Why S.E. Hinton choose to pick TulsaOklahoma to be the setting in the story?

S.E. Hinton chose Tulsa, Oklahoma as the setting for "The Outsiders" because that's where she grew up, giving her an authentic perspective on the town's social dynamics and reflecting the struggles of the working-class and greaser subculture that she was familiar with during her youth. Tulsa also provided a rich backdrop for exploring themes of class conflict, friendship, and identity in the novel.