1918 Map of Buckburnett

About this map

The Burkburnett townsite sits just south of the Red River at a pivotal moment in North Texas history, surveyed just as the regional oil boom was beginning to transform the landscape. The town's grid is established adjacent to the Wichita Falls and Northwestern railroad, which served as a vital artery for the transport of equipment and labor into the Wichita County fields. South of the main settlement, the land remains largely agricultural and open, defined by the winding course of Gilbert Creek and the presence of rural infrastructure like the Cashion School. The map illustrates the state boundary between Texas and Oklahoma following the river’s channel, a border that would soon become the center of intense legal and economic disputes as petroleum production moved into the riverbed. Transportation routes like the Electra Road connect the growing hub to neighboring districts, reflecting the early 20th-century transition from cattle ranching to industrial enterprise.