The Oklahoma Panhandle is the region of the state of Oklahoma comprised of the three northwestern counties; Cimarron County, Texas County, and Beaver County. It is bordered by Kansas and Colorado on the north, New Mexico on the west, and Texas on the south.
Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma, is located in Cimarron County. The Panhandle lies in the High Plains. The North Canadian River is named Beaver River or Beaver Creek on its course through the Panhandle. Farming and ranching operations occupy most of the region with ranching dominating the drier western end.
The Panhandle was unclaimed by any state or territory from 1850, when ceded from Texas, until 1890, when assigned to Oklahoma Territory (see Neutral Strip). The Panhandle was Beaver County from 1890 until statehood in 1907 when it was divided into the present three counties. Before statehood in 1907, The Panhandle was also commonly referred to as "No Man's Land."
