Prior
to Oklahoma organizing the Cabinet form of Government, a cumbersome
bureaucratic nonsense, the management of government was contained in the Office
of Governor by Senior Administrative Assistants. Below that level were
Administrative Assistants. Staff Assistants were largely secretarial.
I
was one of the Senior Administrative Assistants. The areas of interest given me
were Economic Development and Intergovernmental Affairs. The two departments of
state that were the pinnacle were the Department of Economic Development [Now
Oklahoma Department of Commerce] and the Department of Tourism. There were
others, i.e. Department of Labor, Office of Lt. Governor, the business
regulatory agencies and commissions, e.g. Oklahoma Banking Commission etc.
In
other words, I was the Governor’s Liaison to the Department of Tourism. When
the Director, Abe Hesser then, needed something or needed passed on to the
Governor, it went through yours truly. It worked like a well-oiled machine.
When
it began, my area of expertise was Industrial Development. I had to learn most
of what I now know about Tourism and Recreation. It was fascinating to me. We
promoted the state for tourism by Oklahoma’s 6 distinct countries. Believe me,
they are distinct. To fully comprehend it all, you must understand the land
runs and the Indian Territories prior to statehood.
Oklahoma
has 13 Eco Regions, determined by the EPA in Washington, DC; more than any
other state in the USA. These different Eco Regions plays a role in this 6-country
map. I grew up in SE Oklahoma aka “Little Dixie”, named that for how this
region was ultimately settled. I had not ventured in much of Oklahoma outside
of Little Dixie until I joined the staff of Office of Governor. Due to my
position, I was given a unique opportunity to see these other regions by land,
and by air. You can add by water to that, considering my trip down the Arkansas
River on the McClellan-Kerr Water Navigation System. Oklahoma has some of the
cleanest air in the US of A. As an example, one can spot Mt. Scott near Lawton,
while taking off from Wiley Post Airport in OKC. The distance between is 87
miles.
Mount
Scott is a prominent mountain just to the northwest of Lawton, Oklahoma rising
to a height of 2,464 feet. It is located in the Wichita Mountains near Fort
Sill Military Reservation and lies in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife
Refuge. Wikipedia
Elevation: 2,464′
Prominence: 823′
Mt.
Scott is in Great Plains Country. This part of Oklahoma, as well as Red Carpet
Country, is polar opposite of Little Dixie. You would swear you were
somewhere in the 4 corners of the US or maybe New Mexico, Texas or SE Colorado.
Everything about these two countries is different, including the people. Again,
that is due to the several land runs, Indian Territories, etc.
The
most fascinating part of it to me is what was known as “No Man’s Land”, the
Panhandle of Oklahoma. It has its own unique history. It would be in the
Mountain Time Zone, but for a pencil, drawn around the panhandle to keep it in
the Central Time Zone.
Kenton,
OK is in the far western part of Cimarron County, named for the river. Kenton
is just below the Black Mesa. There are students from Kenton and surrounding
towns that share schools with the state of Texas. In fact. a grade school lies
in Oklahoma for students from both Texas and Oklahoma to attend. There is also
a high school in Texas where students from both Oklahoma and Texas attend.
These kiddos must be terribly confused. Identity Crisis is an understatement.
They don’t know who/ what they are…
If
you want to visit Kenton and the Black Mesa, there is but one B&B there. Book it! I am supplying just a few photos of some points of interest. There are landscapes, the old mercantile, aerial view, dinosaur tracks/ bones, the B&B, Original HQ of the 101 Ranch, rock formations, night skies and a view of Kenton from the Black Mesa. I think you will find them of interest. I am not familiar with any other place with attributes akin to this. You be the judge.
The 6 Countries
Kenton OK
Kenton is a census designated place (CDP) in Cimarron County, Oklahoma, United States. From Kenton, it is approximately 155 miles (249 km) south to Amarillo, Texas, 237 miles (381 km) northwest to Colorado Springs, Colorado, 306 miles (492 km) northwest to Denver, Colorado, 314 miles (505 km) southwest to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and 361 miles (581 km) southeast to Oklahoma City, the nearest major population centers.
Kenton had 17 residents at the 2010 census. Kenton, which lies in the Cimarron River valley, is just south of Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma. It serves as an unofficial staging point for visitors to Black Mesa.
Elevation 4330’
Oklahoma Top Attractions Along Route 66
Oklahoma State Parks
33 of Them
1 comment:
Incredible, very educational and interesting.Oklahoma is Amazing!
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