Near Muleshoe in Bailey County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

XIT Ranch South Line

(About 100 feet south of this marker)

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 29, 2014

1. XIT Ranch South Line Marker

Inscription. One of most famous boundaries in Texas. Marked edge of XIT — ranch empire bartered away by Texas for its Capitol building.

The 16th Legislature in 1879 designated a 3,000,000-acre tract to be used in payment for the Capitol. The grant extended 200 miles north from line here. Besides portion in this county, it included lands in counties of Castro, Cochran, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Hartley, Hockley, Lamb, Oldham, and Parmer. Heading the investors who built the Capitol were wealthy Chicago merchants, John V. and C.B. Farwell. Their surveying was begun in 1886.

Erected 1970 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 5456.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.

Location. 34° 10.905′ N, 102° 44.016′ W. Marker is near Muleshoe, Texas, in Bailey County. It is at the intersection of State Highway 214 and County Route 1090, on the left when traveling north on State Highway 214. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Muleshoe TX 79347, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Texas’ South Plains.

It is also on the American Great Plains

and specifically on the Southern Plains.

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 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bailey County (approx. 3 miles away); The Founding of Bailey County (approx.

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3 miles away); The Mule (approx. 3.1 miles away); Quanah Parker Trail (approx. 4 miles away); Old Muleshoe Ranch Cookhouse (approx. 4 miles away); Old Hurley (approx. 5.7 miles away); Harden A. Douglass (approx. 7½ miles away); Bailey County Cemetery (approx. 7½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Muleshoe.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 29, 2014

2. XIT Ranch South Line Marker

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, December 14, 2025

3. XIT Ranch South Line Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 13, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,256 times since then and 150 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 13, 2014, 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.