Oil and gas made their debut in Terrebonne Parish in 1929, bringing economic development unparalleled anywhere in the state. The bayou country that had lived for a century on sugar and shrimp woke up to something entirely different. Texaco designated Houma as a regional hub. On November 14, 1947, the first oil well out of sight of land was brought in by Kerr-McGee, 45 miles south of Morgan City — the birth of the offshore oil and gas industry. Houma and Morgan City became the staging grounds for everything that followed. The industry that built modern Houma also dug the canals that let saltwater into the marsh, accelerating the very land loss that now threatens the city's future. The thing that made Terrebonne wealthy is also eating it alive.
- ·Oil and gas made their debut in Terrebonne Parish in 1929, transforming a century-old sugar and shrimp economy overnight.
- ·On November 14, 1947, Kerr-McGee brought in the first oil well out of sight of land, 45 miles south of Morgan City — the birth of offshore oil.
- ·Houma and Morgan City became the staging grounds for everything that followed in Gulf offshore drilling.
- ·The industry that built modern Houma also dug the canals that let saltwater into the marsh, accelerating the land loss that now threatens the city.
- ·The thing that made Terrebonne wealthy is also eating it alive.
Memories
Editorial content compiled with AI assistance. Place details verified against public records.