The City Moves West: Economic and Industrial Growth in Central West Texas

Robert L. Martin

Published by University of Texas Press 1969

The City Moves West

Economic and Industrial Growth in Central West Texas

Robert L. Martin

https://doi.org/10.7560/784123

Overview
Contents

About this book

Where water supply, railway transportation, and oil reserves have been abundant, towns in central West Texas have prospered; where these resources are few, settlements have maintained only slight growth or disappeared entirely. Supporting his conclusions with profuse statistical evidence, Robert L. Martin traces the economic development of six major towns in the area, all with over 10,000 residents in 1960: Lamesa, Snyder, Sweetwater, Big Spring, Midland, and Odessa.

Ranching brought the first settlers to West Texas in the 1870s and dominated the economy until 1900. In the 1880s farmers began to arrive, and between 1900 and 1930 agricultural production replaced ranching as the most important industry.

With the influx of population came the railroad, and small settlements were established along its route. Those with sufficient water supply prospered and, as counties were organized, became county seats and supply centers for the surrounding agricultural regions.

The land could not support a large agricultural population, and agriculture-related manufactures soon drew population to the towns. However, it was not until the oil discoveries of the 1920's that the modern city emerged. After World War II, oil production and oil-related industries generated great wealth and caused a boom in population growth and urban development. Despite the growth in prosperity, the economy is precariously balanced. Urban centers dependent on oil—an industry of limited life—have matured in an area without sufficient water or agricultural resources to support them. Martin concludes that, without careful planning and a solution to the water problem, these cities could some day become ghost towns on the plains.

Author / Editor information

Robert L. Martin was president of the Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts in Chickasha (now the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma).

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
PREFACE Publicly Available Download PDF	v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
CONTENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
CHAPTER ONE THE CATTLE INDUSTRY Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
CHAPTER TWO THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	16
CHAPTER THREE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 1880 - 1900 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	35
CHAPTER FOUR WEST TEXAS AGRICULTURE, 1900-1930 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	50
CHAPTER FIVE URBAN GROWTH, 1900-1930 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	73
CHAPTER SIX THE OIL INDUSTRY IN WEST TEXAS BEFORE 1930 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	96
CHAPTER SEVEN THE WEST TEXAS OIL INDUSTRY COMES OF AGE Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	109
CHAPTER EIGHT INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS IN WEST TEXAS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	125
CHAPTER NINE THE CITIES: Past, Present, and Future Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	147
APPENDIX I Political Climate of Central West Texas Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	165
Appendix II: A. Data on Farming, 1900-1930 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	168
Appendix II: B. Agricultural Production, 1900-1930 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	169
APPENDIX III Permian Basin Oil and Gas, 1963 Statistics Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	170
SOURCES CONSULTED Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	171
INDEX Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	179

Language: English
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Copyright year: 1969
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 200

eBook

Published: September 12, 2014
ISBN: 9781477301319