Hale Center in Hale County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Center Plains Community
Photographed by Allen Lowrey, June 28, 2020
1. Center Plains Community Marker
Early settlers to Hale County referred to the territory west of Hale Center (9 mi. E) as the Center Plains community. A cemetery and a schoolhouse, established to serve the vast area, were located at this site on property donated by William S. Bolivar who began homesteading the area in 1890. The first post office, listing the settlement as Copenhagen, opened in 1902 in the home of T. H. Miller, the postmaster.
When construction of the proposed Panhandle Short Line Railroad from Vega to Lubbock bypassed the community in 1907, the post office and school were moved to the newly platted town of Norfleet (1 mi. W). The town failed by 1910 when plans for the rail line were abandoned, and the school was moved back to Center Plains.
The schoolhouse also served as a community center and people of all faiths worshiped in the facility on Sundays. Plans to consolidate with other area schools were rejected in 1925, but officials divided the district in 1937 and transferred the students to Hale Center and Cotton Center schools.
Center Plains was once the nucleus of a large rural community, but only the cemetery remains.
Erected 1980
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 34° 3.056′ N, 101° 59.585′ W. Marker is in Hale Center, Texas, in Hale County. It is on FM 179, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hale Center TX 79041, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Texas’ South Plains. It is also on the American Great Plains and specifically on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ranching and Farming in Hale County (approx. 8 miles away); First Baptist Church of Hale Center (approx. 8.3 miles away); Nils Akeson (approx. 8.4 miles away);
Photographed by Allen Lowrey, June 28, 2020
2. Center Plains Community Marker
Photographed by Allen Lowrey, June 28, 2020
3. Center Plains Community Marker
Photographed by Allen Lowrey, June 28, 2020
4. Center Plains Community Cemetery
Photographed by Allen Lowrey, June 28, 2020
5. An addition sign helpful for finding the Center Plains Community Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2020, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. This page has been viewed 588 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 28, 2020, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
