Burning Springs, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Burning Springs is an unincorporated town in Wirt County
, West Virginia
, USA. It takes its name from the natural gas
which bubbled up through the spring and would burn when lit.
In the early 19th century, wells were drilled at the springs to produce brine which was evaporated to produce salt. Some petroleum was produced along with the salt brine. By 1836, the salt wells were producing 50 to 100 barrels per year of oil that was sold as illuminating oil. The wells at Burning Springs produced and sold petroleum many years before the Drake
oil well at Titusville, Pennsylvania
. The first well at Burning Springs drilled to obtain oil rather than salt was begun in 1859, after the Drake well. The Burning Springs Complex
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1971.
The Ruble Church
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Wirt County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,873 people, 2,284 households, and 1,699 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 3,266 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, USA. It takes its name from the natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
which bubbled up through the spring and would burn when lit.
In the early 19th century, wells were drilled at the springs to produce brine which was evaporated to produce salt. Some petroleum was produced along with the salt brine. By 1836, the salt wells were producing 50 to 100 barrels per year of oil that was sold as illuminating oil. The wells at Burning Springs produced and sold petroleum many years before the Drake
Edwin Drake
Edwin Laurentine Drake , also known as Colonel Drake, was an American oil driller, popularly credited with being the first to drill for oil in the United States.-Early life:...
oil well at Titusville, Pennsylvania
Titusville, Pennsylvania
Titusville is a city in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,146 at the 2000 census. In 1859, oil was successfully drilled in Titusville, resulting in the birth of the modern oil industry.-History:...
. The first well at Burning Springs drilled to obtain oil rather than salt was begun in 1859, after the Drake well. The Burning Springs Complex
Burning Springs Complex
Burning Springs Complex, also known as the Rathbone and Karns Wells, is a national historic district located at Burning Springs, Wirt County, West Virginia. It encompasses one contributing building and three contributing sites. It was the site of the world's second great oil field, springing up...
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1971.
The Ruble Church
Ruble Church
Ruble Church is a historic church at the junction of CR 34/1 and 34/2 in Burning Springs, Wirt County, West Virginia. It was built in 1854, and is a one story, rectangular, gable-roofed log structure measuring 15 feet by 25 feet. Also on the property is the church cemetery, with graves dated to...
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.