Near Wingate in Taylor County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Valley Creek Station

(Site located 2 mi. northwest)

Photographed By Duane Hall, October 4, 2014

1. Valley Creek Station Marker

Inscription. Near this site, an important link in the frontier transportation system was an area landmark. The Butterfield Overland Mail maintained a stage stop at the falls and crossing of Valley Creek beginning in 1858. The twice-weekly mail and passenger line stretched from San Francisco to St. Louis, crossing the southwest corner of Taylor County and passing six miles west of present Abilene. The path through Texas, known as the Oxbow Route, added about 600 miles to the 2,800 mile trip. The line moved out of Texas in March 1861, leaving this area sparsely settled. Ranchers later settled near Spring, Cottonwood and Valley creeks, and established the nearby community of Shep in the 1880s.

Erected 2007 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 5629.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Butterfield Overland Mail series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1861.

Location. 32° 8.37′ N, 100° 6.475′ W. Marker is near Wingate, Texas, in Taylor County. Marker is on Farm to Market Road 1086, 0.1 miles west of U.S. 277, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wingate TX 79566, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of

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this marker, measured as the crow flies. Community of Pumphrey (approx. 8 miles away); Drasco Community (approx. 8.3 miles away); Fort Chadbourne (approx. 10.4 miles away); Route of the Southern Overland Mail Line (approx. 10.4 miles away); In Vicinity of Coronado's Camp (approx. 10.6 miles away); Site of Old Communities of Mazeland and Wilmeth (approx. 11.2 miles away); Poe Chapel (approx. 12.7 miles away); Near Site of Indian Battle (approx. 13 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wingate.

More about this marker. The present marker replaced a marker installed in 1968 that was located two miles northwest of the present marker. The original marker (Number 14326) was located on County Road 209 just east of Valley Creek and had the following inscription:

Site of Valley Creek Station

Maintained at falls and crossing of Valley Creek, 1858 to 1861, as a stage stop for the Butterfield Overland Mail. The twice-weekly mail and passenger line stretched from San Francisco to St. Louis, crossing northwest corner of Taylor County and passing six miles west of present Abilene.

Also see . . .
1. Butterfield Overland Mail - Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on October 15, 2014.)
2. Butterfield Overland Mail. From the Texas State Historical Association’s

Photographed By Duane Hall, October 4, 2014

2. Valley Creek Station Marker

“Handbook of Texas Online”. (Submitted on October 15, 2014.)

View to Southeast Along FM 1086 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, October 4, 2014

3. View to Southeast Along FM 1086

View to Northwest Along FM 1086 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, October 4, 2014

4. View to Northwest Along FM 1086

View to Northwest towards Valley Creek Station Site image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, October 4, 2014

5. View to Northwest towards Valley Creek Station Site

Photo taken near marker location

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,105 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 15, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.