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, unincorporated community located in the northwestern part of Coke County, Texas, in the United States. An unincorporated community means it's a place with a shared identity but without its own local government. In the year 2000, about 60 people lived in Silver.
Contents
The Story of Silver, Texas
Early Days as a Ranching Community
Silver began as a place for ranching in the 1870s. Ranchers raised cattle and lived off the land. In 1890, the first post office opened. This was an important step for the small community. However, a severe drought caused the post office to close in 1907. Luckily, it reopened just one year later. For many years, between 1910 and 1940, only about ten people called Silver home.
The Oil Boom Transforms Silver
A big change came in 1946 when oil was discovered on Allen Jameson's land. This discovery led to an "oil boom." By July 1949, the Sun Oil Company had drilled 59 oil wells. These wells were part of the Jameson oilfield. The discovery brought many new people to Silver. The company even built camps for the workers.
During this time, Silver grew very quickly. It became one of the largest towns in Coke County. New roads were built, including Texas State Highway 208 being paved. A special railroad track was also added from Maryneal. The town had two cafes, three churches, a recreation center, and many shops.
Changes and Challenges Over Time
By the mid-1960s, the amount of oil produced started to decrease. The Sun Oil Company began to reduce its operations. This caused many people to move away. In 1980, Silver's population was back to about sixty people. Even with fewer residents, the community still had some businesses. In 1986, there was a trucking company, a blacksmith and welding shop, and an office for the Sun Oil Company. The post office also continued to serve the community.
In 2000, Silver still had about sixty residents and six local businesses. By 2010, the population had decreased to 30 people.
Notable Early Settlers
Some of the first landowners in the Silver area included S.M. Conner, W.G. Jameson, and W.R. Walker. Dr. J.E. Reed was the community's doctor for 50 years. R.B. Allen was another important early settler. The community's post office and school were named after a nearby mountain peak.
Recent Weather Events
Silver has experienced powerful weather events. On May 5, 2015, a brief tornado, called an EF0, touched down in the area. More recently, on May 3, 2024, a stronger EF2 tornado hit the community. This tornado caused significant damage. It ripped off the roof of a ranch house. A metal barn was completely destroyed, with its pieces scattered far away.
Where is Silver Located?
Silver is found where two important roads meet. These roads are Texas State Highway 208 and Ranch to Market Road 2059. It is about 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Robert Lee. Silver is also about 27 miles (43 km) southeast of Colorado City. If you travel about 65 miles (105 km) east, you would reach Big Spring. This community is in central Howard County.
Learning in Silver
The first school in Silver opened in 1890. It was a simple one-room schoolhouse. Over time, a much larger school complex was built. This complex was quite expensive for its time. Later, this building was repurposed and became a hog farm. Today, students from Silver attend schools in the Robert Lee Independent School District. This district provides education for children in the area.
