GILLILAND, TEXAS

Texas Ghost Town
Knox County, Texas Panhandle / North Central Texas

FM 1756
NE of Benjamin the county seat
46 Miles SE of Quanah
46 Miles SW of Vernon
About 70 Miles SW of Wichita Falls
Population: 25 (2000)

Gilliland, Texas Area Hotels
Quanah Hotels | Vernon Hotels

Gilliland Cemetery
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
More Texas Cemeteries

History in a Pecan Shell

First known as Coyote, Texas when settlement began in the early 1870s, the community was a mix of people looking for new beginnings. In the early 1890s this included a group of Norwegians who transmigrated from Bosque County.

A school district was established in the Spring of 1892 with classes beginning in 1895. District judge W. A. Gilliland became the town’s namesake when the opening of a post office in 1907 demanded an official name. The first post office was in the home of O.M. Olsen.

Several neighboring schools merged with the Gilliland school and the present abandoned school appears to date from the 1930s. After WWII high school students attended class in Munday, while elementary classes continued in Gilliland.

In the mid 1920s the community’s population was estimated to be a mere 50 residents, but shortly after WWII it was reported as 120. The population estimate remained at 103 from the early 1970s through the 1990 census, declining to 25 for the 2000 count.

Today the community consists of the ruins of the 1930 school, grain silos and a few former businesses being reclaimed by nature – although the community center is in good repair and still in use.

Gilliland, Texas Landmarks

Photo Gallery

Gilliland Baptist Church
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
More Texas Churches

The former 1930s school building
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010

Inside the old gym
TE Photo, September 2009

Visitors please check in with school office
TE Photo, September 2009

One method of discouraging cattle from attending classes
More Texas Schoolhouses
TE Photo, September 2009

The Old Mill
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010

Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010

Silos
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
See Texas Grain Elevators

A rock house in Gilliland
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010

Old gas pumps in "downtown" Gilliland.
TE Photo, September 2009

The former gas station
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
More Texas Gas Stations

The road to Gilliland
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010

Store ruins
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010

More of dowtown Gilliland
TE Photo, September 2009
More Texas Stores

Ranch Road 25 South of Gilland
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010

Gilliland, TX, Knox County - Post office into

Gilliland, TX, Knox County - 1921 Postmark

Cover canceled with Gilliland, TX 1921 postmark
Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection

1920s Knox County map showing Gilliland
S of Crowell, NW of Seymour, NE of Benjamin
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Take a road trip

Gilliland, Texas Nearby Towns:
Benjamin the county seat
Seymour
Munday
Goree
Knox City
Vernon
Quanah
Wichita Falls
Abilene

See Knox County

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