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SOUTHLAND,
TEXAS
Garza County, Texas
Panhandle
33° 21' 43" N, 101° 33' 1" W (33.361944, -101.550278)
U.S. Highway 84
2 Miles from the Eastern Escarpment of the Caprock
20 Miles NW of Post the
county seat
12 Miles SE of Slaton
22 Miles SE of Lubbock
ZIP code 79364
Area code 806
Population: 160 (2000)
Southland, Texas Area Hotels › Post
Hotels | Lubbock
Hotels |
Southland Hotel
Photo courtesy Jim Spikes |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Rancher Andrew
Briggs (Sug) Robertson named the town for it being (originally)
the southern part of the V Ranch. Other large ranches were nearby
and when Garza County
was organized in 1907, Southland became the trading center for the
ranches. Three years
later the Pecos and Northern Railroad arrived and built a depot
– assuring prosperity.
The community was granted a post office in 1911 and with the money
invested by cereal magnate Charles Post, the region’s future looked
good. That was before the Great Depression, which hit the area with
a blow from which it never recovered.
The 1940 census counted 280 residents in Southland, serviced by
eleven businesses. Twenty years later the population was down to
153 and the 2000 census slowed nearly the same (157).
"Southland,
was originally called Bresford, and received its post office
on July 14,1905 with Job Davies as postmaster. Later the name was
changed from Bresford to Southland on July 15,1910. This information
comes from Jim Wheat's Post Masters and Post Offices of Texas."
- Holly Hilpert, December 05, 2011
See 1907 Postal Map ›
See Southland, Texas Forum
›
Photographer's Note:
"Southland - interesting place... Odd that Hardware Store y
Cafe on US84 failed... No retail, but with Lubbock
and Slaton
so close - no need..." - Rick
Vanderpool
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"The
first post master and one of the first four county commissioners appointed
by the governor was named Job Davies. He was my great grandfather.
Thank you." - Jim Spikes, January 06, 2013 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
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