Falfurrias in Brooks County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Falfurrias

Photographed By James Hulse, January 28, 2021

1. Falfurrias Marker

Inscription.

Founded as a cattle shipping point by Edward C. Lasater, 1904, town bears name of a village on land he purchased in 1893. When the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad extended its lines, Lasater (1860-1930) platted present townsite, built a hotel, general store, water and power plants, and cotton gin. He opened area to truck, citrus, and dairy farms. He founded South Texas' first creamery - now widely recognized. A post office, newspaper, churches, and schools were opened. A citrus packing plant was built in 1914. Still later the city became an oil and gas production center.

Erected 1971 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 1561.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.

Location. 27° 13.611′ N, 98° 8.639′ W. Marker is in Falfurrias, Texas, in Brooks County. Marker is at the intersection of East Rice Street (State Highway 285) and North St. Mary’s Street (Business U.S. 281), on the right when traveling west on East Rice Street. The marker is located at the Falfurrias Pioneer Park near the intersection of Highways 281 and 285. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Falfurrias TX 78355, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fallen Heroes Memorial Park (here, next to this marker); Brooks County War Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Our Sons, Our Brothers, Our Friends Memorial (about 400 feet away); Brooks County Courthouse (about 500 feet away); First United Methodist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brooks County’s Catholic Heritage (approx. ¼ mile away); Don Pedro Jaramillo (approx. 2.2 miles away); Site of Los Olmos (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Falfurrias.

Also see . . . Falfurrias Texas.

The name Falfurrias antedates Anglo association with the area, and its derivation is uncertain. Lasater claimed that it was a Lipan Indian word meaning "the land of heart's delight"; others believed it was the Spanish name for a native desert flower known as the heart's delight. Less romantic is the theory that Falfurrias is a misspelling of one or another Spanish or French word. The word filfarrias, for example, Mexican slang for a filthy, untidy person, was long associated with an old shepherd in the region whom the locals referred to as Don Filfarrias. According to local tradition the shepherd's land came to be known as La Mota de Don Filfarrias (la mota meaning "a grove of trees"), which
Photographed By James Hulse, January 28, 2021

2. Falfurrias Marker
eventually evolved into La Mota de Don Falfurrias and was finally shortened to Falfurrias. Source: The Handbook of Texas

(Submitted on February 6, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the Falfurrias Marker from the road image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, January 28, 2021

3. The view of the Falfurrias Marker from the road

Credits. This page was last revised on February 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 306 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 6, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.