The Wortham Oil Boom
The city of Wortham rejected a well drilled by C. L. Witherspoon in 1912 when it produced gas, not water. However, oil and gas wells in 1919-23 gave prosperity to neighbors north and south, and petroleum exploration began here. Discovery well for the Wortham Field, Roy Simmons No. 1 (1 mi. S), came in as a gusher on Nov. 27, 1924. Within three weeks over 300 drilling rigs were in the field. 3,509,768 barrels of oil were produced in Jan. 1925; total for the year was 16,838,150 barrels. Wasteful drilling slowed yield to 3,000 barrels a day by Sept. 1927, and the boom was concluded.
31.7876° N, 96.4643° W
Where to Find It
on sh 14 near the intersection of Main and SH 14
Nearby Markers
- <0.1 mi N City of Wortham Wortham
- <0.1 mi N United Methodist Church of Wortham Wortham
- <0.1 mi N The Rev. G. W. Bounds Wortham
- 0.1 mi W Wortham Schools Wortham
- 0.2 mi NE Old Judge Allegre House Wortham
- 0.7 mi N Blind Lemon Jefferson Wortham