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Crosby County TX
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RALLS, TEXAS

Crosby County, Texas Panhandle

33° 40' 46" N, 101° 23' 1" W (33.679444, -101.383611)
State Hwy 207
U.S. Hwys 62/82
W of Crosbyton the county seat
22 miles S of Floydada
27 miles NE of Lubbock
Population: 1,944 (2010) 2,252 (2000) 2,172 (1990)

Ralls, Texas Area Hotels › Lubbock Hotels
Ralls TX downtown 1917
Ralls downtown in 1917
Click on image to enlarge.

Photo courtesy Dan Whatley Collection
History in a Pecan Shell

Ralls, the largest town in Crosby County was founded by John Robinson Ralls. He was also the town’s benefactor. W. E. McLaughlin helped Ralls plat the townsite in July of 1911.

Ralls paid to have a number of businesses and houses moved from the community of Emma. The idea was to be near the Santa Fe Railroad tracks – a move that rarely failed. Ralls also donated land for a new school and in 1913 a new school opened in a $17,000 building.

Ralls plan bore fruit. Being on the railroad brought the town prosperity unimaginable in Emma. Most importantly the railroad brought an infusion of settlers – the lifeblood of any embryonic town.

The chamber of commerce was founded in 1917, with John’s brother Percy as president.

Ralls was incorporated in 1922 with a population of just under 1,000 Rallites.

Ralls suffered like many Texas towns during the 1930s – but almost exactly halfway through the decade – June 19th, 1935 – Ralls suffered one of Texas’ worst hailstorms. Two citizens were killed and the cotton compress was left without a roof.

Irrigation improved crop production and helped Ralls withstand the droughts of the early 50s.
Ralls Tx - City Of Ralls Historical Marker
City Of Ralls Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Historical Marker:

City of Ralls

Founded by John R. Ralls, who donated land for a townsite. He erected greater part of the business district and gave free sites plus much of the cost of building each church in town.

In 1911, he contributed 12 acres for school site. He also offered donation of 2,000 acres for site of Texas Technological College. Ralls, born in Culloden, Georgia, November 13, 1863; moved West in 1880's.

After settling litigation with C.B. Livestock Company, sponsors of towns of Crosbyton and Cedric, Ralls secured railroad station, 1916; city was incorporated January 6, 1922, after death of founder.

Ralls Texas Landmarks & Attractions

Ralls Tx - J. R. Ralls Building
J. R. Ralls Building
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls TX - Ralls Historical Museum,  former John Ralls Bank building
Ralls Historical Museum
Former John Ralls Bank building

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls Tx - 1925 McLaughlin Building
The 1925 McLaughlin Building
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls Tx - Brick Street, Brick Buildings and Water Tower
Brick Street, Brick Buildings and Water Tower
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls Tx - Ralls Public Library
Ralls Public Library
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls Tx - Ralls Middle School

Ralls Middle School.
More Texas Schoolhouses

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

Ralls Tx Rall Cemetery and Chapel
Ralls Cemetery and Chapel
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls Tx - JackRabbit Stadium

Jackrabbit Field
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

Ralls Texas Cotton Gin
Ralls Cotton Gin
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls Tx - Brick Building
Another brick building in Ralls
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls Tx - Closed Chevrolet Dealership
Closed Chevrolet Dealership
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls Texas - Borden's Ice Cream Ghost Sign
Borden's Ice Cream Ghost Sign.
More Texas Ghost Signs

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls Tx - Ice House
The Ice House
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls Tx - Old Phillips 66 Gas Station
Old Phillips Station
Photo courtesy Clayton Acker

Old gas station in Ralls, Texas

"I have owned this station for the past 5 years. I have spent many months working to preserve it. It was built in 1928 and opened for business in January 1929. Thought you may want to add it to your website. I get a lot of people that stop and take pictures, give tours, if I am there. We opened in 2015 as a state inspection station, mainly because it's a small town and a place to get your car inspected was needed. It is really my hobby shop." - Clayton Acker, June 2, 2018
Ralls Tx - Restored Phillips 66 Gas Station
Phillips Station restored
Photo courtesy Clayton Acker, September 2015
Ralls Tx - Murals in Restored Phillips 66 Gas Station
Murals on the restored Phillips Gas Station
Photo courtesy Clayton Acker, September 15
Ralls Tx - Mural in Restored Phillips 66 Gas Station
Close up of the mural on the restored station
Photo courtesy Clayton Acker, September 15
Ralls Tx - Mural in Restored Phillips 66 Gas Station
Close up of the mural on the restored station
More Texas Murals

Photo courtesy Clayton Acker, September 15
Ralls Tx - Steep Roofed Gas Station
The old Phillips Station in 2009
More Texas Gas Stations

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls Tx - Silos and Water Tower
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls Tx - Silos
Silos in Ralls.
More Texas Grain Elevators

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls Tx - Ralls Water Tower
Ralls Water Tower.
More Texas Water Towers

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
Ralls TX - Welcome to Ralls sign
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
See:
Ralls Historical Museum
Ralls Cemetery
Ralls Cotton Gin
Ralls Area Hotels
TX Crosby County 1940s Map
Lubbock & Crosby County 1940s map
showing Ralls W of Crosbyton & E of Lubbock
From Texas state map #4335
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Take a road trip

Ralls, Texas Nearby Towns:
Crosbyton the county seat
Lubbock | Slayton | Tahoka | Floydada |
See Crosby County | Lubbock County | Texas Panhandle

Book Hotel Here:
Lubbock 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/vintage/historic photos, please contact us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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