Topic · Page 8
History & Culture
Local Notes
History & Culture notes
Mitchell County · Local History
Colorado City Grew Around Cattle Drives and a Railroad
Mitchell County was organized in 1881 when the Texas and Pacific Railway arrived, turning Colorado City into a major cattle shipping point in West Texas.
Montague County · Indigenous History
Spanish Fort marks an ancient settlement site in Montague County
Before European settlers arrived, the area near the Red River was home to Taovayas and Wichita peoples whose village became known as Spanish Fort.
Montague County · County History
The Chisholm Trail crossed Montague County in the 1800s cattle drives
Montague County was a cattle country corridor — the Chisholm Trail passed through here starting in 1867.
Montgomery County · Local History
An Oil Strike in 1931 Changed Montgomery County Forever
A wildcatter named George W. Strake struck oil southeast of Conroe in 1931, turning a struggling timber town into one of Texas's most important oil fields.
Montgomery County · City Origins
Conroe Was Named for a Lumberman Who Built a Sawmill in 1881
The city of Conroe takes its name from Isaac Conroe, a Houston-based lumberman who established a sawmill on Stewarts Creek in 1881.
Montgomery County · Demographics
Montgomery County Has Grown Rapidly as a Houston Suburb
Montgomery County grew from about 128,000 people in 1980 to over 620,000 by 2020, driven largely by Houston's suburban expansion northward.
Montgomery County · County Origins
Montgomery County Was Created by the Republic of Texas in 1837
Montgomery County is one of Texas's older counties, established by the Congress of the Republic of Texas in December 1837.
Montgomery County · Local History
Sawmills Once Shaped the County's Economy
Railroads arrived in the 1870s and triggered a logging boom that turned Montgomery County into a major Texas lumber producer.
Montgomery County · Local History
The County Seat Moved Three Times Before Landing in Conroe
Montgomery County was established in 1837 and went through three different county seats before Conroe became permanent in 1889.
Moore County · History
Oil and Gas Shaped Moore County Starting in the 1920s
Moore County went from a cattle-ranching area to an oil and gas hub after commercial production began in 1927, reshaping the county's towns and economy.
Morris County · Industrial History
Iron ore and steel shaped Morris County's economy through the mid-20th century
Morris County sits on iron ore deposits that drew a federal steel plant during World War II, and that plant became a major employer for decades after the war.
Morris County · County History
Morris County was formed in 1875 from Titus County and has had Daingerfield as its seat ever since
Morris County was created by the Texas Legislature on March 13, 1875, carved from Titus County and named for a Virginia-born planter and judge.
Motley County · Place Identity
Motley County: Below the Caprock, Thin Soil, Big Sky
Motley County sits just below the Caprock escarpment in northwest Texas — its rolling plains, dry climate, and ranching roots define life here today.
Motley County · Ranch History
The Matador Ranch Shaped This County for Decades
The Matador Land and Cattle Company, once owned by Scottish investors, controlled a vast stretch of Motley County land from the 1880s until 1951.
Nacogdoches County · Oil History
Nacogdoches County Is Home to Texas's First Commercial Oil Well
On September 12, 1866, Lyne T. Barret brought in the first producing oil well in Texas, right here in Nacogdoches County.
Nacogdoches County · Colonial History
Spanish Missions Founded in 1716 Gave Nacogdoches Its Start
The Domingo Ramón expedition established Spanish missions at present-day Nacogdoches in 1716, making it one of Texas's oldest continuously occupied sites.
Nacogdoches County · Education and Economy
Stephen F. Austin State University Shapes Life in Nacogdoches
Founded in 1923, SFA State University is the dominant force in education and cultural life in Nacogdoches — and a major draw for new residents.
Nacogdoches County · Indigenous History
The Caddo Hasinai People Were Here Long Before European Settlement
Four Hasinai Caddo groups lived in the Nacogdoches area for centuries. They built earthen mounds that can still be seen at a nearby state historic site.
Nacogdoches County · Historic Site
The Old Stone Fort Marks the Heart of Nacogdoches History
A replica of the 1779 Old Stone Fort stands on the SFA State University campus, marking where Nacogdoches was rebuilt as a civil settlement.
Navarro County · Oil History
Corsicana was the site of Texas's first major commercial oil discovery
On June 9, 1894, workers drilling for city water in Corsicana accidentally struck oil, launching Texas's first commercially significant oilfield.
Navarro County · County History
Navarro County is named for a signer of Texas independence
Texas established Navarro County in 1846 and named it for José Antonio Navarro, a Tejano patriot who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence.
Navarro County · Historic Courthouse
The 1905 courthouse is a restored landmark in Corsicana
The Navarro County Courthouse in Corsicana was built in 1905, restored in 2016, and is notable for rare interior plasterwork that mimics marble.
Newton County · Local History
How Newton County was shaped by timber and oil
Newton County was built on longleaf pine timber and later touched by oil, leaving a landscape and economy shaped by both industries.
Nolan County · Local History
Sweetwater grew from a railroad stop into the county seat of Nolan County
Nolan County was organized in 1881 around the Texas and Pacific Railway, and Sweetwater became the county seat after the railroad arrived.
Nueces County · County Seat
Corpus Christi is the county seat and largest city in Nueces County
Corpus Christi has served as the Nueces County seat since the county was organized in 1846 and is home to the Port of Corpus Christi, one of the largest ports in Texas.
Nueces County · Geography
Nueces County covers 847 square miles on the Gulf Coast near Corpus Christi Bay
Nueces County sits on the Gulf Coast, bounded by the Nueces River to the north and Corpus Christi Bay to the east, with flat terrain ranging from sea level to about 180 feet.
Nueces County · Cultural Heritage
Nueces County has deep Tejano and Hispanic roots going back centuries
About 62 percent of Nueces County residents identify as Hispanic, reflecting a history of Spanish settlement, ranching culture, and Tejano community that predates Texas statehood.
Nueces County · County History
Nueces County was formed in 1846 and named for the river on its northern edge
Nueces County was formed from San Patricio County in 1846, one year after Texas became a state, and takes its name from the Nueces River.
Nueces County · Energy History
Oil and natural gas have shaped Nueces County since the 1920s
Natural gas was discovered in Nueces County in 1922, launching decades of oil and gas production that transformed the local economy.
Nueces County · Agriculture
Sorghum and cotton are key crops in Nueces County's farming history
Nueces County shifted from being one of Texas's top cotton producers in the early 20th century to relying more on sorghum and beef cattle as agricultural mainstays.
Ochiltree County · Local History
The Railroad Created Perryton and Made the County Seat Move
Ochiltree County's original county seat was abandoned when the railroad arrived in 1919, and the new town of Perryton was built on the rail line instead.
Oldham County · Local History
Old Tascosa: From Wild Cowtown to Boys Ranch
The ghost town of Tascosa was Oldham County's rowdy first county seat, and it survives today as the campus of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch.
Oldham County · Ranching Heritage
The XIT Ranch and Oldham County's Cattle Roots
Oldham County was shaped by massive cattle ranches in the late 1800s, and ranching still defines the land and culture today.
Oldham County · Local Identity
Vega: County Seat on the Mother Road
Vega became the county seat in 1915 and grew along Route 66, which is now Interstate 40 — it remains the commercial and government hub for Oldham County.
Orange County · County History
Orange County Was Formed in 1852 Along the Sabine River
Orange County was carved from Jefferson County in 1852 and takes its name from a grove of orange trees that once grew near the county seat.
Orange County · Arts and Culture
Orange Is Home to the Stark Museum of Art and Shangri La Gardens
The Stark Museum of Art and Shangri La Botanical Gardens are two cultural institutions in Orange funded by the Nelda C. and H. J. Lutcher Stark Foundation.
Orange County · Regional Identity
Orange Is Part of the Industrial Golden Triangle
Orange, Beaumont, and Port Arthur form a regional cluster known as the Golden Triangle, one of the most concentrated industrial areas in the United States.
Orange County · Local Economy
Petrochemical Plants Are a Major Part of Life in Orange County
Orange County has been a center for oil refining and chemical plants since the early 1900s. Industry still shapes jobs and daily life here.
Palo Pinto County · County History
Palo Pinto County Was Built on Cattle, Brazos River Land, and Mineral Wells
Palo Pinto County has roots in cattle ranching, Brazos River settlement, and a health-resort town that drew visitors from across Texas.
Panola County · Local History
How Panola County Got Its Name and Economy
Panola County was created in 1846, named from a Cherokee word for cotton, and its economy shifted over the decades from cotton and timber to natural gas.
Parker County · Indigenous History
Kiowa and Comanche raids shaped early Parker County
Kiowa and Comanche bands controlled the Parker County area before and during early European settlement, with raids continuing into the early 1870s.
Parker County · County History
Parker County was formed in 1855 and named for a settler leader
Parker County was carved out of Bosque and Navarro counties after settlers petitioned the state legislature in 1855.
Parker County · Historic Courthouse
The Parker County Courthouse is a landmark in Weatherford
The Parker County Courthouse was completed in 1886 using local limestone and still stands at the center of Weatherford.
Parker County · Railroad History
Three railroads transformed Parker County in the late 1800s
The Texas and Pacific Railway arrived in 1880, followed by two more lines, turning Weatherford into a regional trade hub.
Parker County · Agriculture History
Watermelons and peaches put Parker County on the map
Parker County became known for fruit farming, and twelve county-grown watermelons won a world prize at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.
Parker County · Local Tradition
Weatherford's First Monday trade days draw buyers from across the region
Weatherford holds a monthly First Monday trade day event that evolved from the courthouse court days of the 1800s.
Parmer County · Local History
Farwell Was Born From the XIT Ranch Land Sales
The town of Farwell grew from XIT Ranch land sold by the Capitol Syndicate, the group that traded 3 million acres of Texas land to fund the state capitol building.
Pecos County · Local History
Comanche Springs and the Story of Fort Stockton
Fort Stockton grew around one of Texas's most powerful springs, which dried up in 1961 after decades of heavy groundwater pumping.
Polk County · County History
Polk County Was Built on Timber, Cotton, and Oil
Polk County was established in 1846 and built its economy on cotton farming, then timber, and later oil production.
Polk County · Indigenous History
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe Has a Reservation in Polk County
The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Tribe of Texas has a 4,593-acre reservation on U.S. 190 about 17 miles east of Livingston.
Polk County · Local Economy
Timber Is Still a Major Industry in Polk County
Polk County is one of Texas's top timber-producing counties, and pine forests cover much of the land.
Potter County · City History
Amarillo Grew as a Cattle and Railroad Hub
Amarillo was founded in 1887 when the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway arrived and quickly became a major cattle-shipping point for the Texas Panhandle.
Potter County · Economy
Amarillo Is a Regional Hub With a Diverse Economy
Amarillo is the economic and commercial center of the Texas Panhandle, with major industries in gas, petroleum, agriculture, cattle, and food processing.
Potter County · Industrial History
Amarillo Was Once the Helium Capital of the World
A major natural gas field was discovered northwest of Amarillo in 1918, and the high helium content of the Cliffside field led to a federal helium plant opening in 1928.
Potter County · Archaeology
People Have Quarried Flint Near Amarillo for Thousands of Years
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument preserves more than 700 quarry sites along the Canadian River where people have mined colorful flint for tools since the Ice Age.
Potter County · County History
Potter County Was Carved Out of the Panhandle Frontier in 1876
Potter County was established by the Texas legislature in 1876 and organized in 1887 when Amarillo was chosen as the county seat.
Potter County · Roads and Culture
Route 66 Ran Through Amarillo and Still Draws Visitors
Historic U.S. Route 66 passed through Amarillo, making Potter County a stop on one of the country's most famous roads.
Potter County · Courthouse
The Potter County Courthouse Reflects 1930s Art Deco Style
The Potter County Courthouse in Amarillo was built in the 1930s in the Art Deco style that was popular across Texas during that era.
Presidio County · County History
How Presidio County and Marfa Came to Be
Presidio County was one of Texas's largest counties when it was organized in 1875, and Marfa became the county seat in 1885 after the railroad arrived.
Rains County · County Origins
Rains County Was Named for a Man Who Refused to Join the Confederacy
The county and its seat are both named for Emory Rains, an early Texas lawmaker who wrote the state's first homestead protection law.