Gilbertown in Choctaw County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

First Oil Well in Alabama

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, 2016

1. First Oil Well in Alabama Marker

Inscription. On this site was the "A. R. Jackson Well No. 1". It was Operated by Hunt Oil Company and was the first producer in the State of Alabama. This oil well was completed on February 16, 1944, and produced from the Selma Chalk formation. It sparked the development of the Gilbertown oil field and further exploration in southwest Alabama.

Erected 1976 by Bicentennial Commission of Choctaw County.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the The Spirit of ’76, America’s Bicentennial Celebration series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1944.

Location. 31° 52.758′ N, 88° 19.367′ W. Marker is in Gilbertown, Alabama, in Choctaw County. It is at the intersection of Melvin Road and High Street on Melvin Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 40 Melvin Rd, Gilbertown AL 36908, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Black Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 18 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Indian Trail Crossing (here, next to this marker); Sims Cemetery (approx. 1.2 miles away); First Oil Well In Alabama (approx. 1.8 miles away); Silas Elementary School (approx. 7.7 miles away); Little Place Cemetery / Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Womack Hill Community (approx. 8½ miles away); Springhill Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery

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(approx. 11.6 miles away); West Bend (approx. 11.9 miles away); Dyess Bridge (approx. 17.2 miles away in Mississippi). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gilbertown.

More about this marker. The marker is located in the Choctaw County Museum as of 2016.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, January 17, 2015

2. First Oil Well in Alabama Marker

Another marker located at former site, on Paragon Rd (CR-16) 2 mi west of AL-17. It is 2.3 mi west of the Choctaw County Museum.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 86 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 12, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. 2. submitted on November 14, 2025, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A photo of the marker in its original location • Can you help?