Eagle Ford Crossing

Eagle Ford Crossing. . , Eagle Ford Crossing was a shallow point along the West Fork of the Trinity River that became a major crossing point for early settlers moving into the area. It was named for an eagle's nest in a tree along the bank that served as a landmark to designate the crossing spot., In 1844, Enoch Horton and his family moved to the spot and named the crossing Eagle Ford. A small community grew up around the crossing. , In 1873, the little hamlet suddenly became a major cattle shipping point. The Texas and Pacific Railroad was building a line between Dallas and Fort Worth when an economic depression hit and stopped construction at Eagle Ford. As the line's new terminus, ranchers began driving their cattle to Eagle Ford for shipment east. The population quickly grew to several thousand, and Eagle Ford developed a reputation as a raucous "cow-town.", Three years later, the economy improved, and the line was completed to Fort Worth. Just as quickly as Eagle Ford had risen to prominence, it returned to its roots as a sleepy, river-crossing village., Captions , (Photo #1) Trinity River Begins , The Elm and West Forks converge about a mile east of where Irving was founded to form the Trinity River. From this point, the river winds its way south through the state to the coast and empties into Galveston Bay. , (Photo #2) Bridge Across West Fork , In the early 1900s, an iron bridge was built across the West Fork near the original site of Eagle Ford Crossing. The bridge was located just north and east of today's intersection of Loop 12 and Singleton Boulevard.