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STRAWN, TEXAS
Palo Pinto County
Highways 16, 108 and FM 2372
4 miles W of Mingus
6 miles NW of Thurber
45 miles SW of Mineral
Wells
13 miles NE of Ranger
23 miles NE of Eastland
Population:
739 (2000)
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Bankhead
Hotel in Strawn
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson April 2006 |
Bankhead
Hotel for sale
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson April 2006 |
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. |
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Strawn
City Hall
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson April 2006 |
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Post
Office in Strawn
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson April 2006 |
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St.
John Catholic Church
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson April 2006 |
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Strawn,
Texas Features:
Loveras'
Market
On
Highwy 16
Photos courtesy Cathy Brown
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Strawn Texas
Forum
Dear
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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More Barclay Gibson
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© John Troesser |
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