Bishop in Nueces County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Bishop
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2018
1. Bishop Marker
The town of Bishop was established in 1910 by F.Z. Bishop on land he had purchased from the Driscoll Ranch. The townsite was staked on both sides of the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico railroad line.
F.Z. Bishop, who dreamed of building a model town on the prairie, managed construction of the town. Bishop planned the townsite and designed the business district to have a uniform appearance with brick facades. He began construction of an electric plant and water system, planted 600 palm trees along the streets, and laid three miles of sidewalks in town. A 40-acre city park with a lake, band pavilion and deer park were underway. A frame schoolhouse was built, and opened in September 1910. The town grew quickly and within two years the population had grown to 1,000. The town was incorporated in April 1912; R.R. Hall, business manager for F.Z. Bishop, was elected first mayor. Churches were built. A two story brick school with a raised basement replaced the first school.
Although F.Z. Bishop declared bankruptcy in 1916, the town continued to grow and prosper. Oil and gas discoveries in the 1940's caused petroleum-related industries to supplant agriculture as the chief economic base. F.Z. Bishop was buried in Bishop in 1950.
Erected 1996 by Texas Historical Commission
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.
Location. 27° 35.113′ N, 97° 48.013′ W. Marker is in Bishop, Texas, in Nueces County. Marker is at the intersection of Business U.S. 77 and West Main Street, on the left when traveling south on U.S. 77Business . Marker is located in Veterans Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bishop TX 78343, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. St. John Lutheran Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Baptist Church of Bishop (approx. ¼ mile away); St. Paul Lutheran Church and School (approx. 0.6 miles away); First United Methodist Church of Bishop (approx. 0.7 miles away); Restland Memory Park (approx. 1.3 miles away); Kingsville Cotton Mill (approx. 5.8 miles away); Englishmen in South Texas, 1568 (approx. 6 miles away); The Kingsville Railroad Depot (approx. 6.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bishop.
Also see . . .
1. Bishop, Texas. Bishop was originally on the Driscoll Ranch and was called Julia Siding. In 1910 F. Z. Bishop, a Corpus Christi insurance agent, bought a large parcel of
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2018
2. Bishop Marker (tall view)
2. Bishop, Texas. (This link presents many interesting historical and current photos from Bishop.)
Bishop was a planner and had electrical, telephone and sewage systems, paved streets, and sidewalks in place before the first lots were sold. A hotel and several residences were erected, and a $16,000 store and office building was opened. In September 1910, when the first school opened in a three-room frame building, sixteen children were enrolled. Enrollment increased to sixty by the end of the term. (Submitted on May 31, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2018
3. Bishop Marker (wide view; Veterans Memorial Park fountain in background)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2018
4. Abandoned Building on S. Ash Ave; showing brick facade architecture (view from near marker)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2018
5. U.S. Post Office, Bishop, Texas
Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 342 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 31, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
