The population grew following the census and reached , in the census. Oklahoma City's city limits extend somewhat into Canadian , Cleveland , and Pottawatomie counties. However, much of those areas outside the core Oklahoma County area are suburban tracts or protected rural zones watershed.
The city is the eighth-largest in the United States by area including consolidated city-counties ; it is the second-largest, after Houston , not including consolidated cities. The city is also the second-largest by area among state capital cities in the United States, after Juneau, Alaska.
Oklahoma City has one of the world's largest livestock markets. The city is in the middle of an active oil field, and oil derricks dot the capitol grounds. Located in the state's Frontier Country region, the city's northeast section lies in an ecological region known as the Cross Timbers. The city was founded during the Land Run of and grew to a population of over 10, within hours of its founding.
It was the site of the April 19, , bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building , in which people died, [ 13 ] the deadliest terror attack in U. Since weather records have been kept beginning in , Oklahoma City has been struck by 14 violent tornadoes , 11 of which were rated F4 or EF4 on the Fujita and Enhanced Fujita scales , and two rated F5 and EF5.
Oklahoma City was settled on April 22, , [ 17 ] when the area known as the " Unassigned Lands " was opened for settlement in an event known as " The Land Run ". Some 10, homesteaders settled in the area that would become the capital of Oklahoma.
