Kilgore Once Had The Greatest Concentration of Oil in The World

It's nestled about two hours east of Dallas, TX, and two hours west of Shreveport, LA, right off I20. There you'll find a single block in a tiny East Texas town known as the "World's Richest Acre." But how'd it get such a distinguished title?

If you've driven through downtown Kilgore, you've probably seen the oil derricks. But do you know the story behind them? That story is exclusive to the tiny East Texas town and a story that's even cooler than the massive derricks that line the streets.

For a time this block was booming, In the 1930s, this single downtown block in Kilgore produced over 2.5 million barrels of oil. That's right, this production made it the greatest concentration of oil wells in the world.

According to the Kilgore Chamber, "The discovery of the surrounding East Texas oilfield in the fall of 1930 transformed Kilgore from a declining rural community into a boomtown. Within days thousands streamed into the town."

Here's what Texas Time Travel wrote about it:

On part of one downtown block, about 1.2 acres, once stood the greatest concentration of oil wells in the world, producing more than 2.5 million barrels of oil. All but one were dismantled in the early 1960s. The original derrick and 36 new ones, a restored pumpjack, a granite monument to the pioneer oil families of East Texas, and brick walkways make the park a monument to the oil boom of 1930s.

 

There ya go, a fun East Texas history lesson for you today. Who's got some more intriguing tidbits of Texas history for us?