|
PLAINVIEW,
TEXAS
Hale
County Seat, Texas
Panhandle
34°11'28"N 101°43'8"W (34.191204, -101.718806)
Intersection of I-27, Hwy 87 and 70
76 miles S of Amarillo
on Hwy 27
47 miles N of Lubbock
on Hwy 27
Population: 20,859 est. (2016)
22,194 (2010) 22,336 (2000) 21,700 (1990)
|
The Cement Block
Plant, Plainview, Texas
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
History in
a Pecan Shell
The County was
named after John Hale, who fell at San
Jacinto. Plainview is named after no person, but the unobstructed
view of the countryside.
Hale County was
formed in the country's centennial year, before there was any community.
In 1888 there were enough people to organize and declare Plainview
the county seat.
The railroad came in 1907 and then they hit on the idea of tapping
into the underground water which was (and is) abundant. An east-west
railroad (Fort Worth and Denver) joined the north-south Santa Fe,
and the rest as they say is history.
According to the Texas Handbook: By 1925 Plainview had 7,500
people and 50,000 shade trees.
Photographer's Note:
Plainview strikes me as a practical type of town. At about 22K, not
too awfully big and not too small. Moderate weather but prone to tornadoes
and hail storms. On an interstate and near enough to Lubbock
and a nice airport. - Barclay
Gibson |
Plainview,
Texas
Landmarks / Attractions
Photo Gallery |
Historic
District -
Historic downtown with WWI
era brick streets, antique shops and restaurants.
Designated a Texas and National Main Street City.
Call Main Street office for brochure. 806-296-1119
Museum of
Llano Estacado -
In the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Regional Heritage Center
1900 West 7th Street 806-296-4735.
Weekdays 9 to 5. Weekends 1 to 5 (March through November)
Abraham
Family Art Gallery -
In the Learning Resources Center, Wayland Baptist University campus.
Free admission.
Information - 806-291-1000
|
Santa Fe Railroad
Depot
1200 North Broadway
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2009 |
Historical Marker
by the Santa Fe Depot
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2009 |
Historical Marker:
Site of
Lake Plainview
The City of Plainview, founded in the 1880s, sought agricultural supremacy
for its trade area. Civic leaders pioneered irrigated farming in 1911
by boring the first of many deep water wells. In 1912, Texas Land
& Development Co. installed a demonstration well near the Santa
Fe Railway Depot and created Lake Plainview and a park at this
site. Called Texas' largest body of
water fed by a well, the lake was very popular with the public, but
expensive to maintain. After fire destroyed the pump house in 1917,
park and lake went back to nature. In 1977 the area again became a
park.
(1977) |
Broadway, Plainview's
main street, with the restored Fair Theatre
Photo by Wes Reeves, October 2001 |
The 1947 W. O.
Speck Building
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2009 |
1936 Texas Centennial
Monument
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2009 |
Plainview,
Texas Old Photos
|
City
Auditorium, Plainview, Texas
1940s Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
|
A
residence
1910 Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
|
Plainview
Tourist information
Chamber of Commerce - 710 West 5th Street
806-296-7431 or 800-658-2685
http://www.plainviewtex.com/ |
Plainview,
Texas Forum
Subject:
Hilton Hotel & old memories
I have been told the first hotel Mr. Hilton built with his name
on it was in Plainview, Texas. The last time I was downtown in Plainview,
I believe it was still so. A boyhood friend, Dr. Richard E. Morgan's
father had been the manager at that time when we were still in high
school, the mid fifties. Richard is still there you might check
with him. I lived there from 1948 to 1968 and remember those times
with fond memories, it was one of the best places to grow up in
!!! Recently went to my classes 50th reunion, one of my most pleasurable
memories, good to see people you had not seen in so many years.
- Jimmy Nowell, class of 1953, Granbury, Texas, September 18, 2004
Subject:
Naming of Plainview
My grandmother was from Plainview, Texas. She was born in 1928.
Although I'm sure that the name came from the unobstructed view
as you said, she tells an amusing story that I would like to share
with you. She said that a young couple was traveling across the
Plains in a covered wagon. They stopped for the day, and the wife
said that she needed to use the rest room. He told her to go ahead
and she said, "Where? Right here in Plain View?" Thus, the community
was named. :>) Ron Williams, grandson of Minnie Jeanelle Bell Nichols,
November 25, 2002
|
| 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. |
|
|
HOME
