OTTO, TEXAS

Texas Ghost Town
Falls County, Central Texas North

Near intersection of FM 1240 and FM 2603
8 Miles N of Perry
Near Waco and Marlin the county seat
Population: 48 (2000, 1990)

Otto Area Hotels › Waco Hotels

Otto Tx Closed Crazy Horse Saloon Gas Station

Otto closed Crazy Horse Saloon & Gas Station
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
More Texas Gas Stations

Otto History in a Pecan Shell

Otto’s history incorporates that of two smaller communities. Needmore and Lonestar joined forces in 1901 and renamed themselves in anticipation of the arrival of the International-Great Northern Railroad which was then connecting its line between Waco and Marlin.

The towns namesake could’ve been Charles Otto Leuschner, landowner, or Henry Otto Stansbury, schoolteacher (one of the consequences of using a first name). In 1905 Otto had a population of 250 residents and mostr essential businesses.

It is said that as many as 1,000 residents lived in Otto prior to the Great Depression and the shrinkage caused by the postwar exodus from small towns.

From a 1941 estimate of 500, it had declined by half in two short years. 1950 saw the consolidation of Otto’s students into the Mart ISD and from the 1964 population of 243, it fell to a mere 85 by 1970. The estimate for the 2000 census was given as 48 residents.

Otto, Texas Landmarks:

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
More Texas Churches

A closed gas station
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
More Texas Gas Stations

Texaco
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
See Rust in Pieces

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008

A gin in Otto
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008
See Cotton | Cotton Gins

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008

Entering Otto
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2008

Cover canceled with Otto, TX 1903 postmark
Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection

Falls County 1907 postal map showing Otto in NE corner near McLennan & Limestone County lines
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Take a road trip

Otto, Texas Nearby Towns:
Marlin the county seat
Waco
See Falls County | McLennan County | Limestone County

Central Texas North

Book Hotel Here:
Waco Hotels | More Hotels

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