Nixon in Gonzales County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Nixon Depot and Cattle Pens

Photographed by Mansfieldphoto.com, November 15, 2025

1. Nixon Depot and Cattle Pens Marker

Inscription. The first depot was built in 1906, as the railroad entered the Nixon Ranch. Ferd Weinert had agreed to put up the money for the depot construction. The first depot built burned down soon after completion and a new depot was erected in 1907. The depot was the activity center of the new town. Each day the trains that ran through Nixon were greeted by almost the entire population. Everyone was there to see who got on the train and who got off.

The cattle shipping pens were built by the Sikes brothers. Cattle began being shipped out almost immediately after completion. In May of 1906, J.B. Wells became the first shipper of record. In June, several cars of cattle were shipped out to Galveston, bound for Cuba. The picture of the shipping pens shows the Weinert Ranch shipping 900 steers to a seaport town on the Texas Coast.

Captions
(Photo #1) Nixon's first depot.
(Photo #2) Nixon's second depot. The first one burned down in 1907.
(Photo #3) Railroad shipping pens.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1906.

Location. 29° 16.094′ N, 97° 45.885′ W. Marker is in Nixon, Texas, in Gonzales County. It is at the intersection of North Nixon Avenue and E 2nd Street, on the right when traveling north on North Nixon Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 N Nixon Ave, Nixon TX 78140, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hill Country.

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,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum

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South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Southern Pacific Railroad Promotes Nixon Townsite (here, next to this marker); The John T. Nixon Ranch (here, next to this marker); Nixon (here, next to this marker); The First Cotton Gins in Nixon (here, next to this marker); Nixon Ice and Water Company and Poultry Processing Plants (a few steps from this marker); First Baptist Church of Nixon (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rancho (approx. 1.9 miles away); Site of Old Town of Union Valley (approx. 5.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nixon.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 24, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 50 times since then and 15 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on November 24, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide view photo of the marker and the surrounding area together in context. • Can you help?