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Electric
City Texas, Looking West
Courtesy Xcel Energy, Wes Reeves |
History
in an Oil Can
The
town was built in 1926 during the Hutchinson County oil boom. The
name is a reference to the Riverview Power Plant, constructed by the
Panhandle Power and Light Company to furnish electricity to the oil
fields - allowing them to drill at night. Following a 24 hour, seven
day schedule, the plant produced its first lights in November of '26.
A camp grew around the facility as the boom continued, and it started
evolving into an actual community. It might have remained if not for
the improvement of the highway and its proximity to Borger.
A few residents stayed and even as late as 1948 five people called
Electric City home. |
Electric
Power Plant in Electric City
Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
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Electric City provided the power to illuminate the oil fields like
this derrick in Borger
Photo Courtesy Ken Sharpe Collection |
Electric
City Texas Forum
Subject:
RIVERVIEW POWER PLANT TX
By chance found your site and was very interested in the pictures
of camp. I was born in Borger
and lived in Riverview. My dad worked at the Power Plant. I have
looked at the images of the area on google earth and am able to
place where we lived and even though the houses are long gone, the
trees tell where they were. Thie image of camp you have on the site,
does not seem to fit any of these configurations so was very puzzled
unless it was not taken facing West. I do have images (will have
to look for them) and when I find them, will email them to you.
Do you have any other images I could see?
It was quite a memory jogger and was delighted to realize how much
was still there! Thanks for posting it. - Margot Carter Blair,
April 02, 2006
Subject:
Electric City Old Photo
It came from our company archives. Southwestern Public Service Company
(now Xcel Energy) purchased the Riverview Power Plant, probably
in the 1940s, and it's still there today and fired up when we need
extra power.." - Wes Reeves, July 25, 2005
To share history or photos of Electric City, Texas, please contact
us.
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