| Marker Number |
12671 |
| Atlas Number |
5227012671 |
| Marker Title |
First Commercial Oil Well in Howard County |
| Index Entry |
First Commercial Oil Well in Howard County |
| Address |
US 87 |
| City |
Garden City |
| County |
Glasscock |
| UTM Zone |
14 |
| UTM Easting |
274258 |
| UTM Northing |
3552456 |
| Subject Codes |
oil/petroleum topics |
| Marker Year |
1969 |
| Recorded Texas Historic Landmark |
No |
| Marker Location |
US 87, W side opposite FM 821, at entrance to Howard-Glasscock Field 0.1 mi. SE of Howard-Glasscock county line |
| Private Property |
No |
| Marker Condition |
In Situ |
| Marker Size |
18" x 28" |
| Marker Text |
On Nov. 9, 1925, this wildcat well "No. 1 H.R. Clay" drilled by Fred Hyer, began pumping oil in a venture that hinted at vast oil resources in west Texas.
The well on Clay's land hit pay dirt at 1,508 feet. Soon oil land speculators developed a great interest in this formerly "worthless" territory and other wildcatters flocked to the area.
As a result of efforts here, the Permian Basin--one of the richest oil repositories in the state--was developed. Since 1925 Howard County has produced more than 300 million barrels. (1969) |
