TexasEscapes.com HOME Welcome to Texas Escapes
A magazine written by Texas
Custom Search
New   |   Texas Towns   |   Ghost Towns   |   Counties   |   Trips   |   Features   |   Columns   |   Architecture   |   Images   |   Archives   |   Site Map

Hood County TX
Hood County

Texas Towns
A - Z
Txas Trips
Texas Trips
Granbury Hotels

More Hotels

FORT SPUNKY, TEXAS

Hood County, Central Texas North

32.32542, -97.645025
FM 2174 and FM 199
Lake Granbury
SE of Granbury the county seat
NE of Glen Rose
Population: 15 (2000)

Book Hotel Here › Granbury Hotels

History in a Pecan Shell

Settled in 1849 as Barnardville, George Barnard had and his brother Charles installed a chain of trading posts along the Brazos River and this location would come to be known as Ft. Spunky. Among the investors in the trading post enterprise was former President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston.

The post proper was run by brother Charles and the location was chosen for a nearby spring. It was also alongside Indian trails and near Comanche Peak - a regional landmark. The Barnard Brothers also acquired thousands of acres of land along the river and the peak.

In the 1850s, another community came into being not far from the trading post. Situated on George's Creek (also named after Barnard) it appeared to have potential as a town. But the U.S. government removed the Indians in the mid 1850s, relocating them to Ft. Belknap. The decline in business for the trading post was devastating, forcing it to close. The community eventually took over the trading post's location and locals referred to the place as "Fort Spunky" - reportedly for the frequent fights and rude lifestyle.

Despite the sparse population, a post office was granted in 1886. Ten years later the population was around 40 residents and the town's postmaster had acquired almost all of the community's businesses, including the grist mill, store, feed store and cotton gin.

Population was still sixty-five in the mid 1960s but it had an abrupt drop around 1966 to a mere fifteen residents. That figure was used through the year 2000.
Fort Spunky, TX, Hood County, 1899 postmark
Fort Spunky, TX, Hood County, 1899 postmark
Cover cancelled with Fort Spunky, TX 1899 postmark
Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection
Hood County TX 1907 Postal Map
Hood County 1907 Postal Map showing Ft. Spunky
near Somervell and Johnson County lines

Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Fort Spunky, Texas Area Towns:
Granbury the county seat
See Hood County

Central Texas North

Book Hotel Here:
Granbury Hotels | More Hotels

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Texas Towns A - Z Texas Regions:
Gulf Texas Gulf Coast East East Texas North Central Texas North Central Woutn Central Texas South Panhandle Texas Panhandle
South South Texas Hill Texas Hill Country West West Texas Ghost Texas Ghost Towns counties Texas Counties

Texas Escapes Online Magazine »   Archive Issues » Home »
TEXAS TOWNS & COUNTIES TEXAS LANDMARKS & IMAGES TEXAS HISTORY & CULTURE TEXAS OUTDOORS MORE
Texas Counties
Texas Towns A-Z
Texas Ghost Towns

TEXAS REGIONS:
Central Texas North
Central Texas South
Texas Gulf Coast
Texas Panhandle
Texas Hill Country
East Texas
South Texas
West Texas

Courthouses
Jails
Churches
Schoolhouses
Bridges
Theaters
Depots
Rooms with a Past
Monuments
Statues

Gas Stations
Post Offices
Museums
Water Towers
Grain Elevators
Lodges
Stores
Banks

Vintage Photos
Historic Trees
Cemeteries
Old Neon
Ghost Signs
Signs
Murals
Gargoyles
Pitted Dates
Cornerstones
Then & Now

Columns: History/Opinion
Texas History
Small Town Sagas
Black History
WWII
Texas Centennial
Ghosts
People
Animals
Food
Music
Art

Books
Texas Railroads

Texas Trips
Texas Drives
Texas State Parks
Texas Rivers
Texas Lakes
Texas Forts
Texas Trails
Texas Maps
USA
MEXICO
HOTELS

Site Map
About Us
Privacy Statement
Disclaimer
Contributors
Staff
Contact Us

 
Website Content Copyright Texas Escapes LLC. All Rights Reserved