1. On January 23, 1907, Oklahoma was admitted as the 46th state of the United States, marking the end of its territorial status. At the time of its statehood, Oklahoma was home to over 1.4 million people, with a significant Native American population.

2. In 1968, the Oklahoman newspaper debuted a new editorial cartoon character, Little Abner. Created by cartoonist Jim Lange, Little Abner became a beloved and enduring icon in the state, and was later adopted as the official mascot of the University of Oklahoma.

3. On January 23, 1978, an F5 tornado struck the town of El Reno, Oklahoma, killing eight people and causing extensive damage. The tornado was one of the deadliest and most destructive in Oklahoma history, and remains a stark reminder of the state's vulnerability to severe weather.

4. In 1984, Mary Fallin became the first woman elected to Congress from Oklahoma, representing the 5th district. Fallin went on to serve as the state's governor from 2011 to 2019, becoming the first woman to hold that office as well.

5. On January 23, 2012, the University of Oklahoma announced the discovery of a rare asteroid, named 2012 DA14, which was predicted to pass within 17,200 miles of Earth on February 15th of that year. The asteroid was studied extensively by astronomers and provided valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the solar system.