Photos of Burkburnett

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Oil was first discovered in 1912 in the ranching town of Burkburnett near the Red River. Larger strikes in 1918 and 1925 caused a huge boom, drawing more than 20,000 people to the area before the boom died in the late 1920s. Burkburnett's story inspired the 1940 film Boom Town, starring Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy.

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Prints and Photographs Collection, Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. 1972/148-1.