Tulsa evolved from a small settlement to a boomtown with the discovery of oil in 1901 at Red Fork, a small community just outside of Tulsa. Investors and Wildcatters came in large numbers and Tulsa began to take shape as a modern place. Neighborhoods started sprouting up, and construction began to overtake the town.
By 1920, the population had reached 75,000 people. and between then and1930, a second surge of discovering of oil would occur, creating such a large supply of oil, residents had to develop reservoirs for the oil. These events game Tulsa that name "Oil Capital of the World".
For the majority of Tulsans, the mid 20th Century proved a time of continuing prosperity. The wealth generated by the early oil industry also helped Tulsa become a leader in the aviation industry. After the wat, Tulsa would become a very important spot for aircraft maintenance.
A plan in the 1950s for the development of numberous parks, greenspace, rose gardens and museums would ultimately give Tulsa the title of "America's most beautiful city". |