A Historic Past - A Promising Future

The Wild West was being tamed when in 1905 the President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, was the guest of Samuel Burnett at a wolf hunt in the "Big Pasture" area of what would later become the State of Oklahoma. Burnett was a flamboyant figure whose 6666 Ranch covered much of the North Texas - Southern Oklahoma area.

In 1905 part of the vast Burnett empire was sold to Frank Kell and J. A. Kemp of Wichita Falls who were building a railroad through Burnett's ranch to the "Big Pasture."

A town lot sale held by Kemp and Kell on June 6, 1907 marks the official beginning of the city which would later become world famous as the center of a gigantic oil boom. At the suggestions of Teddy Roosevelt, the town was named for his wolf hunt host, Burkburnett.

Oil flowed for the first time on July 1, 1912 from the Schmoker No. 1 well located two to three miles soutwest of the Burkburnett townsite. But the beginning of one of the greatest oil booms of America's history actually began July 29, 1918 when oil gushed from the S. L. Fowler Wildcat Number 1, north of town.

The black gold ran freely between the corn rows, covered the budding cotton, and ushered in the wild and reckless era. The oil-crazy days were dramatized in story and song and later became the subject of the Clark Gable - Spencer Tracy movie, "Boomtown."

Overnight, the struggling farming community was crowded with masses of humanity. Men came from around the world to seek their fortunes in Burkburnett. Veterans of World War I added to the numbers as they boarded trains to Burkburnett as soon as they traded uniforms for civilian clothes.

Tents and tarpaper shacks gave emergency shelter to thousands while others paid to sleep on porches and in haylofts. Oil derricks were so close together, old timers say it was almost possible to walk across town from derrick to derrick without ever touching the ground.

As quickly as the rush began, it was over. The oil pours less freely from Burkburnett now, but the town still thrives. Farming and ranching continue to be a mainstay. Industry surrounds the community. New businesses are built yearly and new homes are under construction. Burkburnett boasts one of the first schools in the state to be planned specifically for its energy saving features.

In every aspect, Burkburnett is a progressive community. It looks to the future as well as to its historic and colorful past. Burkburnett continues to merit its name of "Boomtown, USA."

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