Early Humble Camp in Permian Basin

Oil came faster than water in McCamey. By late 1927 several thousand people lived there, and water was freighted from Alpine, 100 miles away, at a dollar a barrel until 1929, when good water from Trinity sands wells seventeen miles off was piped in. Upton County production slumped after the East Texas field opened in 1931-32, yet it still reached almost 5,575,000 barrels in 1938, more than 15,431,000 in 1956 and more than 18,426,000 in 1965. By January 1, 1991, the county had produced almost 678,715,000 barrels since 1925.

What the plaque says

Early Humble Camp in Permian Basin The World's largest complex of oil wells in the 1920s was developed in this area. Key to success of this vast petroleum field lay in finding ways to convey oil to growing fuel markets. First efficient transportation came in 1925 with the laying of the Humble pipeline from Kemper Station, near Big Lake, to Comyn Station (a distance of about 500 miles), to connect with existing Comyn-Baytown system. Early camp for pipeline construction crews was built here 1926 when Humble extended its line west from Big Like Field. Camp's site led to growth of McCamey and building of a refinery. McCamey became important center of oil production and operation. A constant flow of oil went through Humble's pipeline on its long journey to the Gulf Coast. Even with use of pipeline and railroad tank cars, more oil was produced than could be marketed. New practices had to be used to prevent overproduction and waste. Thus Humble pipeline became involved in the first voluntary proration in Texas, when in 1928 producing capacity of local wells was reduced to a level consistent with transportation facilities. Today in Texas, Humble has 15,000 oil and gas wells; 9,545 miles of pipeline; and one refinery. (1967)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Mendoza Trail Museum — steps away
  A 1966 museum in a 1925 oil town, named for the Spanish officer who crossed this country in 1683 at the invitation of the Jumano, with a 1915 bungalow beside it.
• Rankin Museum (Yates Hotel) — 17 mi
  The fireproof hotel Ira Yates built beside the Orient railway depot months after oil came in on his ranch in 1926, kept as it was down to the wicker lobby furniture.
• Alley Oop Park and Iraan Museum — 24 mi
  An oil-boom town named for Ira and Ann Yates, where the creator of the caveman comic Alley Oop once worked, and a park of giant cartoon figures beside the town museum.

More markers nearby

• King Mountain — steps away
• McCamey Junior High School — 0.7 mi
• McCamey — 1.3 mi
• T.P. Tavern — 1.3 mi