Becton, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Becton, Texas
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Becton Cemetery
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 Becton, Texas
Location in Texas
Becton, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| County | Lubbock County |
| Region | Llano Estacado |
| Established | 1910 |
| Elevation | 3,255 ft (992 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
Becton is a small, quiet place in northeastern Lubbock County, Texas, United States. It's called an unincorporated community. This means it doesn't have its own local government like a city does. In the year 2000, about 125 people lived there. Becton is part of the larger Lubbock metropolitan area.
History of Becton
Becton was first named after W. E. Bledsoe. He owned the Three Circle Ranch. But in 1917, E. H. Moody wanted to open a post office. He chose the name Becton instead. This was to honor an early resident, Abner M. Becton. There was already another town in Texas named Bledsoe.
E. H. Moody became Becton's first and only postmaster. Mail came to Becton through the Lorenzo Star Route. This changed in 1928 when the Fort Worth and Denver Railway started running trains. Some older residents say the post office stayed open until 1949. Other records suggest it closed earlier, in 1943.
The community had a Church of Christ from 1917. It was called the Bledsoe Church of Christ. This church served the community until the early 1970s. Another church, the Bethany Baptist Church, started in 1915. It later became the Bledsoe Baptist Church. The Baptist group built a new church in the 1920s. This was called Becton Baptist Church. Its small group of members stopped meeting in 1973. This was because fewer people were attending.
Becton is in a good farming area. The community became more successful after irrigation was added. In 1936, Becton had three businesses and 25 people. By 1945–1946, the population grew to 150. There were still three businesses. In 1974, Becton had 125 residents but no businesses. By 1978, there were three churches and one factory. From 1990 to 2000, it had 125 residents and no businesses.
Where is Becton?
Becton is located in northeastern Lubbock County. It sits right next to the Burlington Northern Railroad. It is also just east of Farm to Market Road 400. Becton is about 24 miles (39 km) east of Lubbock.
Schools in Becton
Abner M. Becton gave land for a new school building. W. E. Bledsoe built the very first school. It was a one-room building. Students attended classes there for two school terms. Local churches also used this school building for their services.
The school building was moved in 1910. But later, it unfortunately caught fire. A new brick school building was built in 1924. The Bledsoe Independent School District was one of the oldest in Lubbock County. It later joined with the Estacado school district. In the summer of 1936, Bledsoe School became part of the Idalou Independent School District. Becton had two schools that year.
Famous Person from Becton
- Bill Kelley was a tight end for the Green Bay Packers. He played professional American football.
Gallery
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The Fort Worth and Denver South Plains Railway used to pass through Becton. The collapsed remains of a wooden railway overpass can be seen at the bottom of the roadcut.
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An old farm building: a remnant of Becton's past.
