It is the purpose of this thesis to consider the growth and urbanization of the Texas population since 1880, with primary emphasis on changes which took place during the decade from 1940-1950. The problem involved, therefore, in the second part of this study is to determine the amount of urbanization which took place in Texas during the 1940-1950 decade, to determine the variations among the several regions and "size groups" of cities, and to describe some of the factors related to such increases and variations.

The main body of this thesis is composed of four chapters: Chapter II is concerned with the development of the oil industry in Texas prior to the discovery of Spindletop; Chapter III deals with Spindletop; Chapter IV sets forth the later developments of the oil industry in Southeast Texas or Railroad Commission District No. 3; Chapter V is the concluding chapter, complete with summary, evaluation present status and future possibilities of the oil industry in Southeast Texas.

Following Hawley's point of view regarding the definition and inclusiveness of human ecology, ecological data must include both a population and its characteristics and some measurements of the environment of this population. Following Hawley, an ecological investigation must select from available data and examine at least some of the relationships that may exist among these measurable population and environmental characteristics, in an effort to find and isolate the causes of mental disorders, particularly of those now called "functional."

This thesis discusses the development and history of oil in the Middle East. The transportation and positions of various countries are presented.

The purpose of the investigation is to present--chronologically, whenever possible--the growth of the Canadian oil industry from the days of earliest discovery to the present, with an eye on both historical growth and potential development.