|
Texas
| Counties
BAILEY COUNTY,
TEXAS
Texas
Panhandle
34° 4' 12" N, 102° 49' 48" W (34.07, -102.83)
Population: 6,904 (2020)
7,165 (2010) 6,594 (2000) 7,064 (1990)
Total area: 827 square miles (2,140 km2)
827 square miles (2,140 km2) land
0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) water |
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Bailey County
History
(Historical Marker
on courthouse grounds)
THE FOUNDING OF BAILEY COUNTY
Bailey County was created August 21, 1876, and named for Peter James
Bailey, a Kentucky lawyer killed at the
Alamo during the Texas War for Independence.
This was thinly settled cattle country; Bailey was attached for judicial
purposes to Baylor County in
1876-1891, and to Castro County,
1892-1918.
In November, 1918, Bailey County was finally organized. Its first
officials were W. M. Wilterding, Judge; H. A. Douglass, Sheriff and
Tax Assessor-Collector; C. C. Mardis, Clerk; G. P. Kuykendall, Treasurer;
E. G. Hoskins, Inspector of Hides and Animals; J. B. Diggs, T. L.
Snyder, C. E. Dotson and John S. McMurtry, Commissioners.
At the first meeting of the commissioners court, in Blackwater Valley
State Bank on January 16, 1919, C. D. Gupton was appointed Justice
of the Peace.
Muleshoe was designated
county seat in a special election, April 12, 1919. A jail cell was
purchased in June 1919 from neighboring Parmer
County. In July a building contract was let for first courthouse
-- a frame structure soon erected at a cost of $2,450.
Since institution of its government, this 832 sq. mi. county, with
its good water resources, has developed an outstanding agricultural
economy. Its progress is a tribute to the standards of its pioneer
settlers.
(1968)
1936 Centennial - Highway Marker:
BAILEY COUNTY
A part of Bexar Territory 1836-1876.
Created August 21, 1876,
organized November 5, 1918.
Named in honor of Peter James Bailey 1812-1836. A Kentucky lawyer
killed in defending
the Alamo.
Muleshoe, the County
Seat. |
Bailey County
Town List
Cities, Towns &
Ghost Towns: History, attractions, landmarks, architecture, monuments,
museums, cemeteries, bridges, parks, vintage & contemporary images,
area destinations, forum...
County Seat - Muleshoe
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Parks or
Preserve
Muleshoe National
Wildlife Refuge
Grulla National
Wildlife Refuge (part)
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Bailey County
Vintage Maps
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Bailey County
1907 postal map
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
Bailey County
1920s map
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
Bailey County
1940s map
From Texas state map #4335
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
Bailey County
Centennial Marker
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Bailey County
Centennial Marker
Photos
courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2009 |
Photographer's
Note:
"The Bailey County Marker was originally placed in a road side
picnic area on the western edge of Muleshoe.
This became a neglected, trashy setting. Sometime after my visit there
in 2009 the marker was moved to a safer area on the courthouse grounds
where it was much more visible to the public." - Barclay
Gibson, May 29, 2016 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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