Midwest in Natrona County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Salt Creek Oil Field

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 5, 2016

1. Salt Creek Oil Field Marker

Inscription. Stockmen were aware of pools of oil in the creek bottoms during cattle trailing days. These oil seeps led to the discovery of Salt Creek, one of Wyoming's largest oil fields, nine miles long by five miles wide. In 1883, the first claims were filed in the 22,000-acre Salt Creek field. The first strike in the field occurred in 1908 at a depth of 1,050 feet. Many wells are still active. Salt Creek was one of the first unitized oil fields in the United States. Under unitization, one company operates properties for all owners and more efficient recovery methods can be used. Improved practices in Salt Creek have recovered many additional millions of barrels of oil.

Erected by Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.

Location. 43° 24.798′ N, 106° 16.626′ W. Marker is in Midwest, Wyoming, in Natrona County. It is on C Street near Navy Row, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 614 C Street, Midwest WY 82643,

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United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Westward Expansion Trails Region

and in Greater Casper.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Oil Boom Towns (a few steps from this marker); Society in an Oil Patch (within shouting distance of this marker); Midwest Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Oil Boomtowns (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Salt Creek Oil Field (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Salt Creek Oil Field (approx. half a mile away); Gushers, (approx. half a mile away); Geology (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Midwest.

More about this marker. This is the marker that was removed from the intersection of Wyoming Highway 387 and Wyoming Highway 259. It is now found on the Salt Creek Museum building.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 5, 2016

2. Salt Creek Oil Field Marker

Salt Creek Oil and Oil Boom Towns Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, Oct 2024

3. Salt Creek Oil and Oil Boom Towns Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on November 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 540 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 5, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on November 15, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia.