Knippa in Uvalde County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Knippa Trap Rock Plant

Photographed by James Hulse, December 21, 2021

1. Knippa Trap Rock Plant Marker

Inscription. Volcanic lava deposited here more than 60 million years ago cooled and hardened over time to form Basalt, a dark igneous rock also known as Trap Rock.

M.B. (Pete) Walcott purchased acreage here about 1904 and in 1907 formed the Genevieve Mining Co. to search for gold. Although little gold was found, substantial quantities of high quality Trap Rock were discovered.

The Texas Trap Rock Company established a quarry about 1911 and shipments of rock began in 1912. A large highly-visible screening house was completed in 1914. By 1919 Knippa's Trap Rock plant, the largest in Texas at that time, was capable of producing about 100,000 tons of Trap Rock per year. The company transported the Trap Rock by spur line to the Southern Pacific Railroad in nearby Knippa.

The company and its employees became an integral part of the community. Knippa High School named its football team the "Rockcrushers" in 1946. The Trap Rock operation, purchased by White's Mine Company in 1968, was acquired by Vulcan Materials Company in 1987.

Trap Rock has been applied to various uses such as railroad ballast, decorative stone, and as insulation material. Its historic and primary use, however, has been as a road paving material.

Erected 1994 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2969.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.

Location. 29° 17.481′ N, 99° 39.067′ W. Marker is in Knippa, Texas, in Uvalde County. It is on U.S. 90 ¼ mile east of 2nd Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located just west of the entrance to the Vulcan Material Company Plant. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10503 US-90, Knippa TX 78870, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in the Hill Country.

It is also in the American Borderlands.

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 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Town of Knippa (approx. 0.8 miles away); Emmanuel Lutheran Church (approx. 0.9 miles away); Garner Army Air Field (approx. 7.4 miles away); USS Uvalde (approx. 9.2 miles away); Honor Roll, Uvalde County (approx. 9.6 miles away); Operation Enduring Freedom Memorial (approx. 9.6 miles away); Welcome to Uvalde Memorial Park (approx. 9.6 miles away); Schwartz House (approx. 9.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Knippa.

Photographed by James Hulse, December 21, 2021

2. Knippa Trap Rock Plant Marker

The view of the Knippa Trap Rock Plant Marker from the highway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, December 21, 2021

3. The view of the Knippa Trap Rock Plant Marker from the highway

An old rock crusher in front of the Knippa Trap Rock Plant image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, December 21, 2021

4. An old rock crusher in front of the Knippa Trap Rock Plant

The Knippa Trap Rock Plant image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, December 21, 2021

5. The Knippa Trap Rock Plant

Credits. This page was last revised on January 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 3,076 times since then and 182 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 2, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.