Politics of Oklahoma in 1989
In 1989, Oklahoma was firmly in the grip of the Republican Party. The state had voted for a Republican presidential candidate in every election since 1948, and both of its senators and five of its six representatives were Republicans. This political shift began in the 1970s when a growing number of conservative voters began to support the GOP.
The Republican governor of Oklahoma at this time was Henry Bellmon who had been elected to his second four-year term in 1986. He had previously served as a U.S. senator from 1969 to 1981 and had been instrumental in bringing Oklahoma into the GOP fold. He was a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility and often clashed with Democrats on issues such as taxes and welfare spending.
During his tenure, Bellmon worked hard to attract businesses to Oklahoma by offering incentives such as tax breaks, infrastructure improvements, and low-interest loans. He also supported legislation that encouraged economic development through deregulation, privatization, and other measures designed to make it easier for companies to do business in the state.
Bellmon’s efforts paid off as several major corporations chose to open offices or relocate their headquarters to Oklahoma during his tenure including Dell Computer Corporation which opened an assembly plant near Tulsa in 1988. His pro-business policies helped create thousands of jobs throughout the state while also helping draw more investment dollars into Oklahoma – both from domestic sources as well as foreign entities looking for stability within the United States economy.
At this same time, there were some attempts by Democrats to make gains in Oklahoma but they were largely unsuccessful due to Bellmon’s popularity among voters who saw him as an honest leader who was willing to work with people from both sides of the aisle on key issues facing the state at that time such as education reform, environmental protection, and healthcare reform initiatives which he wholeheartedly supported throughout his tenure in office.
Overall, 1989 saw Oklahoma firmly entrenched within a conservative political climate under Governor Bellmon’s leadership – one which would continue until his retirement from office at the end of 1990 when he chose not seek re-election due to health concerns related to cancer treatment he had been undergoing during his final year in office.
Population of Oklahoma in 1989
In 1989, Oklahoma was a state with a population of 3,145,585 people. The majority of the population was white (72%) while the remainder of the population was composed of African-Americans (10%), Native Americans (8%), Hispanics (4%) and Asians (2%). The largest cities in Oklahoma in 1989 were Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Lawton and Broken Arrow. See ehuacom for information about the capital city of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma had a median household income of $25,945 in 1989 which was slightly lower than the national median household income at that time. The poverty rate in Oklahoma during this period was 17.3%, which was higher than the national average at that time. This disparity between poverty rates in Oklahoma and elsewhere would remain steady until well into the mid-90s when economic growth began to take hold and poverty rates began to decline steadily.
In terms of education attainment, 61% of adults aged 25 years and over had completed high school or higher levels by 1989. However, only 19% had attained a bachelor’s degree or higher by that same time period. This educational attainment rate would rise steadily throughout the 90s as more Oklahomans pursued college degrees as economic opportunities became more available within the state.
The economy in Oklahoma during this period was largely based on manufacturing, agriculture and oil production which accounted for around 75% of all jobs within the state at that time. Agriculture employed around 10%, while manufacturing made up another 11%. Oil production alone accounted for around 4% of total employment in 1989 but its share would decline significantly over the following decades as other industries such as financial services grew more rapidly within the state’s economy.
Overall, by 1989 Oklahoma had firmly established itself as a politically conservative state under Governor Bellmon’s leadership while also making strides towards economic prosperity through diversifying its economy away from reliance on oil production towards other industries such as financial services and technology start-ups which began to take shape during this period and have since become major contributors to job growth within Oklahoma today.
Economy of Oklahoma in 1989
In 1989, Oklahoma’s economy was largely based on manufacturing, agriculture and oil production. Manufacturing accounted for 11% of total employment in the state during this period, with the majority of jobs in this sector being located in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City areas. The main industries included food processing, machine tools, electrical equipment, chemicals and petroleum products. Agriculture employed around 10% of Oklahomans at that time with cotton, wheat and livestock being the main products produced. Oil production alone accounted for around 4% of total employment in 1989 but its share would decline significantly over the following decades due to a decrease in oil prices.
Despite a reliance on these traditional industries, Oklahoma also began to diversify its economy during this period. Financial services such as banking began to become more prominent within the state as well as technology start-ups which began to take shape during this period and have since become major contributors to job growth within Oklahoma today. The growth of these new industries provided economic opportunities for many Oklahomans who had previously been reliant on traditional industries for their livelihoods.
The median household income in Oklahoma was $25,945 in 1989 which was slightly lower than the national median household income at that time. The poverty rate in Oklahoma during this period was 17.3%, which was higher than the national average at that time but would begin to decline steadily throughout the 90s as economic growth began to take hold within the state’s economy.
According to liuxers, by 1989 Oklahoma had firmly established itself as a politically conservative state under Governor Bellmon’s leadership while also making strides towards economic prosperity through diversifying its economy away from reliance on oil production towards other industries such as financial services and technology start-ups which began to take shape during this period and have since become major contributors to job growth within Oklahoma today.
Events held in Oklahoma in 1989
In 1989, Oklahoma was a state full of energy and excitement. The political scene was full of conservative leadership, and the economy had begun to diversify away from its traditional reliance on oil production. This was a time of growth for the state, and there were plenty of events to celebrate it.
The first major event in 1989 was the Oklahoma State Fair, held in Oklahoma City. This 10-day event attracted more than one million visitors each year with its carnival rides, livestock shows, agricultural exhibits, live concerts and more. It also featured an annual beauty pageant for young women ages 17-21 called Miss Oklahoma.
The Tulsa State Fair was another popular event that year. Held in Tulsa each September since 1909, this fair boasted rodeos, livestock shows and other attractions such as a carnival midway with rides and games as well as a variety of food vendors selling everything from traditional fair food to gourmet dishes.
The Native American Expo was also held in 1989 in Tulsa. This four-day event showcased Native American culture through art displays, dance performances and educational activities such as seminars on tribal history and language classes for children. The Expo also included an art market featuring handmade items by local artists as well as a Pow Wow which featured traditional dances from various tribes throughout the region.
In addition to these annual events, 1989 saw several one-time events taking place throughout the state such as the “Tribute to Bob Wills” concert held at the Tulsa Convention Center which celebrated legendary Western Swing musician Bob Wills’ 75th birthday with performances by some of his former bandmates including Leon Rausch and Johnny Gimble among others.
Finally, 1989 marked the 100th anniversary of Oklahoma’s statehood which was celebrated with festivities throughout the year such as parades showcasing local talent from across the state along with fireworks displays at night in several cities including Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
