State Overview and Findings

Conclusion

(A pdf file with this narrative, plus graphic maps and charts, is available for download.)

This 2003 CENSUS EDITION of the Oklahoma KIDS COUNT Factbook uses the latest decennial census data (Census 2000) to provide the most comprehensive state and county information available about individual children, children in their families and children in their neighborhoods. While the Census Bureau continues its efforts to improve the data becoming available between each decade’s census, much of the data collected and displayed on these pages will not be comprehensively updated with this level of detail for many years to come.

The rich and complex picture of Oklahoma’s children presented in these pages establishes a new baseline for the twenty-first century, and beyond. This baseline, future Census Bureau data releases and the Oklahoma KIDS COUNT Factbook’s continual tracking of benchmarks which measure the well-being of Oklahoma children over time and across counties will blend together the knowledge and information necessary for Oklahoma policy makers and advocates to enable each individual child to enjoy the benefits of a solid beginning, a successful childhood and an optimistic future.