<P> At the start of the 20th century, agriculture, timber, and ranching were the leading economic engines of Texas . This was changed by the boom, which led to rapid industrialization . Though refineries were initially concentrated around the Beaumont and Houston areas, refining operations gradually grew throughout the state by the end of the 1920s . By 1940, the value of petroleum and natural gas produced in Texas exceeded the value of all agricultural products in the state . </P> <P> The opening of Houston Ship Channel in 1914 led to the Port of Houston overtaking the Port of Galveston as the state's dominant seaport . The situation led Houston to also overtake Galveston as the primary shipping center for cotton . The large quantities of oil and gas moving through Houston, Baytown, Texas City, and surrounding communities made the area around the ship channel attractive for industrial development . Chemical plants, steel factories, cement plants, automobile manufacturing, and many other types of heavy industry that could benefit from a ready supply of cheap fuel rapidly developed in the area . By the 1930s, Houston had emerged as the state's dominant economic center, though it continued to compete with Dallas throughout the 1900s . The effects of the boom helped offset the effects of the Depression so much that Houston was called the "city the Depression forgot ." Dallas and other Texas communities were also able to weather the Depression better than many American cities because of oil . </P> <P> The boom in the oil industry also helped promote other industries in other areas of the state . Lumber production thrived as demand climbed for construction of railroads, refineries, and oil derricks, and, in 1907, Texas was the third largest lumber producer in the United States . Growing cities required many new homes and buildings, thus benefiting the construction industry . Agriculture and ranching grew stronger as the rapidly expanding population created more demand for their produce . </P> <Dl> <Dd> <Table> Population growth <Tr> <Th> City </Th> <Th> Percent growth (1900--1930) </Th> <Th> 1930 population </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Beaumont </Td> <Td> 512% </Td> <Td> 57,732 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Houston </Td> <Td> 555% </Td> <Td> 292,352 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dallas </Td> <Td> 511% </Td> <Td> 260,475 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Fort Worth </Td> <Td> 504% </Td> <Td> 163,447 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> El Paso </Td> <Td> 578% </Td> <Td> 102,421 </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Dd> </Dl>

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