TIOGA, N.D. The drilling boom has meant more for Tioga, where it all began, than just about any other community.
The eastern Williams County town of about 1,050 (2005 census) is right in the middle of the hottest oil finds of late, and sales tax revenues are up 50 percent over a year ago.
Crissy Severson, a waitress in the only cafe in the town, said her hours are longer and her salary went up. But her pay raise isn't as important as the gratuity.
"They tip really good," Severson said of the oil field workers who provide all the business.
Two trailer parks in Tioga that were emptied and run down for years have filled up in the past year or two.
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Richard Myer said he bought R&R Trailer Court on the east side of town three years ago for $10,000, and there were only three trailers. Now it's full, with about two dozen mobile homes, RVs and an oil company trailer for roughnecks working the rigs.
The license plates tell the story: Wyoming, Iowa, Texas, Colorado.
Pink foam insulation boards are strapped around the bottoms of the RVs, but Myers said he's not sure that's enough to keep the pipes from freezing.
As he gives visitors a tour of the site, a Lear Jet flies over and lands at Tioga's airport. Oil company officials are making the rounds.
Stephen J. Lee
