Tahoka in Lynn County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Tahoka
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, November 11, 2017
1. Tahoka Marker
Inscription.
Tahoka. . In Dec. 1902, over 100 people met around a bonfire in a ravine to the southwest of Tahoka Lake and voted to petition for county organization and to select a townsite for a county seat to be named "Tahoka," an Indian word meaning "fresh water", Early in 1903, B. G. Sweet, Jack Alley, and W. T. "Bill" Petty organized the Tahoka Townsite Company. Sweet surveyed and platted the town, and he and L. E. King established the first mercantile store opposite the southwest corner of the public square. County elections were held on April 7, 1903, and the Tahoka Post Office opened on April 30, with Fannie N. Henderson as postmaster. , Tahoka soon boasted a 2-story frame courthouse, school, two churches, a hotel, and several businesses, including a newspaper, "The Lynn County News," first published on Oct. 9, 1903, by Otis and Inez Lilly. In 1906, a bank and a cotton gin were built. The Santa Fe Railroad was extended from Slaton to Tahoka in 1910, and for several years Tahoka was one of the largest cattle shipping points in the nation. The community was incorporated on June 13, 1915, and J. E. Stokes elected mayor. , Tahoka serves as a trade center for Lynn County farmers and ranchers.
In Dec. 1902, over 100 people met around a bonfire in a ravine to the southwest of Tahoka Lake and voted to petition for county organization and to select a townsite for a county seat to be named "Tahoka," an Indian word meaning "fresh water", Early in 1903, B. G. Sweet, Jack Alley, and W. T. "Bill" Petty organized the Tahoka Townsite Company. Sweet surveyed and platted the town, and he and L. E. King established the first mercantile store opposite the southwest corner of the public square. County elections were held on April 7, 1903, and the Tahoka Post Office opened on April 30, with Fannie N. Henderson as postmaster.
Tahoka soon boasted a 2-story frame courthouse, school, two churches, a hotel, and several businesses, including a newspaper, "The Lynn County News," first published on Oct. 9, 1903, by Otis and Inez Lilly. In 1906, a bank and a cotton gin were built. The Santa Fe Railroad was extended from Slaton to Tahoka in 1910, and for several years Tahoka was one of the largest cattle shipping points in the nation. The community was incorporated on June 13, 1915, and J. E. Stokes elected mayor.
Tahoka serves as a trade center for Lynn County farmers and ranchers.
Erected 1974 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 5190.)
Topics. This historical marker
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is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is April 7, 1903.
Location. 33° 9.996′ N, 101° 47.87′ W. Marker is in Tahoka, Texas, in Lynn County. Marker is on Lockwood Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1612 Lockwood Street, Tahoka TX 79373, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 20, 2017. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2017, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 328 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 20, 2017, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.