State ranks low on "livable" list

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oklahoma ranks low in a study of the most livable states in the nation. <br/><br/>The Sooner state is rated the 43rd most livable state in a report by research and publishing company

Tuesday, March 8th 2005, 8:41 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oklahoma ranks low in a study of the most livable states in the nation.

The Sooner state is rated the 43rd most livable state in a report by research and publishing company Morgan Quitno Press.

The rankings are based on 44 factors including population, poverty, health and weather. Oklahoma rates as the fourth highest in number of people in prison and fourth highest in percent of the population without health insurance

The state does rank well in some areas, including the ninth most number of sunny days and 12th best in legislative appropriations to art agencies.

New Hampshire is rated the most livable state, followed by Minnesota, Vermont, Wyoming and Virginia. Mississippi is at the bottom of the list with Louisiana 49th and Arkansas 48th.

In two other reports released by Morgan Quitno, Oklahoma is also rated the 46th healthiest state and the 14th most dangerous state.