Near Andrews in Andrews County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Shafter Lake Townsite
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, October 25, 2012
1. Shafter Lake Townsite Marker
Named for lake charted in 1875 survey of Col. Wm. R. Shafter, whose maps and victories over powerful Indians opened the Permian Basin to settlement.
Water trough built by John Underwood of Shafter Lake Sand and Gravel is on site then set aside for a courthouse. It was stopping place for ranchers and freighters on way from Jal and Monument, N. Mex., into Texas. Town started to grow around trough. But when vote in 1910 county organization gave county seat to Andrews, town moved there.
Erected 1965 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 4653.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.
Location. 32° 24.191′ N, 102° 41.109′ W. Marker is near Andrews, Texas, in Andrews County. It is on Shafter Lake Road (Farm to Market Road 1967) 2.3 miles west of NW 2001, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Andrews TX 79714, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West Texas. 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 Comancherνa, 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: Irwin Ranch House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Andrews County Discovery Well (approx. 5.1 miles away); Frankel City (approx.
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Photographed by Bill Kirchner, October 25, 2012
2. Shafter Lake Townsite Marker
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, December 15, 2025
3. Shafter Lake Townsite Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,735 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 26, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 3. submitted on December 18, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
