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History in
a Pecan Shell
by Clint
Skinner
Located in the southwestern portion of Jim
Hogg County, Guerra lies fourteen miles south of Randado and thirty-five
miles north of Garceno on Ranch Road 649. Its current population is
six, making it the smallest town in Texas. However, it was not always
like this.
A. Guerra, whose last name is the Spanish word for "war", first settled
the land in the late 1800s. Although the town was named after him,
the Mexican inhabitants preferred calling it El Colorado because
large numbers of red cattle roamed the area. The post office moved
from San Antonio Viejo and opened at Guerra in 1906 with Don Apolonio
Gomez acting as the postmaster. By 1914, the town had a hundred citizens
and sixteen businesses.
From 1920 to 1967, the number of those living in Guerra remained the
same with fifty people. The number increased by 25 the following year.
Over two decades later in 1990, the town had only fifteen residents,
most of them working at a retail store. The reason for this big change
in size remains a mystery. Regardless, Guerra still exists and even
remains a part of the Jim Hogg County Independent School District
like all the other towns in the region.
Bibliography
Tshaonline.org
Wikipedia.org |
 |
1907 postal map
showing Guerra in Starr
County
before Jim Hogg County
was formed
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
1920s map showing
Guerra in Jim Hogg
County
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
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