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Wildorado
rural scene
Photo courtesy Tom
Jones, 2007 |
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
Photos courtesy
Tom
Jones, 2007 |
Scenes
near Wildorado
Photos courtesy Tom
Jones, 2007 |
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