The coal industry is part of Oklahoma's history. This led to a lot of developments in the state, including the building of railroads and hiring of immigrant workers. However, the industry started to wane from the 1920s until World War II. Despite slowing down, the mark left by the coal industry in Oklahoma may have been the NAMING OF KEY CITIES. Due to the development of coal in the past, tent communities of miners were established. The names of these communities have been associated to the places where they were located. Through time, some of the names may have changed but can still be traced back to the history of coal mining.
