Oil Boom In Big Lake
By: KLST News
Updated: February 26, 2013
The once sleepy town of Big Lake is alive and booming. Located within 10 miles of five oil plays, Big Lake is growing so quickly, officials are having a hard time keeping up.
"There's a big difference between what we thought was a boom in the 80's and the honest to goodness boom we are having right now."
Trucking, drilling and construction companies have found a home in Big Lake, a city that usually has a steady population of about 3,000 people.
"I think now we have grown between six and seven thousand that are actually living here. And on a daily population, we are probably close to 12 plus thousand."
The only grocery store is having a hard time keeping shelves stocked, housing is scarce, roads are being torn apart and multiple trains are passing through the city daily.
Local residents are even steering clear of restaurants that are struggling to keep up with the demand.
"It's pretty crazy. We get up to our biggest orders, 40 in an order. It's just packed."
But despite the challenges, positive changes are taking place. Big Lake currently has a 2.% unemployment rate, one of the lowest in Texas. Two hotels and the city's first apartment complex are under construction, and sales tax revenue is up 26% in one month. A record high for the city.
"I think this is the biggest opportunity for Big Lake in it's history to grow, and to maintain that growth and to sustain that growth."
The growth has already cause at least 13 RV parks in the area, occupied by oil field workers alone. And every indication shows its only the beginning.
"We've been told by one company they will be drilling for 15-20 years with three times the number of drilling rigs."
Like many small towns in west texas, the boom is here and it's here to stay.
"San Angelo...ya'll are fixin to just start seein it."
"There's a big difference between what we thought was a boom in the 80's and the honest to goodness boom we are having right now."
Trucking, drilling and construction companies have found a home in Big Lake, a city that usually has a steady population of about 3,000 people.
"I think now we have grown between six and seven thousand that are actually living here. And on a daily population, we are probably close to 12 plus thousand."
The only grocery store is having a hard time keeping shelves stocked, housing is scarce, roads are being torn apart and multiple trains are passing through the city daily.
Local residents are even steering clear of restaurants that are struggling to keep up with the demand.
"It's pretty crazy. We get up to our biggest orders, 40 in an order. It's just packed."
But despite the challenges, positive changes are taking place. Big Lake currently has a 2.% unemployment rate, one of the lowest in Texas. Two hotels and the city's first apartment complex are under construction, and sales tax revenue is up 26% in one month. A record high for the city.
"I think this is the biggest opportunity for Big Lake in it's history to grow, and to maintain that growth and to sustain that growth."
The growth has already cause at least 13 RV parks in the area, occupied by oil field workers alone. And every indication shows its only the beginning.
"We've been told by one company they will be drilling for 15-20 years with three times the number of drilling rigs."
Like many small towns in west texas, the boom is here and it's here to stay.
"San Angelo...ya'll are fixin to just start seein it."
