Oklahoma
Forbes named these Oklahoma employers some of the best in the country: See the list
National parks within driving distance of Oklahoma City
These national parks are great for a weekend road trip out of Oklahoma.
With more people content to remain at their current jobs, Forbes recently released its 2024 Best Employers by State.
The media company partnered with Statista to survey more than 160,000 employees working for companies with at least 500 people in the United States.
Forbes listed 35 companies in Oklahoma with 19 headquartered in Oklahoma.
Here’s which companies in Oklahoma made the list:
No. 1: Chickasaw Nation Department of Commerce
CEO: Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby
Headquarters: Ada
Industry: Travel and leisure
Employees: 13,500
Year founded: 1983
No. 2: Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
CEO: Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton
Headquarters: Tuskahoma
Industry: Government services
Employees: 12,000
Year founded: 1820
No. 3: American Electric Power
CEO: Benjamin G.S. Fowke
Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio
Industry: Utilities
Employees: 17,250
Year founded: 1906
No. 4: Oklahoma Heart Hospital
CEO: John R. Harvey
Headquarters: Oklahoma City
Industry: Health care and social services
Employees: N/A
Year founded: 2002
No. 5: Saint Francis Health System
CEO: Cliff Robertson
Headquarters: Tulsa
Industry: Health care and social services
Employees: 11,000
Year founded: 1960
No. 6: MidFirst Bank
CEO: Jeff Records
Headquarters: Oklahoma City
Industry: Banking and financial services
Employees: 3,268
Year founded: 1982
No. 7: Costco Wholesale
CEO: Roland M. Vachris
Headquarters: Issaquah, Washington
Industry: Retail and wholesale
Employees: 208,000
Year founded: 1983
No. 8: Oklahoma State University – Main campus
CEO: Oklahoma State University President Kayse Shrum
Headquarters: Stillwater
Industry: Education
Employees: 8,882
Year founded: 1890
No. 9: Dell Technologies
CEO: Michael Saul Dell
Headquarters: Round Rock, Texas
Industry: Semiconductors, electronics, electrical engineering
Employees: 42,560
Year founded: 1984
No. 10: Tyson Foods
CEO: Donnie D. King
Headquarters: Springdale, Arkansas
Industry: Food, soft beverages, alcohol and tobacco
Employees: 120,000
Year founded: 1935
No. 11: Stillwater Medical Center
CEO: Denise Webber
Headquarters: Stillwater
Industry: Health care and social services
Employees: 2,000
Year founded: 1916
No. 12: University of Oklahoma
CEO: University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr.
Headquarters: Norman
Industry: Education
Employees: 18,000
Year founded: 1890
No. 13: OGE Energy
CEO: Sean Trauschke
Headquarters: Oklahoma City
Industry: Utilities
Employees: 2,329
Year founded: 1902
No. 14: Cherokee Nation
CEO: Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskins Jr.
Headquarters: Tahlequah
Industry: Government services
Employees: 11,600
Year founded: 1839
No. 15: Target
CEO: Brian C. Cornell
Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Industry: Retail and wholesale
Employees: 415,000
Year founded: 1902
No. 16: Arvest Bank
CEO: Kevin Sabin
Headquarters: Lowell, Arkansas
Industry: Banking and financial services
Employees: 6,462
Year founded: 1961
No. 17: Cox Entertainment
CEO: Alex Taylor
Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia
Industry: Telecommunications services, cable supplier
Employees: 50,000
Year founded: 1898
No. 18: Amazon
CEO: Andrew R. Jassy
Headquarters: Seattle, Washington
Industry: Retail and wholesale
Employees: 1,525,000
Year founded: 1994
No. 19: Oklahoma State University Medical Center
CEO: Johnny Stephens
Headquarters: Tulsa
Industry: Health care and social services
Employees: N/A
Year founded: 1972
No. 20: Whirlpool
CEO: Marc Robert Bitzer
Headquarters: Benton Harbor, Michigan
Industry: Semiconductors, electronics, electrical engineering
Employees: 18,880
Year founded: 1911
No. 21: Oklahoma Department of Human Services
CEO: Deborah Shropshire
Headquarters: Oklahoma City
Industry: Government services
Employees: 5,000
Year founded: 1936
No. 22: Sodexo
CEO: Sophie Clamens
Headquarters: Gaithersburg, Maryland
Industry: Business services and supplies
Employees: 435,159
Year founded: 1966
No. 23: U.S. Department of Defense
CEO: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III
Headquarters: Arlington County, Virginia
Industry: Government services
Employees: 3,400,000
Year founded: 1947
No. 24: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
CEO: U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough
Headquarters: Washington, District of Columbia
Industry: Government services
Employees: 400,000
Year founded: 1930
No. 25: Enterprise Mobility
CEO: Andrew C. Taylor
Headquarters: St. Louis, Missouri
Industry: Travel and leisure
Employees: 90,000
Year founded: 1957
No. 26: Oklahoma City Public Schools
CEO: Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Jamie Polk
Headquarters: Oklahoma City
Industry: Education
Employees: 4,285
Year founded: 1889
No. 27: Macy’s
CEO: Antony Spring
Headquarters: New York, New York
Industry: Retail and wholesale
Employees: 85,581
Year founded: 1858
No. 28: FedEx
CEO: Rajesh Subramaniam
Headquarters: Memphis, Tennessee
Industry: Transportation and logistics
Employees: 600,000
Year founded: 1971
No. 29: One Gas
CEO: Robert S. McAnnally
Headquarters: Tulsa
Industry: Utilities
Employees: 3,900
Year founded: 2014
No. 30: AT&T
CEO: John T. Stankey
Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Industry: Telecommunications services, cable supplier
Employees: 149,900
Year founded: 1876
No. 31: Hobby Lobby
CEO: David Green
Headquarters: Oklahoma City
Industry: Retail and wholesale
Employees: 43,000
Year founded: 1972
No. 32: Devon Energy
CEO: Richard E. Muncrief
Headquarters: Oklahoma City
Industry: Construction, chemicals, raw materials
Employees: 1,900
Year founded: 1971
No. 33: State of Oklahoma
CEO: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt
Headquarters: Oklahoma City
Industry: Government services
Employees: 30,000
Year founded: 1907
No. 34: City of Oklahoma City
CEO: Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt
Headquarters: Oklahoma City
Industry: Government services
Employees: 4,500
Year founded: 1889
No. 35: Norman Regional Health System
CEO: Richie Splitt
Headquarters: Norman
Industry: Health care and social services
Employees: 2,700
Year founded: 1946
Oklahoma
These 10 sites are the strangest landmarks in Oklahoma, WorldAtlas says
Bricktown to Paseo: 5 trendy OKC districts for shopping, dining
Oklahoma City offers a number of trendy districts for shopping, dining and more. Here are five notable neighborhoods to visit in OKC.
From a large blue whale in a landlocked state to a haunted mansion, Oklahoma is home to several odd landmarks that attract visitors from all over.
WorldAtlas recently named these weird sites the 10 strangest landmarks in Oklahoma.
Blue Whale of Catoosa
Location: 2600 N State Hwy 66, Catoosa
A local celebrity resides along Route 66 year-round in northeast Oklahoma, welcoming visitors into its aquatic belly.
The Blue Whale of Catoosa was built by zoologist Hugh S. David in 1972 so that his grandchildren could play in the nearby pond, according to Travel Oklahoma. David’s friend, Harold Thomas, assisted the zoologist in building the The 20-feet-tall and 80-feet-wide mammal over a span of two years.
While swimming is no longer available, visitors can still picnic and fish with the famous Blue Whale.
World’s largest peanut
Location: 300 W Evergreen St., Durant
A small city in southeast Oklahoma is home to the world’s largest peanut commemorated with a statue outside of Durant City Hall, according to Travel Oklahoma. The statue was dedicated in 1974.
“Dedicated to the Bryan County peanut growers and processors,” inscription reads.
Circus cemetery: Mount Olivet Cemetery
Location: Trice & S 8th St., Hugo
Hugo, another small city in southeast Oklahoma, has a cemetery for rodeo greats Freckles Brown, Lane Frost, Todd Watley and L. Hammock, according to Travel Oklahoma.
Mount Olivet Cemetery is also the final resting place for Ed Ansley, also known as Buster Brown, and William H. Darrough, the founder of Hugo.
Blanchard Cemetery
Location: 2318 North Council Ave., Blanchard
Another known cemetery in Oklahoma is the Blanchard Cemetery where visitors may see a dark figure in a trench coat waving at them, according to WorldAtlas.
If they keep walking, they may spot a little girl flitting between the gravestones, or hear a small child crying or see a blue light hovering over the graves in Section 2, the website says.
Overholser Mansion
Location: 405 NW 15th St, Oklahoma City
The Overholser Mansion, the former abode of Henry and Anna Ione Overholser, is a most famous haunt in Oklahoma City. The ghost-story-filled mansion has been a museum and public venue for decades.
Some claim the ghost of Anna Ione Overholser, once the queen of Oklahoma City society, still haunts the home. She wears a pearl-decked lacy white gown, her dark hair piled gracefully around her face.
Frog Rock
Location: Frog Rd., Terlton
A large amphibian sits in Terlton on Frog Road just outside of Mannford. The six-foot-tall rock formation is painted green and white to look like a frog, according to Travel Oklahoma.
To get to it, trek over a bridge and through backwoods, but don’t worry — it can’t hop away before you reach it.
Cimmy the Dinosaur
Location: 1300 N Cimarron, Boise City
Sitting outside of the Cimarron Heritage Center in Boise City is Cimmy the Dinosaur, a metal Apatosaurus, measuring 65 feet long, 35 feet high and weighs thousands of pounds, according to Travel Oklahoma.
The dinosaur was created as a real life representation of a dinosaur that was extracted from Cimarron County in the 1930s. It’s referred to as a “Cimarronasaurus,” according to the state’s travel website.
Center of the Universe
Location: 20 E Archer St., Tulsa
Located in downtown Tulsa, the Center of the Universe if an 8-feet concrete circle described as an “acoustic anomaly” by Travel Oklahoma.
Noises made inside the brick circle is loudly echoed, but only those inside the circle can hear it. Loud sounds heard inside the circle cannot be heard from outside the perimeter of the brick structure.
Lake Hefner Lighthouse
Location: Lake Hefner Pkwy., Oklahoma City
Lake Hefter Lighthouse, officially the Lighthouse at East Wharf, in Oklahoma City is one of the finest spots in Oklahoma City to watch the setting sun.
The 36-foot lighthouse, beige with burgundy trim and a locked green door, was built in 1999 as part of a development project led by Randy Hogan. The lighthouse is modeled after the Brant Point Light Station on the north side of Nantucket Island in Massachusetts.
Gravity Hill
Location: Pioneer (Pitt) Rd., Springer
Gravity Hill, or Magnetic Hill, is another anomaly in Oklahoma near Springer. On the hill, drivers will sense that instead of their car rolling downhill with the motor turned off, it’ll actually roll uphill, according to Travel Oklahoma.
The website instructs visitors to drive to Pioneer Road, stop the car at the bottom of the hill and put it in neutral, then feel a force “pull” you and the car up the hill.
Oklahoma
WATCH: Oklahoma HC Jennie Baranczyk and F Sahara Williams Georgia Postgame Press Conference
Ryan is managing editor at Sooners On SI and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City.
Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more.
Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com.
Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters.
Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK.
Oklahoma
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Game preview, prediction, time, TV channel
The Portland Trail Blazers return home from a 3-0 trip with a four-game winning streak to face their most daunting home stand of the season starting Sunday afternoon with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Blazers have lost twice to the Thunder, falling 137-114 at home on Nov. 1 and 109-99 on the road on Nov. 20.
The Blazers put forth an impressive defensive effort at the Thunder to trail by just one point entering the fourth quarter.
Portland has played impressively on defense lately, allowing 96 points per game during their last four victories. But it’s doubtful Portland’s defense will hold up against the Thunder.
Oklahoma City ranks sixth in offensive rating (116), first in defensive rating (103.7) and first in net rating (plus-12.3).
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the NBA with 32 points per game.
Prediction: The Thunder will win. There’s no need for an explanation.
• • •
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
What: Trail Blazers (17-28) vs. Thunder (36-8), 3 p.m., Sunday.
Where: Moda Center.
Radio: Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM).
TV channel: KATU (Antenna: 2.2 in Portland. Xfinity: 302 and 1170. DirecTV: 688-1. KUNP (Antenna: 47.1. Xfinity: 16, 302, 1170. DirecTV: 47. Spectrum: 184).
How to Watch: Rip City TV Network. If you don’t have cable, you can still watch this game live for FREE with the help of an HDTV antenna on your local ABC affiliate (Charge 2.2 in Portland). These antennas are very easy to install and cost around $20. You can purchase one at your local Bi-Mart or Fred Meyer, or buy one online at Walmart or from Amazon and have it shipped quickly to your home. Here are some instructions on how to set up an HDTV antenna on your television or other display. You can find out more about which channel Rip City TV Network is on in your area by using the channel finder here.
• • •
ODDS (Oregon Lottery/DraftKings)
Moneyline: POR +470 | OKC -650
Spread: POR +11.5 | Over/Under: 225.5
INJURIES
Blazers: Deandre Ayton (right knee soreness) and Matisse Thybulle (right ankle sprain) are out for Friday.
Thunder: Cason Wallace (nasal fracture) is available. Luguentz Dort (right knee soreness), Chet Holmgren (right iliac fracture), Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) and Ajay Mitchell (right toe surgery) are
NEXT UP
The Blazers host Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
— Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)
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