Final answer:
The Oklahoma land rush in 1889 and subsequent events led to tens of thousands of homesteaders settling in the area around today's Oklahoma City.
Step-by-step explanation:
The area known today as Oklahoma City experienced significant settlement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During the Oklahoma land rush on April 22, 1889, the U.S. government opened 2 million acres of "Indian Territory" for settlement. This led to tens of thousands of homesteaders, including farmers and businessmen looking to establish themselves in this new territory. A noteworthy event was the second land rush on September 16, 1893, in the "Cherokee Strip," where an estimated 50,000 settlers raced to claim one of the available 42,000 homesteads.
The Great Depression, including the 1893 depression and the Dust Bowl, greatly affected the homesteaders in the Oklahoma area. These economic hardships resulted in many farmers, including those around Oklahoma City, abandoning their homesteads. During the 1930s, about one in six Oklahoma residents, known as "Okies," left the state in search of better opportunities.
Oklahoma's history is also marked by the All-Black Town Movement, where businessmen founded several Black towns throughout Indian and Oklahoma Territory. Although towns like Boley were formed, looking to create opportunities for Black southern migrants, they faced various obstacles including racism and economic hurdles that hindered significant population growth.