Tascosa, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tascosa, Texas
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| Nickname(s):
Old Tascosa
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| Motto(s):
Cowboy Capital of the Plains
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 Tascosa, Texas
Location in Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Oldham |
| Plaza Atascosa | 1876 |
| Elevation | 3,192 ft (973 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (MDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 2646624 |
Tascosa, also known as Old Tascosa, was once an important town in the Texas Panhandle. It served as the capital for 10 different counties. In the 1880s, Tascosa was a busy place, even competing with Dodge City, Kansas, as a major economic center. Today, this historic town, located in Oldham County northwest of Amarillo, is a ghost town.
Contents
Why Tascosa Became a Ghost Town
Tascosa's busy days came to an end due to a big flood. In 1893, a bridge was washed away, and many homes and businesses were damaged. Because of this, people started to leave the town.
The Last Residents of Old Tascosa
Among the last people to live in Tascosa were Mickey McCormick and Frenchy McCormick. Mickey passed away in 1912, and Frenchy in 1941. They are buried side-by-side just outside the town.
Tascosa's New Purpose: Boys Ranch
In 1939, the land where Tascosa once stood was given a new purpose. Julian Bivins, whose father Lee Bivins owned the land, donated the town site. He also gave the renovated old courthouse and 120 acres of surrounding land.
Cal Farley's Boys Ranch Opens
This donation led to the opening of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch. This ranch provides a home and support for children in need.
Historic Buildings That Remain
Today, only two buildings from the original town of Tascosa are still standing. These are the old courthouse, which is now a museum, and the schoolhouse built in 1889.
Tascosa in Movies
Tascosa has even been featured in Hollywood films!
Famous Western Films Set in Tascosa
The town was the setting for a big scene in the 1950 American Western movie, Winchester 73. In this film, the main characters Lin McAdams (played by Jimmy Stewart) and Dutch Henry Brown (Stephen McNally) had a showdown in Tascosa.
Jimmy Stewart also played a character named Guthrie McCabe, who was the sheriff of Tascosa, in another Western movie. This film was called Two Rode Together and came out in 1961.
Climate in Tascosa
The area where Tascosa is located has a specific type of weather.
Understanding the Semiarid Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Tascosa has a semiarid climate. This means it's a dry area, but not quite a desert. It gets some rain, but not a lot. On climate maps, this type of weather is marked as BSk.
