1. On February 3, 1891, the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature officially established eight county seats, including Guthrie, the territorial capital. Guthrie remained the capital until Oklahoma achieved statehood in 1907.
2. In 1919, on February 3, the first state-wide gathering of African American community leaders in Oklahoma occurred at the Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church. Known as the Oklahoma Conference of Colored Men and Women, the convention addressed issues such as education, voting rights, and discrimination.
3. On February 3, 1959, rock and roll legends Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, along with pilot Roger Peterson, were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. Holly had performed at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake the previous night, which was the third stop on his "Winter Dance Party" tour, including a stop in Oklahoma City.
4. On February 3, 1976, the Oklahoma State Senate approved legislation to make the mistletoe the official state floral emblem. The mistletoe grows wild in Oklahoma and is often used as a decoration during the holiday season.
5. On February 3, 2011, a massive winter storm system swept across Oklahoma, bringing blizzard conditions, freezing rain, and sleet. The storm caused power outages, disrupted transportation, and closed schools and businesses throughout the state. Snow accumulations ranged from 12 to 20 inches in some areas, making it one of the most significant winter storms in Oklahoma history.