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History in
a Pecan Shell
Named for buffalo
hunter and Indian fighter W. S. Sterling when the town became the
county seat in July 1891. There wasn't any competetion for the county
seat and Sterling City remains the population core for the county.
R. C. Stewart was the man who donated the land for the town in January
of 1891. It was platted the following month by H. B. Tarver.
By June of that year the town had its own newspaper as well as a hotel
and several essential businesses and before the year was out Sterling
City had a post office.
The first school was built in1892 and four years later the population
was 300 Sterling Citizens.
The Santa Fe Railroad arrived in 1910, but later abandoned its service.
At one time the town had 150 windmills providing water to the town.
By 1914 the population had increased to 900.
No figures were given through the thirties, but after WWII
the population had decreased by about 10%. By 1970 it was down to
780 but increased back to 915 by 1980. The population finally broke
the 1,000 person mark in the late 80s or early 90s and is listed on
the 2004 highway map as 1,081. |
Sterling City,
Texas
Landmarks / Attractions
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Sterling City
Closed Pony Bridge
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2009 |
Hwy 158 - An
old cabin beside the road
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2009 |
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Sterling City
Forum
Subject:
Camp Elizabeth
This is one of those Centennial Markers that no one knows what to
do with. Camp Elizabeth "is thought" to have been about 10 miles
northwest of Sterling City. If the Centennial Committee didn't know
for sure that it was there. How could we? And why did they go to
all the trouble to have one of this markers carved, delivered and
erected in such a remote location? - Barclay
Gibson, December 28, 2009
Subject:
Sterling City, Texas
I just read the letter of January 2006 from Debra Wimberly. She
was commenting on the building diagonally across from the Sterling
County Courthouse. When my family moved to Sterling City in 1945,
that building housed the Deal Pharmacy. It was always a very busy
place and was a hangout for us kids while we were in town. In the
same building, round the corner East toward the school, Dr. Swann
had his offices. Upstairs was the telephone system and where the
central operator worked.
Sometimes a photographer from San Angelo would come to Sterling
and set up for kids’ portraits, and he used rooms upstairs in this
building.
When we moved to Sterling City we actually lived in Coke County,
managing the 7 ½ section Mendenhall Ranch. The only road from the
ranch to pavement went to Sterling City. We were supposed to attend
school in Robert
Lee, but arrangements were made for my brother George and me
to attend Sterling City schools.
We lived in Sterling City until 1955 and some of my fondest memories
are from this period in my life. - Johnny Thompson, Midland, Texas,
December 01, 2006
I was born
and raised in Sterling City. In 1974 I was one of the last babies
to be delivered by Dr. Swan in the hospital there.
I just wanted to let y'all know that one building [in your coverage]
has been left out. That would be the landmark on main street catercorner
from the courthouse and the jail. That building has been there forever.
It was a motel at one time and a bank and is supposed to be haunted.
It was redone to be a restaurant then the ownership changed and
it was reopened up as a restaurant again and again. I remember hearing
about it being haunted more than once. I thought that y'all would
like [to share] that little tidbit - Debra Wimberly, former Sterling
Citizen, January 19, 2006
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Sterling
City ISD
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine, August 2005 |
| 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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