Midland, Texas: A History

Midland is a city in West Texas known for its role in the oil and gas industry. With a population of over 140,000 as of 2022, Midland serves as the county seat of Midland County. While small in size at only 71.5 square miles, Midland has an outsized influence in Texas and the United States thanks to its place in the prolific Permian Basin oil fields.

Early History

Midland was founded in June 1881 as Midway Station, a section house for the Texas and Pacific Railway. The city’s name comes from its location midway between Fort Worth and El Paso on the railway line.

In 1884, Midway Station became Tall City thanks to the arrival of the town’s first settler, Henry C. King. Other settlers soon followed, erecting tents and wooden buildings along the railway. Tall City began to establish itself as a cattle shipping point and mercantile center over the next several years.

The Turn of the 20th Century

The discovery of oil in the Permian Basin in the early 20th century soon transformed Midland’s economy. The First Permian Basin oil well was drilled in Mitchell County to the north in 1920, sparking an oil boom that accelerated Midland’s growth.

As Midland’s population expanded, the locals voted to establish Midland County in March 1885. Midland became the county’s seat of government and was incorporated in 1906 shortly after the First Permian Basin strikes.

Key developments in Midland during the early 20th century included:

• Founding of Midland College in 1972 as a community college
• Establishment of the Midland Reporter-Telegram newspaper in 1909
• Addition of City Hall, Midland County Courthouse, and other municipal buildings downtown

The Oil Boom Years

Midland, along with its sister city Odessa across the county line, developed rapidly from the 1920s through the post-WWII period due to surging oil production in the Permian Basin. Some key events for Midland during the boom years:

Transformation into a Regional Oil Hub

• Midland became the corporate headquarters for major oil companies and home base for oilfield service firms as Permian Basin output grew. By 1930, the population hit 5,484.

Infrastructure Expansion

• Municipal Airport opened in 1928, later expanding into Midland International Air and Space Port
• Highway system greatly expanded, including Midland-Odessa urban corridor along Interstate 20

Cultural Development

• Midland Community Theatre founded in 1946
• Museum of the Southwest established in 1969, with a focus on Permian Basin history
• Parks, hotels, hospitals, and other amenities constructed to serve the growing population

By 1980, Midland’s population exceeded 80,000 thanks to the thriving oil industry. But a series of oil busts in the 1980s and 1990s slowed growth before the next big boom arrived.

The Modern Oil Boom

Technological advances like horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing sparked a resurgence in Permian Basin oil production starting around 2010. This drove another period of expansion in Midland:

• Population jumped over 20% from 111,147 in 2010 to 140,000 by 2022
• Unemployment dropped to record low levels below 3%
• Construction boomed, with new hotels, apartments, retail outlets, roads, and neighborhoods
• Midland remained among the fastest growing US cities throughout the 2010s

Key Players

A number of major oil companies have called Midland home over the years while also shaping its growth, including:

Pioneer Natural Resources

One of the Permian’s largest producers has been headquartered in Midland since 1997 and is deeply involved in many local initiatives.

Concho Resources

Another top Permian producer that recently moved its headquarters to Midland and became very active in the community before being acquired by ConocoPhillips in 2021.

Dawson Geophysical

Founded in 1952 with headquarters in Midland to provide seismic mapping and other services for Permian Basin operators. Remains a key player in Midland’s oil economy.

Outlook

With oil still flowing and many industry players clustered around Midland, the city’s dependence on petroleum is set to continue. Construction and population growth have finally slowed after the frenzied boom of 2010-2019, but Midland will go as the Permian goes for the foreseeable future. Whether oil prices and production remain high or drop during the next cyclical bust, this West Texas oil hub will remain strategically important.

Midland By the Numbers:

Year	Population	Key Occurrences
1881	N/A	Founded as Midway Station railway stop
1920	1,644	First Permian oil discoveries
1950	21,713	Post-WWII growth accelerates
1972	62,625	Midland College established
2000	94,996	Infrastructure expands
2010	111,147	Fracking boom arrives
2022	140,000	Record low unemployment amid drilling surge

In just 140 years, Midland transformed from a small railway stop to the corporate hub of the world’s most productive oilfield. The city will likely continue playing a critical role in the Permian Basin’s ongoing development for decades to come.