Boomtowners (2015)
Synopsis
"Boomtowners" plunges into a modern-day "gold rush" that's attracting thousands of people from all over the country to the Bakken, a region of North Dakota. An oil boom has turned the area into the epicenter of a white-hot industrial revolution, but a rise in jobs has also led to a surge in population and living costs. Experience this phenomenon first-hand through the eyes of newcomers and longtime residents trying to make a living there in this groundbreaking new docu-series about tapping into the American dream.
First Air Date: 2015-04-26
Last Air Date: 2015-05-31
Number of Seasons: 1
Number of Episodes: 6
Networks: Smithsonian Channel
Seasons
Season 1 (2015)
No overview available for this season.
Episodes:
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Ep. 1: Wake Up the Devil
Meet some of the men and women from across America who have left their old lives behind for new opportunities in the oil-rich Bakken. The transition hasn't been easy. Follow trucker Ben Moorhead, whose 14-hour day begins at 2AM, and Pastor Sean Banks, who works in the oilfields to make ends meet. Life in this boomtown is no easier for longtime residents, as Judge Greg Mohr deals with a surging crime rate, and gun-toting Sandi Beagle Angel tries to preserve the land she loves.
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Ep. 2: The Bakken Drag Race
Pressure is the name of the game in the Bakken and everyone's feeling it in more ways than one. In the oilfields, mechanical issues have brought work to a grinding halt and Justin and other crew leaders are under the gun to find a solution. Meanwhile, new residents, such as pump inspector Tony Miller, struggle to find decent housing, while others, like trucker Haley Mindt and her fiancee, Larysa, just want to make a decent living in what has quickly become one of the most expensive places to live in the US.
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Ep. 3: Closed Wednesdays
When one of Liberty Oil's sites creates problems for a well nearby, the work stops and the frustration, and costs, begin to mount. Equally frustrated are Ben and Phoebe as they search for available childcare in their growing town. For Jennifer, it's skilled labor that's in short supply, forcing family and friends to come together to make her storybook wedding a reality. Haley and Larysa aren't so lucky. With no one to help out with their struggling trucking business, Haley comes up with a very risky plan, one that makes Larysa very nervous.
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Ep. 4: Here Comes the Chaos
The world's most advanced drilling rig is ready to go, but before Doug can put it to work, he has to get his newly assembled all-star team to work together first. Things aren't working so well for the Bakken's residents either. Tony's date with an old fling takes a strange turn, Deanna's visit from her in-laws becomes stressful, and Brooke's new online boutique business has a questionable future.
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Ep. 5: Shootin' Blanks
There's no such thing as "routine" when you live in the Bakken, where the work, the towns, and the people are constantly changing and not always for the better. Sidney police officer Alex and his drug-sniffing dog go on their round. The population explosion has also created a crime wave, one that has greatly affected him, Judge Mohr, and the entire town. Production specialist Scott struggles to keep the crude flowing.
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Ep. 6: Boom or Bust
Financial woes are hitting the Boomtowners hard, leading to major decisions that could have life-altering effects. For Chris, the CEO of Liberty, a downturn in oil prices leads to a risky gamble that could mean trouble for the company. Larysa and Haley start selling puppies to pay for their wedding. Ben pushes his lockbox invention to prove to his wife, and himself, that he can follow through on his dreams. And Sean faces a big choice when it looks like his own dream of being a full-time pastor could become a reality.
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