or West Texas. it's kind of weird what's happening right now since we basically have an internal refuge "crisis" occurring where massive numbers of conservatives, and some liberals, are fleeing blue states for red states. Which is good on one hand, but on the other hand there's only so much room in cities, hence the massive increase in cost of living in places like DFW, Miami, etc,
More people are wanting to move there than housing will allow, thus by the law of supply and demand, everything is going to skyrocket. So it's a conundrum. On one hand, everyone welcomes the millions of extra red votes. On the other hand, more people means more problems.
But I loathe large cities anyway, mainly for all of the reasons you mentioned. I like to actually be able to talk to my neighbor and know them, rather than just grunt as a slight acknowledgement of their existence on the rare occasion our eyes lock.
Lifelong Texan.... lived in Ntx since 2000. Contemplating OK or TN myself.