What city in Texas wealth built on oil?

Answer 1

More than one city in Texas was made wealthy because of oil, but Beaumont was home to one of the most famous oil fields in America. It was called Spindletop, and oil was first obtained there in 1901. The oil field was soon supplying over 100,000 barrels on a daily basis - more than any other location had ever produced.

In 1892 the Gladys City Oil, Gas, and Manufacturing Company started drilling at Spindletop. At first they had no success, and their venture seemed to be doomed. They refused to give up, however, because they firmly believed that the field would produce oil.

One of the company founders, Pattillo Higgins, joined up with a man named Anthony Lucas, and the two worked out an agreement with Gladys City Oil to let them drill. The men worked hard for years, borrowed money until they were deeply in debt and had little control over their own company, and kept drilling until they finally hit a "gusher."

When Lucas finally hit oil, it shot up more than 150 feet in the air and continued to spew uncontrollably for several days. The find was massive, and it quickly led to a massive increase in the population of Beaumont.

Within a few years the well seemed to have nearly run dry, but in 1925 a second oil reserve was discovered. This led to another boom in population and industry, and helped make Beaumont, Texas a very wealthy city.