How a 1930s oil strike transformed a quiet farming town into a Texas boomtown

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When wildcatter Columbus M. Joiner discovered the East Texas Oil Field in 1930, Kilgore underwent a radical metamorphosis. The town shifted from a declining agricultural community into a dense forest of oil derricks, eventually earning the nickname City of Stars for the steel replicas that now define its unique skyline.

Founded in 1872, Kilgore owes its existence to the International–Great Northern Railroad. The company bypassed the nearby community of New Danville to establish a new townsite on land purchased from Constantine Buckley Kilgore, the city's namesake. For decades, it remained a modest farming settlement until the discovery of the Daisy Bradford #3 well on October 3, 1930. This event ignited the East Texas Oil Field, triggering a rapid influx of people and industry. By 1936, the population had surged past 12,000, and the landscape was densely packed with wooden drilling rigs.

During the 1940s, the city contained over 1,000 wooden derricks, with one specific acre famously dubbed the richest in the world. Today, the city honors this industrial heritage through 60 steel derrick replicas topped with stars. Beyond its oil history, Kilgore became a cultural landmark in 1940 when Gussie Nell Davis established the first precision dance drill team, the Kilgore College Rangerettes. These performers remain a fixture of American football halftime shows and the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Modern Kilgore continues to evolve, balancing its historical identity with contemporary development. As of the 2020 census, the city hosted 13,376 residents across Gregg and Rusk counties. While the oil boom defined its early growth, the city now supports a diverse array of institutions, including the Texas Shakespeare Festival and the East Texas Oil Museum. Infrastructure projects like the Kilgore Trails System, which includes the Creekside Trail opened between 2018 and 2020, provide recreational space for the community, reflecting a shift from the industrial intensity of the early 20th century to a more varied urban environment.

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