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History
in a Pecan Shell
Named for nearby Wildorado Creek, Wildorado became a town in 1900 when it
was marked as a planned stop on the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf Railroad
survey.
A post office was granted in 1904 and the railroad (finally)
reached the town in 1908.
A bank, hotel and newspaper soon followed.
In 1915 Wildorado was thriving with a population of 100, and the requisite stores,
churches and schools.
In the late twenties and thirties, Wildorado was
tortured by sandstorms and droughts.
The rowdy element of some Panhandle
boomtowns saw Wildorado as an easy target and banks and stores were robbed.
By 1936 Wildorado's population dropped to a mere 57, but by 1947 it had increased
to 125.
Construction of Interstate 40 brought the population up to 210
by 1957 and a water corporation in the mid 70s established a dependable water
supply and irrigation wells.
Wildorado
Today: |
Wildorado
rural scene
Photo courtesy Tom
Jones, 2007 |
Scenes
near Wildorado
Photo courtesy Tom
Jones, 2007 |
1940s
Oldham County map showing Wildorado (Below 'M' in 'OLDHAM')
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office | |
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