Buffalo Gap, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Buffalo Gap, Texas
Town
Buffalo Gap, July 2011
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Taylor
Area
• Total	2.43 sq mi (6.30 km2)
• Land	2.43 sq mi (6.30 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,919 ft (585 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	543
• Density	223.18/sq mi (86.17/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	79508
Area code(s)	325
FIPS code	48-11128
GNIS feature ID	2411741

Buffalo Gap is a small town in Taylor County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Abilene area. In 2020, 543 people lived there.

History of Buffalo Gap

Buffalo Gap started in the early 1870s. This was when soldiers, known as Buffalo Soldiers, came to hunt buffalo. These buffalo herds traveled from Montana into Texas. The town got its name because of a natural gap in the Callahan Divide. This gap was a perfect path for the buffalo herds.

Some records say Buffalo Gap was founded in 1875. This date is even shown on the City Hall sign. By 1877, the town had its own post office. Its population grew to 400 people by the next year. On July 3, 1878, Governor Richard Hubbard made Buffalo Gap the official county seat of Taylor County.

As Buffalo Gap grew, new businesses opened. These included a courthouse, a hotel, and a blacksmith shop. There was also a general store, a newspaper, and banks. In 1885, Buffalo Gap College opened. This made the town an important center for learning and business.

However, things changed in 1895. The Santa Fe railroad was built, but it did not go through Buffalo Gap. Instead, it went through Abilene, which had flatter land. This caused Abilene to grow quickly, while Buffalo Gap's growth slowed down. Even so, the people of Buffalo Gap stayed very connected to their community.

In the 1920s, the Old Settlers Picnic began. This is a special tradition that still happens today. It takes place at the Old Settlers Grounds. This spot is also used for community events and a monthly flea market.

Buffalo Gap Historic Village, July 2008

In 1956, a local person named Ernie Wilson bought the old Taylor County Courthouse. He started the Museum of the Old West. Today, it is called the Buffalo Gap Historic Village. This historical place helps keep the history of Buffalo Gap alive. Visitors can learn about life in the Old West there.

In the 1980s, Buffalo Gap had a special Volunteer Fire Department. Almost all of its members were women. The only man was the Fire Chief and Mayor, Glenn Johnson. This all-female department showed the town's strong community spirit.

Geography of Buffalo Gap

Buffalo Gap covers about 2.4 square miles (6.3 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the town limits.

People in Buffalo Gap

2020 Census Information

The 2020 United States census counted 543 people living in Buffalo Gap. There were 222 households and 158 families.

Education in Buffalo Gap

The towns of Tuscola, Lawn, and Buffalo Gap share a school district. It is called the Jim Ned Consolidated Independent School District and is based in Tuscola.

Sports in Buffalo Gap

Buffalo Gap is the hometown of Colt McCoy, a famous football player. He was a quarterback for the University of Texas. Colt McCoy lived in Buffalo Gap when he played for Jim Ned High School. His father, Brad McCoy, was his high school coach.

During some Super Bowl games in the 1990s, Buffalo Gap changed its name temporarily. Signs were updated to show support for the Dallas Cowboys football team. The town of Buffalo in Leon County also did this.

Famous People from Buffalo Gap

• Oliver Lee, a marshal, rancher, and gunman. A state park is named after him.
• Rawghlie Clement Stanford, who was the governor of Arizona from 1937 to 1939.
• Aaron Watson, an independent country music artist. He was the first artist to have a number one country album without a major record label.

See also

In Spanish: Buffalo Gap para niños