Man Camp Life

With what many are calling the largest oil boom in recent North American history, temporary housing for the huge influx of workers, known as "man camps," now dot the sparse North Dakota landscape.

Section:Gallery

Fri., Sept. 2, 2011

In this Tuesday, July 26, 2011 photo, Austin Mitchell walks away from an oil derrick outside of Willisburg, N.D. With what many are calling the largest oil boom in recent North American history, temporary housing for the huge influx of workers, known as "man camps," now dot the sparse North Dakota landscape.

Gregory Bull Associated Press
In this Tuesday, July 26, 2011 photo, Ben Shaw hangs from an oil derrick outside of Willisburg, N.D. With what many are calling the largest oil boom in recent North American history, temporary housing for the huge influx of workers, known as "man camps," now dot the sparse North Dakota landscape.

Gregory Bull Associated Press
In this Tuesday, July 26, 2011 photo, Austin Mitchell, left, and Ryan Lehto, work on an oil derrick outside of Willisburg, N.D. With what many are calling the largest oil boom in recent North American history, temporary housing for the huge influx of workers, known as "man camps," now dot the sparse North Dakota landscape.

Gregory Bull Associated Press
In this Tuesday, July 26, 2011 photo, Austin Mitchell, right, takes a break with Ben Shaw, left, and Ryan Letho, center, while working an oil derrick outside of Willisburg, N.D. With what many are calling the largest oil boom in recent North American history, temporary housing for the huge influx of workers, known as "man camps," now dot the sparse North Dakota landscape.

Gregory Bull Associated Press
ADVANCE FOR USE FRIDAY, SEPT. 2, 2011 AND THEREAFTER - In this Tuesday, July 26, 2011 photo, a man walks back to his temporary housing unit outside of Willisburg, N.D. With what many are calling the largest oil boom in recent North American history, temporary housing for the huge influx of workers, known as "man camps," now dot the sparse North Dakota landscape.

Gregory Bull Associated Press
In this Wednesday, July 27, 2011 photo, Bryan Thompson, seen through a window, sweeps a temporary housing unit outside of Willisburg, N.D. With what many are calling the largest oil boom in recent North American history, temporary housing for the huge influx of workers, known as "man camps," now dot the sparse North Dakota landscape.

Gregory Bull Associated Press
In this Wednesday, July 27, 2011 photo, Matthew Tjaden, right, and Doug Preskey relax in their temporary housing unit outside of Willisburg, N.D. With what many are calling the largest oil boom in recent North American history, temporary housing for the huge influx of workers, known as "man camps," now dot the sparse North Dakota landscape.

Gregory Bull Associated Press
In this Wednesday, July 27, 2011 photo, workers line up for dinner at a temporary housing unit outside of Willisburg, N.D. With what many are calling the largest oil boom in recent North American history, temporary housing for the huge influx of workers, known as "man camps," now dot the sparse North Dakota landscape.

Gregory Bull Associated Press
In this Monday, July 25, 2011 photo, Jacob Austin plays his guitar in a field next to a temporary housing unit outside of Willisburg, N.D. With what many are calling the largest oil boom in recent North American history, temporary housing for the huge influx of workers, known as "man camps," now dot the sparse North Dakota landscape. In addition to his kitchen duties, he's also the camp garbage man. It's not glamorous, but it is lucrative. "I'm making more now than I would've if I would've gone to college," Austin says. "I was going to go to school for alternative energy - and here I am in the oil field.

Gregory Bull Associated Press
In this Monday, July 25, 2011 photo, Jacob Austin plays his guitar in a field next to a temporary housing unit outside of Willisburg, N.D. With what many are calling the largest oil boom in recent North American history, temporary housing for the huge influx of workers, known as "man camps," now dot the sparse North Dakota landscape. In addition to his kitchen duties, he's also the camp garbage man. It's not glamorous, but it is lucrative. "I'm making more now than I would've if I would've gone to college," Austin says. "I was going to go to school for alternative energy - and here I am in the oil field.

Gregory Bull Associated Press