TOWNS: Throckmorton Population 905
Woodson Population 252
Elbert Population 150
Throckmorton County, formed from Fannin and Bosque Counties, was created January 1858 and organized in March 1879. It was named for Dr. William E. Throckmorton, an early day settler of Fannin County and a very distinguished doctor of that day. His son, James Webb Throckmorton, became Governor of Texas in 1886.
Camp Cooper, established January 2, 1856, was the first settlement in Throckmorton County on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River (about seven miles above where Fort Griffin was later established) and was abandoned February 21, 1861. Fort Griffin was created in 1867 in Shackelford County and played an important role in the settlement of Throckmorton. Contributing to the history of the area were the Comanche Indian Reservation (1855-1884); buffalo hunting; Texas Ranger outpost; Old California Trail; and Butterfield Overland mail route. The first official Throckmorton post office was established on February 4, 1879 (although previous mail service was provided by the Butterfield Overland Mail Stage to Camp Cooper and Fort Griffin).
The first courthouse was erected in
1879 and was a two-story building, the upper story being used as a
schoolroom. This courthouse was used
until 1890 when the present structure was erected. The first school building was built in 1880. In the spring of 1900, Throckmorton High
School had its first graduating class.
At various times there were 38 schools in Throckmorton County but they
were consolidated into Throckmorton and Woodson, the only remaining school
districts. These schools are
currently ranked as
Exemplary Schools.
Throckmorton:
County Seat. "Capital of
the Cow Country". Throckmorton is
a ranching, farming, oil-producing town.
It is the boyhood home of former Dallas Cowboy great, Bob Lilly, of
sculptor Joe Barrington, of three published authors, and the famous R. A. Brown
Ranch. On the Texas Forts Trail, the
community is only 20 miles from Fort Griffin or Fort Belknap. Hunters find plentiful dove, quail, turkey,
deer and wild hogs. Fishermen drop
hooks for bass, catfish, perch or crappie at well-stocked Lake Throckmorton,
Lake Hubbard, or the Brazos River.
Woodson: In 1875 J. O. Wood and Henry McClintock settled in the present site of the town of Woodson. J.O.'s son, O.J., was to have a leading role in the shaping of the town and its economics. His first act after Woodson was established was to deed a lot 100 feet by 190 feet, free of all cost, to anyone who would build a residence there. The first building on the townsite was a church built by O. J. Wood, which was also used as a school.
Farming and ranching were the main sources of income until 1923 when the first oil well was completed. The population more than doubled and at one time had about 2,500 people who lived in and around the town. Farming and ranching, with some oil/gas production, are currently the means of income for Woodson residents. The exemplary school entices young adults to remain in the area. Currently, there is a post office, a bank, a grocery store with limited inventory, a cotton gin, a service station, an RV park, and a restaurant. The Throckmorton physician is available to see patients one afternoon each week.
Elbert: Organized as a town in 1901 and was named for Mr. Elbert Keeter, one of the first settlers. At one time Elbert had several service stations, two doctors, a drug store, three grocery stores, a barber shop, post office, café, movie theatre, school, welding shop, garage, dairy, cotton gin, two grain elevators, two churches, and a beauty shop. In 1956 the Elbert school consolidated with Throckmorton and the community started to decline. Currently, Elbert has two churches, a grain elevator, and a farm store which also sells gasoline.
RIVERS: Brazos River
Clear Fork of the Brazos River
Paint Creek
Spring Creek
LAKES: Miller Creek Reservoir
Lake Throckmorton
Woodson City Lake
MAJOR HIGHWAYS: US 283/183; US 380; State 79
ROADSIDE PARKS: Handicap accessible located 7 miles south of Throckmorton at junction of US Hwy 283 and 183 (Albany, Woodson, Throckmorton junction). A picnic table and trash receptacle are located 2 miles east of Throckmorton on US Hwy 380.
STATE PARKS: Ft. Griffin - 20 miles south
Possum Kingdom State Park - 49 miles east
CAMPSITES: City RV Park, south of Throckmorton on US Hwy 283 (11 full hookups
w/cable TV), 940-849-4411
Cook’s Restaurant, 801 N. Minter, Throckmorton, (8 trailer hookups)
940-849-9761
Little Joe’s RV Park, 307 N. Hwy 183, Woodson, (12 full hookups),
940-345-6522 or 940-345-6690
POINTS OF INTEREST: 1. Historic Courthouse
2. Camp Cooper Historic Marker
3. Throckmorton County History Museum (old jail)
4. Depot Public Library
5. Site of principal village of Comanche Indian Reservation.
6. Marker commemorating 100th Anniversary of The Western Trail - started in 1874 from Bandera, TX to Dodge City, KS, and estimated 3 to 5 million head of longhorn cattle were herded up the trail before the early 1890's when it was no longer used.
7. Veterans Memorial Monument.
CHURCHES: The Christian Center of Throckmorton, 704 N. Minter, 940-849-0191
Church of Christ, N. Minter, parsonage 940-849-9881
First Baptist Church, 211 N. Minter, 940-849-4231
First United Methodist Church, 220. N. Reynolds, 940-849-5491
New Life Assembly of God, 511 S. Minter, 940-849-0461
CEMETERIES: Throckmorton Cemetery
Woodson Cemetery
Bush Knob Cemetery
Keeter Cemetery (Elbert)
Elbert Cemetery
Oak Grove (near Elbert)
Unnamed Cemetery (northwest of Elbert)
Reynolds Bend Cemetery (10 miles northwest of Old Fort Griffin)
Ledbetter Cemetery (near Shackelford County line, US Hwy 283)
MEDICAL FACILITIES: Throckmorton County Memorial Hospital, N. Minter,
940-849-2151
Throckmorton Medical Clinic, N. Minter,
940-849-2471
AIRPORT: Throckmorton Municipal Airport, east of city on US Hwy 380 (phone
940-849-4411)
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: None.
FOOD: Cook's Restaurant, 801 N. Minter, Throckmorton, 940-849-9761
Country Café, 113 E. Washington St., Throckmorton, 940-849-3044
Escalon Tex-Mex Kitchen, 109 S. Minter, 940-849-0115
Jack’s Pizza (take out, delivery $1), 5:30-9:30 pm Sat.-Wed., call 940-849-3170
Woodson Inn ( Downtown Woodson), 940-345-6599
LODGING: Double J Inn, 126 S. Minter, Throckmorton, 940-849-6131
Fauntleroy/Buchanan Bed & Breakfast and Lodge, 111 N. Eagle St.,
Throckmorton, 940-849-3170
The Bunkhouse, 201 N. McCoun, Throckmorton, 940-849-9641
or 940-862-3222
Pappy’s Hideaway, 506 N. Berry, Throckmorton, 940-849-3319 or
940-849-9301 or 940-849-3036
Roadrunner Lodge, 110 N. McCoun, Throckmorton, 940-849-6409 or
940-849-7541
Smith House Bed & Breakfast, 309 Lake Road, Throckmorton,
940-849-3504 (horse stalls available).
Last Resort Hunting Lodge, 512 Old Haskell Road, Throckmorton, call
after 5:00 pm weekdays or noon to 6:00 pm weekends 940-849-2502
Sadler’s Rock House, 205 E. Hwy 209, Woodson, 940-345-6800
************** **************
Throckmorton:
Visitor Center, corner Hwys. 183/283 and 380 (across from courthouse)
Chamber of Commerce Office 940-849-3076
City of Throckmorton Offices 940-849-4411
Throckmorton
County Judge 940-849-3081
Retail and
Specialty:
Kountry Korner (gifts and crafts)
111 S. Reynolds, 940-849-2231
Leonard Auto Services
715 N. Minter, 940-849-2551
Lost in Time Clock Shop
117 W. Chestnut St., 940-849-0212
Handyman Supplies & Hardware (sells Hunting licenses)
415 S. Minter, 940-849-9111
Josie Smith (western photography)
940-849-0621
Red Star Studio (metal sculptures)
130 S. Minter, 940-849-3023
Ken Koonsman (custom made jewelry & buckles)
940-849-3621
Mitchell's Saddle Shop (custom made saddles, tack, chaps)
131 N. Minter, 940-849-3117
Ruby’s Antique Corner, 102 N. Minter, 940-849-0628
Real Estate:
Charles Hibbitts, day 940-849-5481, night 940-849-7821
Byron Parrott, 940-849-4946 or 940-256-5656
Recreation:
City Swimming Pool, 221 S. Minter, 940-849-4411
Municipal Golf Course, South Lake Road
Hunting and Fishing:
Brad Whitaker Farms (year round hunting & fishing; lodging
available), 940-849-0071
Ben Koonce (exotic game; day hunting for white tail deer, dove, quail)
Inquire about lodging, 940-849-0299
Larry Buck , 940-849-3221, north of town of Throckmorton
Russ Webb (two-month quail lease Jan. 1-2004-Feb.28, 2004), 740 acres east
of Throckmorton, office 214-267-0434, home 972-724-3041
Woodson:
Boley Cotton (year lease) 940-345-6726
George Green (dove) 940-549-4898
Rex Huston (dove & deer) 940-849-3160 or cell 940-862-3160
Judd Jones (dove) 940-345-6815
J. C. Mathiews (lease) 940-345-6538
Larry Sullivan (dove) 940-345-6788
John Sears (dove & deer) cell 940-521-4423
Services:
Clear Fork Taxidermy, Stacy Hargrove, 915-762-2401 or 915-762-3553
Annual Events:
Chamber of Commerce Brisquet & Wild Game Dinner, last Saturday of deer season.
Jr. Livestock Show, January
City-Wide Cow Country Garage & Craft Sale, April
Volunteer Fire Dept. Easter Egg Hunt, 2:00 p.m. Easter Sunday.
Rocky Mountain Oyster World Championship and Barbeque Cook-off, Second weekend in May
Miss Throckmorton Scholarship Pageant, Second Saturday in June
Throckmorton Ranch Rodeo and Pioneer Day, second weekend in June.
PAL Children's Fishing Tournament, Throckmorton City Lake, July 4
July for Kids, Depot Public Library, July.
Country Club Golf Tournament, August (Sat and Sun)
Annual Nig London Memorial Ranch Rodeo-7th Annual in September.
Ranch Cutting Horse Contest, September.
Halloween Carnival, Last Saturday in October.
Cow Country Christmas Celebration and Parade, December
Woodson:
Churches:
First Baptist Church,
940-345-6673
First Christian
Church (parsonage), 940-345-6647
Woodson Church of
Christ-no phone
Retail and Specialty:
Jones Trailer, Inc., Henry & Danny Jones (custom built dog trailers),
940-345-6759 or 940-345-6828
J. P. Moss (custom handmade knives), 940-345-6552
Sullivan Custom Knives & Pens, Rex Sullivan, 940-345-6729
Native Daughters, (American Indian jewelry and crafts),
Jane Lenoir, 940-345-6644
Annual Events:
High School Homecoming and Parade, October
Fourth of July Celebration, July4
Elbert:
Retail: Elbert Farm Store, Lyndel Manuel, 940-862-5634
Country Embroidery, Kelli Bellah (custom embroidery, monograms, etc.)
940-862-5637
Keeter Farm Supply, FM 1711, 940-862-5541 or 940-862-5510
Annual Events: Homecoming
Rev. 1/04
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