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History in
a Pecan Shell
Born with the arrival
of the Stamford and Northwestern Railway about 1909, the community
was named for the bookkeeper for the Swenson Land and Cattle Company.
Mr. Swenson donated the railroad’s right-of-way and thought enough
of his bookkeeper to name the town after him. The community received
a post office that same year (1909).
The early 1900s were kind to Girard and it could boast twenty businesses
by the 1920s, including a hotel, an ice plant, theater and a newspaper.
Unfortunately no population figures are available for this period.
Girard was hit hard by the Great Depression and the postwar exodus
to urban areas. By the 1980s the population was well below 200 and
what few businesses were left were of the agricultural variety. The
community’s three churches remain active.
Between the 1990 census and the 2000 census the population has declined
by half to a mere 62 prople. |
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Kent
County 1920s map showing Girard
(Near Dickens County
line)
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
Kent
County 1940s map showing Girard
From Texas state map #4335
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
| 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 or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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