Foard County Was Carved Out in 1891 and Built on Cattle and Cotton

The Texas Legislature created Foard County on March 3, 1891, cutting it from land that had belonged to Cottle, King, Knox, and Hardeman counties. The county was named for Robert L. Foard, a lawyer and Confederate officer. Crowell won a vote that same year to become the county seat and was named for George T. Crowell, who owned the townsite.

Cattle ranching and cotton farming shaped the county's economy in its early decades. Growth picked up in 1908 when the Kansas, Mexico and Orient Railway built through the county, connecting Crowell to other markets. Oil added another layer to the economy starting in the 1920s. By 1930, the county's population had peaked and has declined since, which is common for rural agricultural counties across the Texas Panhandle region.