In the brief space of ten years, the Pennsylvania villages of Parker's Landing and Lawrenceburg (which became the City of Parker during this period) ascended from simple villages with a combined population of merely 1,000 to the heights and depths of a bustling city with a population of more than 20,000 during peak oil production, and back again to a population of merely 1,000, earning Parker its unique distinction as the Smallest City in the U.S.A. The City of Parker, nestled deep within the foothills of the majestic Allegheny Mountains, played a pivotal role in western Pennsylvania's incredible journey into the world's first commercial oil enterprise. From railroads, to pipe lines, to the city's busy Oil Exchange, Parker's pioneers contributed greatly in making the oil industry what it is today. In FROM BOOM TO BUST, the author, Marilyn McCall, takes the reader on a journey from the area's prehistoric inhabitants, to early exploration and settlement, the excitement of the oil discoveries, the great decline of the City of Parker, and finally the City of Parker as it is today. Along the way, the reader will be introduced to the prominent people and families of the past who lived the Parker experience; and will visit the area's commercial, industrial, and cultural developments that have significantly contributed to where the smallest city has been and what it has become. Ms. McCall completes this fascinating history with a timeline from 1748 to July 2008, an extensive bibliography, and index. With 295 old photos, maps, and illustrations, this book makes it clear why this tiny dot on the map is a special place in western Pennsylvania. Hardcover book in very good condition.