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 milions of barrels of oil.