Begun as a camp on the New York, Texas, and Mexican Railroad in 1882, El Campo initially was known as Prairie Switch and served as a supply and shipping center for area ranchers. By the 1890s the town had grown to include a post office, homes, . . . — — Map (db m96319) HM
Between 1890 and 1898, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, German Lutheran, and Swedish Methodist churches were organized in El Campo. The town's first Baptist church was organized on April 28, 1895, by the Rev. J.P. Rutledge and nine . . . — — Map (db m192554) HM
El Campo's first permanent school building was a simple wooden structure built near this site about 1891. El Campo Independent School District was organized in 1895, early schools were financed through local taxes, individual subscriptions, tuition, . . . — — Map (db m192557) HM
The El Campo Library Association began the city's first library in 1902. A public library opened at the downtown fire station in 1927. After a branch of the Wharton County Library was established in El Campo in 1939, this facility was completed in . . . — — Map (db m96318) HM
El Campo residents, including Mack Webb, the city's first mayor, established First Christian Church in January 1904. Members worshiped in the Methodist sanctuary until completing a new building here in November of that year. Damaged by a 1909 . . . — — Map (db m192555) HM
The First National Bank of El Campo traces its history to the Koch and Poole Mercantile Company. In 1890 El Campo was an exciting new railroad town. Customers left their money in the Koch and Poole safe for protection, and soon the store assumed the . . . — — Map (db m33213) HM
El Campo was known as "Prairie Switch" when it was established in 1881 as a siding and shipping point on the New York, Texas and Mexican Railroad, where cattlemen rounded up their herds for shipping. It was also a station for construction gangs . . . — — Map (db m32550) HM
The city of El Campo began in 1881 as a rail stop on the New York, Texas & Mexican Railroad connecting Houston and Victoria. The region's fertile soils encouraged farming, and numerous families of diverse backgrounds moved to the area. Most of those . . . — — Map (db m192556) HM
