FORT PICKETVILLE, TEXAS
AKA Picketville, Texas

Stephens County First County Seat
Texas Ghost Town
Stephens County, Texas Panhandle / North Central Texas

US 183
2 miles N of Breckenridge
W of Palo Pinto
S of Graham
NE of Eastland

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Picketville historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2009

Historical Marker

Picketville

One of Stephens County's first white settlements, Picketville was founded before the Civil War (1861-65) on Gunsolus Creek. Without military defense during the war, families "forted up" here for protection against hostile Indian attacks. The name probably came from picket construction in which tree limbs were placed on end and chinked with mud. Picketville served as the county seat until Breckenridge was settled in 1876. Then the town began to decline, leaving only a cemetery. After many graves were accidentally destroyed, Boy Scout troops restored and fenced the site.

Photographer's Note:
"The cemetery was off the road. I didn't want to hazard climbing over a locked gate." - Barclay Gibson

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2009

Stephens County 1907 postal map showing Breckenridge
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Picketville, Texas Area Towns:
Breckenridge the county seat
Eastland, Palo Pinto, Graham
See Stephens County

Panhandle | Central Texas North

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