Why Houston has so many companies and understand why they do, whereas OKC has Devon, Sandridge, Chesapeake, Continental, and some much smaller companies. I know certain "heritage companies" were formed in Oklahoma, just wasn't exactly sure what's keeping them all in OKC whereas most of the rest are in Houston. I guess one came and the rest joined to help create the "Big City" feel to OKC.
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You really have to ask OKC is a shit hole.
Have worked in AK, OK (B ville & OKC), & TX (Houston).
The draw of Houston is simple. It has a port, a massive population of energy professionals, two major airports, and 0 state income tax.
OP, you're a little confused on your history. The major companies were started in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Bartlesville, in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and other places. As they consolidated and during various downturns they moved from Denver to Midland then to Houston, from Oklahoma City to Houston or DFW, etc. Nobody moved to OKC to create a "big city feel", they established themselves here and grew because this was their home, and they wanted to grow and prosper in Oklahoma. You might want to brush up on your history, or get out of Houston once in a while.
Houston has sucked the E & P business out of the rest of the U.S. cities. As a native of New Orleans, we have experienced this in years gone by. On the upside, we don't worry about the price of oil any more on the local level. On the state level it's a different story, but there is very little coverage of the crash in the local NO papers. In Houston, it's five stories a day in the Chronicle.
A world class international airport that actually flies you somewhere is usually the biggest draw.
What business is it of yours?