Iowa Park in Wichita County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Site of Wichita Valley Refinery and Texas-Oklahoma Fair

Photographed by James Hulse, October 27, 2025

1. Site of Wichita Valley Refinery and Texas-Oklahoma Fair Marker

Inscription. Wichita County's first oil refinery was built in 1914 at Iowa Park by the Wichita Valley Refining Company. Established on a small scale, the company soon expanded and by 1918 owned 53 tank cars, had 12 miles of pipeline, and was producing 2,500 barrels of crude oil daily. The operation was sold in 1919 to Texhoma Refining Company. In 1922 the company was succeeded by the Walker Consolidated Producing and Refining Company, which improved plant and pipeline operations. Although functioning only until about 1926, the refinery was significant in the county's petroleum industry history.

The Wichita County Fair, which began in Wichita Falls in 1922, moved to this Iowa Park site in 1928. Promoted by the local newspaper publisher, the county fair became a popular annual event featuring agriculture, livestock, and industry of the northwest Texas and southern Oklahoma region. The six-day festival became the Texas-Oklahoma Fair and Southwest Oil Exposition. The fair closed in 1962 due to declining attendance and revenue and fires that destroyed several buildings. The property was later developed into a retail center.

Erected 1997 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4914.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.

Location. 33° 57.143′ N, 98° 40.312′ W. Marker is in Iowa Park, Texas, in Wichita County. It is at the intersection of West Park Avenue and N Colorado Street, on the left when traveling west on West Park Avenue. The marker is located along the street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 W Park Ave, Iowa Park TX 76367, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Big Country.

Globally, it is in North

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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 Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Tom Lloyd Burnett (approx. ¼ mile away); Tom Lloyd Burnett Home (approx. ¼ mile away); Town of Iowa Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Iowa Park Lodge No. 713, A.F. & A.M. (approx. 0.4 miles away); Iowa Park Consolidated Independent School District (approx. half a mile away); Wichita Falls Lodge No. 635, A.F. & A.M. (approx. 7.2 miles away); Captain John Holliday (approx. 8.3 miles away); Call Field (approx. 8.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Iowa Park.

The view of the marker along the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, October 27, 2025

2. The view of the marker along the street

Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 110 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 31, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.