Frio Town facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frio Town, Texas
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Frio Town Cemetery
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Frio |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Frio Town, once known as Frio City before 1886, is a ghost town in Frio County, Texas. It is located right next to the Presidio Crossing on the Frio River.
Contents
The Story of Frio Town
How Frio Town Began
Frio Town was started in 1871 by A.L. Oden. It was about 16 miles northwest of a town called Pearsall. A special river crossing nearby was named Presidio Crossing. It got its name because old weapons like cannonballs and swords were found there. Important historical figures, such as Antonio López de Santa Anna, might have used this crossing a long time ago.
Early Days and Buildings
At first, mail came to Frio City by horseback from Benton City. Later, it arrived by stagecoach from San Antonio. In 1871, Frio City became the first county seat for Frio County. This meant it was the main town for the county's government.
In January 1872, the first Frio County courthouse was finished. It was built by L.J.W. Edwards using cypress shingles. That same year, a stone jail was built. This jail held famous outlaws like Sam Bass, Jesse James, and Frank James. Even the writer William Sydney Porter was held there. Because building materials were expensive, Frio City started its own cypress shingle mill, brick factory, and lime kiln.
Life in Frio City
In 1872, Frio City got its own post office, with James McClain Elledge in charge. L.J.W. Edwards was the town's first merchant. The very first school in Frio County was in a private home in Frio City. During the 1870s, a local group of Freemasons was also started.
In 1877, the courthouse burned down. A new, two-story stone building replaced it. A wealthy local resident named W.J. Slaughter helped pay for it. This new courthouse was said to have a fancy walnut staircase. During the mid-1870s, conflicts in the area caused the Texas Rangers to come help. Many people living on the frontier came to town for safety. The last major conflict in the area happened in the spring of 1877.
Growth and Development
Frio City's Busy Years
During the 1870s, Frio City became known as a "cowboy capital" and a center for culture. By the 1880s, about 1,500 people lived there. Preachers like John Wesley DeVilbiss and Andrew Jackson Potter spoke in the area. The Rio Grande Baptist Association was also formed in Frio City in 1880.
In that same year, a railroad line was built through Frio County. However, it did not go through Frio City.
Decline of Frio Town
Why People Left Frio City
Because the railroad bypassed Frio City, people started to leave. They moved to Pearsall, a new town built along the rail route. By 1883, Pearsall became the new county seat. In 1886, Frio City even changed its name to Frio Town.
In 1884, W. Yancey Kilgore bought the old Frio Town courthouse. It later became a general store and the post office. In 1884, the Frio Academy, a school, was also housed there.
Frio Town Becomes a Ghost Town
By 1890, the population of Frio Town had dropped to only 100 people. In 1906, only 17 students attended the Frio Academy. The town slowly faded away, even after getting telephone connections in 1914. That year, Frio Town had one general store and six cattle breeders. By 1929, there was just a school and five homes. In June 1930, the Rio Grande Baptist Association celebrated its 50th anniversary at the site of the old courthouse.
By 1953, most of the town was empty. A Mrs. A.C. Roberts owned most of the buildings, including the courthouse and the jail, which had lost its roof. The town's population stayed at 20 people throughout the 1960s and even went up to 49 in 1969.
By 1990, almost nothing was left of Frio City. Only the Frio Town Cemetery and the ruins of the original courthouse and jail remained. These ruins are on private land called the Roberts Ranch. The Texas Historical Commission considers the courthouse ruins a historic site.
