Date Original
1920-1923
Description
This collection contains a photograph of oil workers at the railroad crossing in Smackover looking toward Death Valley in 1922, a poem about leaving Smackover, a railroad ticket leaving Smackover for El Dorado, and a drawing of a knight in armor.
Biographical/Historical Note
Smackover is a city in Union County, Arkansas, and was home to one of the largest oil discoveries in the nation. Oil production hit 70 million barrels by 1925. Smackover was incorporated as a town in 1922, and went from a population of ninety to 25,000 between 1922-1925. On the east side of the Missouri Pacific tracks in Smackover, was a district nicknamed “Death Valley” for its rampant prostitution, gambling, and drinking. Oil workers were cautioned against entering Death Valley.
Physical Description
Document, 8.5" x 11"
Geographical Area
Smackover, Union County (Ark.)
Language
English
Identifier
SMC.0170.0010
Resource Type
Text
Collection
Smackover Oil Workers papers, SMC.0170.0010
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
Smackover Oil Workers papers, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History
