South Side in Billings in Yellowstone County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Black Gold

Oil and Gas in the Treasure State

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020

1. Black Gold Marker

Captions: (bottom left) First oil drilling rig south of Billings, circa 1929.; (bottom center L) This 1921 booster publication describes the beginning of the region's oil and gas boom.; (bottom center R)Yale Oil Corporation refinery, on the southeast side of downtown Billings, 1930s.; (bottom right) Litening Gas, a product of the local Yale Oil refinery, was sold in the region from the late 1920s through early 1940s.; (upper right) Modern day view of the Philips 66 Refinery.

Inscription. Soon after the first car arrived in Billings in 1904, the Montana and Wyoming Oil Company formed as a response to the growing need for fuel. John D. Losekamp, the first director, secured the lease of a major gas discovery on Edward Jones' farm near Byron, in the Big Hole Basin of northern Wyoming.
With the growth of oil operations, "Billings Beckons", a 1921 booster publication, stated the local Montana Refining Company "treat the oil" and refine petroleum, gasoline, kerosene, and asphalt in Billings.
Billings became a logical refinery city for the oil fields both of Montana and northern Wyoming. In the 19502, the oil boom in the Williston Basin of western North Dakota caused Billings to emerge as the petroleum center for the Northern Plains. The Williston Basin experienced a second boom with horizontal drilling beginning in the early 2000s, spurring Billings to once again re-emerge as the business center of oil and gas production. Three of the four oil refineries in the state of Montana are located in Yellowstone County; Philips 66, ExxonMobil, and Cenex Harvest States.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources.

Location. 45° 47.03′ N, 108° 29.93′ W. Marker is in Billings

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, Montana, in Yellowstone County. It is in the South Side. Marker can be reached from Montana Avenue (Business Interstate 90) near North 23rd Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is found on the fence paralleling the railroad tracks. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2310 Montana Avenue, Billings MT 59101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. All We Need is Some Water (a few steps from this marker); St. Vincent Healthcare (a few steps from this marker); Houses of Ill Repute (a few steps from this marker); The Iron Horse Comes To Billings (a few steps from this marker); The People's Mansion (a few steps from this marker); Parks for the People (within shouting distance of this marker); Teddy Roosevelt Visits the Depot - 1918 (within shouting distance of this marker); The College Life (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Billings.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020

2. Black Gold Marker

The marker is located on the fence line on the left.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 13, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 132 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 13, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.