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Deaf Smith County TX
Deaf Smith County


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AYR, TEXAS

Texas Ghost Town
Deaf Smith County, Texas Panhandle

No directions available
SW of Amarillo
Population: 0

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History in a Pecan Shell

In January 1890 the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway sent fifteen surveyors to survey a potential spur. The FW & D was in competetion with the Santa Fe Railroad and the mission (to create a shipping point for area ranches from Roswell, New Mexico to Big Spring) was a secret one.

Five miles from the center of the county a townsite was platted and named for the Scottish city of Ayr. Early the next spring, land buyers came to the region and settlement was begun. A store was built and a post office opened. Success looked assured - except for the rival town of Grenada. This town, which later changed its name to La Plata, was under the direct control of the XIT Ranch.

The all-too-familiar battle for county seat status began. It looked so serious that Texas Rangers were stationed at Ayr as a precaution. In October of 1890, La Plata won the election. The count was 97-7. There were allegations of fraud, but the vote stood. The spur project was abandoned and the post office was discontinued.

Ayr's brief life-span was a mere five years.

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.

TX Deaf Smith County 1920s Map
Deaf Smith County 1920s map
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Deaf Smith County Towns

County Seat - Hereford
Book Hotel Here - Hereford Hotels

  • Ayr ghost town
  • Bippus ghost town
  • Dean
  • Dawn
  • Glenrio ghost town
  • Hereford County seat
  • Milo Center

  • Contiguous Counties:
    Oldham County (N) Randall County (E)
    Castro County (SE) Parmer County (S)
    Curry County, New Mexico (SW)
    Quay County, New Mexico (W)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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