Plemons, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Plemons, Texas
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Country | United States |
State | Texas |
Counties | Hutchinson |
Elevation | 2,740 ft (840 m) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Area code(s) | 806 |
FIPS code | 48 |
GNIS feature ID | 1380381 |
Plemons is a ghost town located in Hutchinson County, Texas. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, leaving behind empty buildings. Plemons is about 10 miles southeast of Stinnett and 8 miles northeast of Borger.
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How Plemons Started
In 1898, a rancher named James Andrew Whittenburg from Oklahoma bought land in Hutchinson County. He built a small, simple home called a dugout near the Canadian River. In 1901, Mr. Whittenburg gave some of his land to start a new town.
The town was named after Barney Plemons, who also claimed land there. In 1901, when Hutchinson County was officially set up, Plemons became the county seat. This meant it was the main town where the county government was located. E. E. Akers built the courthouse for the county.
Life and Work in Plemons
Plemons got its own post office on May 29, 1901. Mattie Sams was the first postmaster, in charge of mail. The post office stayed open until 1952.
In its first ten years, about 15 families lived in Plemons. Billy Dixon, a famous person, moved to Plemons from Adobe Walls. He ran a boarding house, which was like a small hotel. Billy Dixon also became the first sheriff of the county. The town's economy got a small boost from nearby ranches like Turkey Track and Tar Box.
Why the County Seat Moved
The Rock Island and Gulf Railway, a train line, built its tracks about 10 miles north of Plemons. This meant trains didn't come through Plemons. A new town called Stinnett was built to be a shipping point for the railroad.
In 1926, the county government decided to move the county seat from Plemons to Stinnett. After this, Plemons started to shrink. Even though there was a short oil boom that helped for a little while, Plemons continued to decline. Today, it is known as a ghost town because most people have moved away.
Schools in the Area
The Plemons Independent School District used to serve the children in the area. But on July 1, 1987, it joined with other school districts. It became part of the Plemons-Stinnett-Phillips Consolidated Independent School District.
Plemons Cemetery
The Plemons Cemetery is a special historical place. It has a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark Marker, number 12096. People believe the first person buried there was Mrs. E. E. Akers, but the exact date is not known. The last burial was Charles Ray Sessions in 1953. Local Boy Scouts helped to take care of and preserve the cemetery.
Famous Person from Plemons
- Billy Dixon (1850–1913) lived in Plemons from 1902 to 1906. He was a brave person who received the Medal of Honor on November 4, 1874. This medal is given for great bravery in battle. His medal was taken away in 1916, but the U.S. Army gave it back to him in 1989.
Climate in Plemons
Plemons has a semiarid climate. This means it gets very little rain, and it's often dry.