Dalhart in Dallam County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Heartland of Old XIT Ranch
Great Texas ranch of international fame. Payment made in an 1882 contract for the construction of granite capitol building in Austin. As contractors, some out-of-state investors (headed by the wealthy Chicago merchants, John V. and Senator C.B. Farwell) built the largest state capitol in North America and received in payment 3,000,000-acres of land. The grant, 200 miles long and of varying widths (enclosed later by a 6,000-mile barbed wire fence), extended from near site of present Lubbock to the Oklahoma line 40 miles north of here. It included land in counties of Bailey, Castro, Cochran, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Hartley, Hockley, Lamb, Oldham, and Parmer. Trail Boss Abner Blocker delivered first herd to Buffalo Springs in 1885 and scratched the "XIT" in corral dust with boot heel to design famous brand. Although its land was parceled and sold, the XIT lives in Texas memories - especially here, 32 miles south of its Buffalo Springs headquarters. Dalhart holds an annual XIT reunion with rodeo and parade featuring a horse with an empty saddle, in honor of range riders of the past. Permanent tribute to XIT cowboys is this "empty saddle" monument, designed by Western artist Bobby Dycke, dedicated in 1940.
Erected 1968 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2419.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Animals. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.
Location. 36° 4.044′ N, 102° 31.378′ W. Marker is in Dalhart, Texas, in Dallam County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of North Denrock Avenue and Railroad Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dalhart TX 79022, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mrs. Cordia Sloan Duke (here, next to this marker); Dallam County (approx. 0.4 miles away); Texas Sesquicentennial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dalhart High School Boys World War II Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); 305th Airdrome Squadron Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); James R. Fox, Jr. (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dallam County Courthouse (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dalhart Army Air Field (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dalhart.
More about this marker. Marker was removed,and placed in storage, by City of Dalhart due to construction on Denrock Avenue.
Marker is to be replaced at the end of construction in the spring of 2017.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2016, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 721 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 20, 2021, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. 4. submitted on March 23, 2016, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.