Plainview in Hale County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

The Santa Fe Railroad in Plainview

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 17, 2015

1. The Santa Fe Railroad in Plainview Marker

Inscription. Operating in the Texas Panhandle since 1886, the Santa Fe Railroad about 1900 laid plans to extend its line into the rich agricultural domain of the South Plains. Meantime, Plainview leaders saw the need for better transportation and in 1903 raised $75,000 to use in promoting a rail connection. J.N. Donohoo, Dr. Lee Dye, W.E. Dyer, L.S. Kinder, L.A. Knight, Charles McCormack, J.H. Slaton, R.P. Smyth, and Dr. J.H. Wayland led this endeavor. The city and the Santa Fe came to terms, and the first train reached here on Dec. 31, 1906. Regular service soon followed, and oldtimers rejoiced when train whistles heralded and end to isolation.

Once or twice a week, land agents arrived with trainloads of prospective settlers. Local builders constructed a courthouse, new schoolhouse, new city hall, an electric plant, an opera house, residences and business buildings. Soon the Wayland Literary and Technical Institution was under construction.

Railroad service made a major contribution to the economic development of Hale County, opening acreage to settlement and agricultural expansion.

Erected 1975 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 5424.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is December 31, 1906.

Location.

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34° 11.638′ N, 101° 42.198′ W. Marker is in Plainview, Texas, in Hale County. It is at the intersection of West 12 Street and Broadway Street, on the left when traveling east on West 12 Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Plainview TX 79072, 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 walking distance of this marker: Site of Lake Plainview (a few steps from this marker); Plainview Daily Herald (approx. 0.3 miles away); First Baptist Church of Plainview (approx. 0.4 miles away); Blasingame Home (approx. 0.4 miles away); Texas Land & Development Company (approx. half a mile away); Schick Opera House (approx. half a mile away); Colonel C. C. Slaughter (approx. 0.6 miles away); General Ranald Slidell MacKenzie (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Plainview.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 17, 2015

2. The Santa Fe Railroad in Plainview Marker

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 17, 2015

3. The Santa Fe Railroad in Plainview Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 4, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 612 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 4, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.