Ranching and Farming in Hale County

Pioneer ranchers began to settle Hale County in the early 1880s. Land was plentiful and cheap, but life was hard. Many settlers lived in dugouts. Supplies were freighted from Colorado City until the railroad reached Amarillo. Cattle roamed the free grazing land until round-up time, when they were separated according to brands. Ranchers earned extra income by selling buffalo bones for fertilizer, working on the railroad, or hiring out to larger ranches. Many worked at the Circle Ranch of Col. C. C. Slaughter, which covered land in four counties. Other significant ranches included the Callahan, Barton, and Norfleet ranches. When the public land was gone and free grazing ended, the larger ranches were divided into smaller tracts. The transition from ranching to farming was difficult. By the early 20th century, wheat farming and dairy production began to replace ranching operations. The Dust Bowl and Depression of the 1930s brought new hardships. Soon after World War II, however, a high percentage of the cultivated acreage in Hale County was under irrigation. This allowed for crop diversification with high yields of grain sorghum, corn, soybeans, wheat, vegetables, and livestock production. Cotton has become the leading cash crop. (1985)

Ranching and Farming in Hale County is a historical marker in Hale Center, Hale County, dedicated in 1985. It is one of 39 historical markers documented in Hale County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 43 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 34.0502, -101.8535 near Hale Center. The nearest cataloged historic site is First Baptist Church of Hale Center (historical marker), about 1.0 miles away. Others within a short drive include Nils Akeson, J. Frank Norfleet, and Site of Epworth.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5189004179. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.