Downtown Wichita Falls

Wichita Falls was named after the river that was named after the Indians. The original falls have been lost, but replica falls have been built in recent years. Conveniently located off I-44.

History in a Pecan Shell
A timeline of significant events

·  John Scott acquires land in poker game that becomes Wichita Falls (folklore)

·  1875: John Converse opens first store in the area

·  1876: Town platted by M. W. Seeley, hired by heirs of John Scott

·  1879: 1879 Post Office approved

·  1880: 1880 First School opened

·  1882: The Fort Worth and Denver Railroad reach Wichita Falls

·  1883: Major flood washes away the town's namesake waterfall/ Joseph Kemp opens store

·  1900: Lake Wichita Project set in motion

·  1917: Population is 18,000 - mostly agricultural employment

·  1918: Discovery of oil at Burkburnett increases population to 40,000

·  1920: Irrigation Project allowed irrigation for Wichita, Archer and Baylor Counties

·  1928: Airline passenger service is started

·  1941: Sheppard Field Opened for Air Corps training

·  1979: Huge tornado hits the city killing 45 and destroying 20% of homes

Oil Fields in Wichita Falls, TX

Oil Capital

In the first quarter of the 20th century, Wichita Falls had offices for the major players in the oil business - The Texas Company (Texaco), Sinclair, Magnolia, Sun (Sunoco), Prairie (bought out) and Humble.

The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad as well as the Fort Worth and Denver made Wichita Falls their headquarters.

In the 1920s Wichita Trucks were manufactured here and were sold in 68 Countries around the world.

During the oil boom multiple tracks were laid to Burkburnett and two additional railroads (The Wichita Falls and Northwestern and the Wichita, Ranger and Fort Worth) were financed by oil money. There were 30 refineries in the area, with 13 of them in the city limits.

Wichita Falls Train Depot