Oil

Texas oil marty

By rmulli1
  • Jul 14, 1543

    Early oil

    Early oil
    In July 1543, the remnants of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto's expedition, led by Luis de Moscoso Alvarado, were forced ashore along the Texas coast between Sabine Pass and High Island. Moscoso reported that the group found oil floating on the surface of the water and used it to caulk their boats.

  • Spindletop

    Spindletop
    Jan. 10, when, spurting drilling pipe, mud, gas and oil, the Lucas well blew in at Spindletop near Beaumont.

  • Big oil boom

    Big oil boom
    In October 1930, the Daisy Bradford No. 3 well blew in near Turnertown and Joinerville in Rusk County, opening the East Texas field, the biggest field of all

  • Population grows

    Population grows
    Texas' population scales, heavily weighted toward the rural before Spindletop, started to balance, and by 1940, the population was almost even: 55 percent rural and 45 percent urban