Silver, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Silver, Texas
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 Silver, Texas
Location in Texas
Silver, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Coke |
| Elevation | 2,100 ft (600 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
76949
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| GNIS feature ID | 1347126 |
Silver is a small community in northwestern Coke County, Texas, United States. It's called an unincorporated community because it doesn't have its own local government like a city does. In the year 2000, about 60 people lived there.
Contents
A Look Back: Silver's History
Early Days and Ranching
In the 1870s, Silver started as a place where people raised cattle. It was a quiet ranching community. In 1890, the first post office opened, run by Thomas J. Wiley. This made it easier for people to send and receive mail.
Tough Times and Oil Boom
A severe drought caused the post office to close in 1907. But it reopened the very next year. Between 1910 and 1940, only about ten people lived in Silver. It was a very small place.
Everything changed in 1946 when oil was found on Allen Jameson's land! By July 1949, the Sun Oil Company had drilled 59 oil wells. This area became known as the Jameson oilfield.
Growth and Decline
Because of the oil, Silver grew very fast. State Highway 208 was paved, and a train track was built. Around a thousand people moved to Silver, living in camps built by the oil company. Silver became one of the biggest towns in the county! It even had two cafes, three churches, a recreation center, and many shops.
But in the mid-1960s, the oil started to run out. The Sun Oil Company began to slow down its operations. By 1980, the population was back down to 60 people. Even so, Silver still had a trucking company, a blacksmith and welding shop, and a Sun Oil Company office in 1986. The post office also stayed open. In 2000, there were six businesses and 60 people. By 2010, the population was 30.
Important People and Names
Some of the first landowners in the Silver area were S.M. Conner, W.G. Jameson, and W.R. Walker. Dr. J.E. Reed was the community's doctor for 50 years, helping many people. R.B. Allen was another important early settler. The community's post office and school were named after a nearby peak.
Even though Silver is not an official city, it still has its own post office. The ZIP code for Silver is 76949.
Tornadoes in Silver
Silver has experienced strong winds. On May 5, 2015, a small tornado, called an EF0 tornado, briefly touched down. Later, on May 3, 2024, a stronger EF2 tornado hit the community. This tornado ripped the roof off a ranch house. It also completely destroyed a metal barn, scattering building materials far away.
Where is Silver Located?
Silver is found where Texas State Highway 208 and Ranch to Market Road 2059 meet. It is about 17 kilometers (17 mi) northwest of Robert Lee. It's also about 27 kilometers (27 mi) southeast of Colorado City. And it's about 65 kilometers (65 mi) east of Big Spring. All these towns are in the central part of Coke County.
Learning in Silver: Education
Silver's first school was a simple one-room building, built in 1890. Later, a much bigger school complex was built. Interestingly, this large complex was later used as a hog farm! Today, students from Silver attend schools in the Robert Lee Independent School District.
