On land ruled up to 1874 by Comanche Indians and later part of the famed "W" cattle ranch, Wink was born in 1926 when Roy Westbrook's Permian Basin oil discovery 1.5 miles to the north brought in 10,000 to 20,000 people and initiated the area's conversion to industrialization. The town was named for Col. C.M. Winkler, a famed Texas Confederate soldier.