Canyon Valley, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Canyon Valley, Texas
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Pony-truss bridge in Canyon Valley
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 Canyon Valley, Texas
Location in Texas
Canyon Valley, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Crosby |
| Region | Llano Estacado |
| Established | 1925 |
| Founded by | James A. Shoemaker |
| Elevation | 2,516 ft (767 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| Area code | 806 |
Canyon Valley is a ghost town located in Crosby County, Texas, in the United States. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, and only a few buildings or signs of the past remain. Today, you'll only find a few farms and ranches scattered in this area.
Contents
Where is Canyon Valley?
Canyon Valley is about 25 mi (40 km) south of Ralls. It is in the southwestern part of Crosby County. Only one road goes through Canyon Valley. This road is not paved. It also has a low-water crossing. This crossing can be hard to use when it rains a lot. The closest paved road is Texas State Highway 207. It is about 3 mi (4.8 km) to the west.
Canyon Valley sits below the Caprock Escarpment. This is a big cliff that marks the edge of the Llano Estacado. The area is part of the Rolling Plains. It is in the valley of the Salt Fork Brazos River. This river has shaped the land over time.
The Story of Canyon Valley
How Canyon Valley Started
In 1925, a man named James A. Shoemaker came to Crosby County. He bought a large piece of land. This land was 3 miles south of a small town called Cap Rock. His family built a three-room house there. They also cleared the land to grow crops. Water was brought in barrels from the Salt Fork Brazos River. Later, they dug a well by hand.
Growing and Changing Times
The community of Canyon Valley grew slowly. By the early 1930s, it had a cotton gin. A cotton gin is a machine that separates cotton fibers from their seeds. It also had a general store. The Valley Gin produced a lot of cotton. In 1934, it made 2,230 bales of cotton.
In 1953, there was a plan for a paved road. This road would have connected the Valley Gin to a main highway. It would have been about 5 mi (8.0 km) long. But, the plan for the road was turned down. Even without a paved road, two steel bridges were built. These bridges crossed Lake Creek and another dry creek. This other creek sometimes flows into the Salt Fork Brazos River.
Why Canyon Valley Became a Ghost Town
The lack of a paved road made it hard for Canyon Valley to grow. In the late 1950s, the Valley Gin closed down. Its work was moved to the gin in nearby Kalgary, Texas. This was a big reason why people started to leave Canyon Valley.
Learning in Canyon Valley
Early Schools
As more families moved to Canyon Valley, more children lived there. In 1926, enough children were present to build a school. A one-room schoolhouse was built. By 1928, a second room was added. This was to fit all the new students.
School Growth and Consolidation
The number of students in Canyon Valley school grew to 66 in 1934. By 1942, it went down to 60 students. The school helped the community until 1947. Then, it joined with the Cap Rock school. They formed the Caprock Consolidated Independent School District. A grade school stayed open at Cap Rock. It operated until August 23, 1960. At that time, the district joined with the Ralls Independent School District.
