Mexia Oil Boom
Mexia, Limestone County, Texas
Marker Inscription
One of great free-wheeling oil booms of America before proration was enforced. Population in Mexia increased from 4,000 to 50,000 within days after oil discovery in 1920 at Rogers No. 1 Well, located 1.6 miles west of this marker, just off FM Road 1633 Earlier (in 1912), Blake Smith and other Mexia men had brought in a gas field. Believing oil also could be found here, they interested a veteran operator flamboyant wildcatter A. E. Humphreys-- who struck oil at 3,105 feet. By May 1912 gushers were flowing. Humphreys had 2,000 men; did a $4,000,000 business. His fortune later was estimated at $37,000,000. The boom was on. Other companies were formed. A second renowned wildcatter, J. K. Hughes, shared the leadership in developing the field to capacity. Millionaires, merchants, celebrities, operators and workers swarmed to Mexia for a share in the "Black Gold." Many undesirables came also, and one day were ousted by the thousands by Texas Rangers. In 1920-1921 first boom year, $5,000,000 went into construction; tanks for over 30 million barrels of oil were built; but even so storage area was inadequate for output. A park and clubhouse developed near this site by Col. Humphreys-- mementos of boom-- are still in use. 1967
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
After a 1912 gas strike hinted at riches below, flamboyant wildcatter A. E. Humphreys struck oil near Mexia, and the 1920 discovery at the Rogers No. 1 well set off one of America's great free-wheeling booms before proration. Mexia's population exploded from 4,000 to 50,000 within days as millionaires, merchants, roughnecks, and hordes of 'undesirables'—later run out by the Texas Rangers—swarmed in for a share of the black gold. Storage could not keep pace with output as tanks for over thirty million barrels rose across the field.
Why it matters
Mexia captures the boomtown chaos and instant fortunes of the early Texas oil age that reshaped the state's economy.
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Related people
- · A. E. Humphreys
- · J. K. Hughes
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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