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PLAINVIEW,
TEXASHale County
Seat, Texas Panhandle
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: 22,336 (2000) |
The
Cement Block Plant, Plainview, Texas
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
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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.
A
Visit to PlainviewPhotographer'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 |
 |
1936
Texas Centennial Monument
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2009 |
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 Text
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. |
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Plainview
Attractions Hale
County CourthouseHistoric
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
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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
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In the Learning Resources Center, Wayland Baptist University campus. Free
admission.
Information - 806-291-1000
Plainview
Tourist information
Chamber of Commerce - 710 West 5th Street
806-296-7431 or 800-658-2685
http://www.plainviewtex.com/ |
| A
residence
1910 Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
| City
Auditorium, Plainview, Texas
1940s Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
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Broadway, Plainview's
main street, with the restored Fair Theatre
Photo by Wes Reeves, October 2001 |
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 | |
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