Grand Prairie in Tarrant County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Cross Timbers

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, September 15, 2024

1. Cross Timbers Marker

Inscription. This narrow strip of sandy timberland, called "The Eastern Cross Timbers", separates the Blackland Prairie and the Grand Prairie. It covers about one million acres. Indians camped here because the mild climate, good soil, frequent rains and nearby prairies supported large herds of buffalo and horses. There were salt licks, fresh water springs, trees for fuel, and good grass. They also found game for food and hides.

West of the Grand Prairie, covering about 2.7 million acres, is "The Western Cross Timbers". During the 18th century Wichita Indians, of Caddoan stock roamed this area. Southern plains tribes, such as the Kiowa and the Comanche, often wintered here and traded with them. Cultural exchanges occurred here as trade routes developed between flint sources in the south and tribes from the north.

By 1720 French traders came. They opened the trading posts and bartered with the Indians. The Spanish moved through, traveling to their Mission outposts.

Settlement in the 1840s by Anglo-Americans led to clashes. A turning point came on May 24, 1841, with the battle of Village Creek, a few miles west of this site.

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The Indians withdrew to the west, leaving the land to the white settlers.

Erected 1979 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1120.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 32° 41.502′ N, 97° 3.096′ W. Marker is in Grand Prairie, Texas, in Tarrant County. It is on Mayfield Road west of S Great SW Parkway, on the right when traveling west. Marker is in front of Trader's Village parkinglot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2602 Mayfield Rd, Grand Prairie TX 75052, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region

and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South.

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

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, September 15, 2024

2. Cross Timbers Marker

least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Friday House (approx. 3.1 miles away); LiveStone Lodge No. 152, F. & A. M. (approx. 3.4 miles away); First Christian Church (approx. 3.6 miles away); Marrow Bone Spring (approx. 3.6 miles away); Middleton Tate Johnson (approx. 3.7 miles away); Grand Prairie Airfield (approx. 3.7 miles away); Old Southland Cemetery (approx. 3.8 miles away); Arlington Downs Racetrack and Fountain (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Prairie.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2024, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 375 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 16, 2024, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.