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History
in a Pecan Shell
Strawn was named after local rancher Stephen
Strawn. Prior to the arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railroad in the early 1880s,
the community had been known as North Fork (of Palo Pinto Creek). By 1891
the population was 400.
Oil was discovered near Strawn as early as 1895,
but not until the T & P Coal and Oil Company got interested in 1915 did any production
begin. Before the end of 1915 Strawn had 20 wells producing. The first natural
gas well was drilled in 1924. The Strawn Coal Mining Company was formed and merged
with another coal mining company three miles north of Strawn. Between 1910 and
1920 over 1.6 million tons of coal were taken out from the depths of Palo Pinto
County to power the locomotives of the T & P.
Strawn incorporated in
1940 when it had a population of 1,107. It fell below 700 in 1980 and has slowly
grown to the current 739. |
Strawn, Texas Features:Loveras'
Market
On
Highwy 16
Photos courtesy Cathy Brown |
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Strawn
Texas ForumDear
TE, I understand that my great-grandfather was Stephen Strawn who founded [Strawn,
Texas]. My uncle took some photos of Strawn in the 1950's when he visited. (I
have them somewhere.) I also have some documents on the Strawn family and wonder
how I might get in touch with someone in Strawn, Texas? My letter attempts in
the 1980's went unanswered. I wonder if any Strawn relatives still live nearby
to the town. They might be interested in copies of the family documents I have.
- Stephen Strawn, Humboldt County, California, March 22, 2007 |
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