Valley Center Oil Boom
A prosperous Valley Center, Kansas, in the late 1920's. In 1928, oil was found 1 1/2 miles south of town, on the Wright farm. In August of that year, the biggest oil gusher in Sedgwick County to that point came in unexpectedly, and began pumping up to 1,800 barrels of oil per day. By 1929 oil derricks were scattered around the area, and the town "boomed" as speculators rented all available space, and many temporary structures were built.