A City Built by and on Oil: The March of the Mudhogs and Derricks in Depression-Era Oklahoma City

Many regions of the world have been greatly affected by the production and transportation of large amounts of energy. The long-term impacts have included the transformation of regional economies, fundamental changes in labor markets and educational institutions, high social costs in the areas of environmental quality and health, the shaping of regional infrastructure, the transformation of urban space, and long-term changes in cultural attitudes. As the capitol of a state heavily dependent on the production and sale of oil and natural gas, Oklahoma City's development has long been directly influenced by its relationship with the energy industry. This was clearly demonstrated when a large oil field was discovered close to the city on the eve of the Great Depression. Within a year it became apparent that there were large deposits of oil directly underneath the city itself. Oklahoma City faced, in 1935, a difficult choice: would it continue to exist next to an oil field or will the oil field be allowed to invade the city? Investigating how this question was resolved will provide insight into the role energy has played in shaping Oklahoma City's economy, infrastructure, and social and political culture. This could prove instructive toward understanding the historical patterns of energy-led development and urban growth. In addition, this paper contributes to the panel's theme of energy and the state by investigating the dominance of the energy industry in a state whose economy was heavily dependent on that industry. Interestingly, these power dynamics were tempered both by divisions within the industry as well as the industry's recognition that it needed the state (to devise and enforce pro-rationing) to survive.