What is the oil capital of West Texas?

• A. Houston, Texas
• B. Laredo, Texas
• C. El Paso, Texas
• D. Midland, Texas

Answer: (D)

In West Texas, the main focus of oil activity has been the Permian Basin, and Midland sits at the heart of that region. The city grew into the hub for exploration, drilling, and oil-related services as production boomed there in the early days of the basin’s development. That history and concentration of oil infrastructure earned Midland the title as the oil capital of West Texas.

Houston, while a major center for the oil industry, anchors Southeast Texas along the Gulf Coast, not West Texas. Laredo and El Paso are far removed from the primary oil-producing heart of the region and aren’t recognized as West Texas oil capitals.