The population soared to several thousand people in a few weeks, and lawlessness was rampant in the community.

Retired legendary Old West lawman Bill Tilghman was hired as Town Marshal to restore order.

About 150 businesses operated in Cromwell during the 1920s, many selling moonshine alcohol and narcotics to residents of the surrounding area.

The illegal sales continued because a Federal Prohibition Unit agent named Wiley Lynn was connected to mobster Arnold Killian.

[5] On Halloween night, 1924, Cromwell Town Marshal and legendary Old West lawman Bill Tilghman was shot outside of a cafe called "Ma Murphy's", by the corrupt prohibition agent Wiley Lynn.

One month later the town of Cromwell was torched, with every brothel, bar, flop house and pool hall burned to the ground, allegedly by friends of Tilghman.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2), all land.

[10] The Schoolton name was chosen by one William P. Weston, a local educator, in recognition of plans for a fine school system in the town.