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Remembering Red Fork: Tulsa's Historic Oil and Community Life

In 1883, a significant chapter in Tulsa's history was written when the railroad established a rail head in an area known as Red Fork. Located on the west side of Tulsa, Red Fork marked the site of the very first oil well drilled in Tulsa County—the Sue A. Bland Number One in 1901. This pioneering oil discovery would go on to shape the region’s economic landscape and put Tulsa on the map as an oil-producing hub.

By 1927, Red Fork was officially annexed into Tulsa, melding its unique identity with the growing city. It was in this neighborhood that many residents, including the narrator, spent their childhood years, growing up immersed in a close-knit community rich with history and character.