Estacado, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Estacado, Texas
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Abandoned church in Estacado, Texas.
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 Estacado, Texas
Location in Texas
Estacado, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Counties | Crosby, Lubbock |
| Elevation | 3,199 ft (975 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-24612 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1373675 |
Estacado is a small, unincorporated community in Texas, USA. It is located in both Crosby and Lubbock Counties. In 2000, about 80 people lived there. It is part of the larger Lubbock metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Estacado
The First White Farming Community
Estacado was the very first farming community for white settlers in the South Plains region of Texas. It was started in 1879 by a man named Paris Cox. He was a Quaker, which is a type of Christian group. Cox got land in this area in exchange for his sawmill business in Indiana. He wanted to create a Quaker colony here.
The first families, including Cox's, arrived in the fall of 1879. They faced a very tough winter. Paris Cox built a sod house for his family. However, other families struggled in tents and left the colony the next spring. This left the Cox family as the only residents.
Growth and Renaming
Interest in the colony grew again after a good crop was harvested. By 1882, ten new families had joined. The town was first called Marietta (or Maryetta) after Cox's wife, Mary.
When a post office was opened in 1884, the town was renamed Estacado. This new name came from the nearby Llano Estacado, a large plateau. William Hunt became the first postmaster.
County Seat and Decline
In 1886, Estacado was chosen to be the county seat for Crosby County. This meant it was the main town for government activities. The town grew, and by 1890, about 200 people lived there.
However, Estacado began to decline when another town, Emma, became the county seat in 1891. Paris Cox died in 1888, leaving the town without a strong leader. Attacks by grasshoppers and a severe drought in 1892–1893 almost destroyed the community.
Survival and Modern Times
After 1900, good farming conditions brought new settlers to the area. Estacado survived, even though the original Quaker community eventually dissolved. The post office closed in 1918, and mail then came through Petersburg.
The population of Estacado changed over time. It grew from 68 people in 1930 to 85 in 1940. From 1970 to 2000, the population stayed steady at 80 people. In the mid-1980s, the community had a cotton gin and a few scattered homes.
Geography of Estacado
Estacado is located on Farm to Market Road 1527. It sits right on the border of Crosby County. The community is about 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Idalou. It is also about 21 miles (34 km) northeast of Lubbock in northeastern Lubbock County. In 1949, Farm to Market Road 1314 also passed through Estacado.
Education in Estacado
Estacado was home to some of the earliest organized education in the South Plains. In 1882, Emma Hunt began teaching in a dugout classroom. By 1884, classes were held in the Quaker meetinghouse.
The community also had the first college on the Llano Estacado, called Central Plains Academy. It was founded in 1890 and operated for two years. Today, students in the Estacado area attend schools in the Lorenzo Independent School District.
Notable Person
- Bill Standifer: He was an Old West lawman. He worked as a Range Detective and was involved in an incident where a cattle rustler was killed near Estacado.
Gallery
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State historical marker erected in 1936 to mark the site of Estacado
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Estacado Cemetery
