Abstract

Butler and Greenwood Counties were both organized in 1855. But they would have to wait more than a half century to realize the promise of illustrious place names like “El Dorado” and “Prospect Township.” When World War I raised the demand for oil, prices spiked and investors came calling on area farmers and ranchers, who quickly learned that oil was a “better crop than alfalfa.”

Keywords:

• oil,
• history,
• Butler county,
• El Dorado,
• Barlesville,
• sand,
• working,
• rubberneck,
• barrels,
• Greenwood County,
• Teterville,
• Cassoday,
• Kansas Oil Museum,
• boomtown,
• gas,
• Oil Hill,
• Midian,
• Haskin,
• Thrall,
• Kenbro,
• Birkett,
• Sallyards,
• Oil Capital of Kansas,
• John Stapleton