Name: Amarillo
Brand: Ron Smith
SKU: 9780738571232
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Amarillo

9780738571232

$24.99

Many people are surprised to learn that the city of Amarillo was actually founded twice. Originally settled by J. T. Berry in April 1887 and known as Oneida, the site of the town was located on such low ground that many residents feared it was susceptible to flooding. In 1888, one concerned resident named Henry B. Sanborn began buying land a mile east of the site as a potential place to relocate the town. In 1889, the town's fears came to fruition when heavy rains flooded the original town site, prompting residents to move to Sanborn's new location. The town went on to become one of the world's busiest cattle shipping points in the late 1890s, causing its population to grow significantly. Today Amarillo is the largest city in the Texas Panhandle, and its economy continues to thrive on cattle, along with agriculture, oil, and natural gas.

Fayette County

9780738584867

$24.99

Established in 1837 out of Stephen F. Austin's original colony, Fayette County's roots reach back in Texas history to the days of Mexican empresarios and native Indian tribes, spanning the boom period of 19th century European migration and colonization and stretching into the earliest days of 20th century America. It is the quintessential Texas county made up of vibrant, diverse cultures and unique communities. Originally settled by "Americans" from the southern United States, its later development was influenced and led by first German and then Czech immigrants escaping the European revolutions and economic hardships in search of the definitive American Dream.

Fort Worth in Vintage Postcards

9780738528649

$24.99

Though Fort Worth was first established in 1849 as a military outpost along what was then the western frontier of Texas, the fort itself was abandoned by 1853. But the civilian settlement that had grown up around it continued to thrive. Following the Civil War, the city and its residents worked hard to become a provisions center for the drovers moving millions of Texas longhorns up the cattle trails to Kansas and beyond. Soon, Fort Worth was also a major hub for rail and other transportation industries, and in the twentieth century, it became an oil center as well. Today, the bustling metropolitan region continues to reinvent itself while also diligently preserving the unique heritage that brings millions of visitors to Fort Worth every year.

Houston

9780738571225

$24.99

Along the banks of Buffalo Bayou, Houston was founded by John and Augustus Allen on August 30, 1836. The city was named after Gen. Sam Houston, a prominent military hero of the Texas Revolution. After the Civil War ended, Houston flourished as agricultural, industrial, and commercial interests generated economic growth. In 1901, the discovery of oil at nearby Spindletop ushered in a new era, fueled by the addition of an inland port when the Houston Ship Channel was dredged in 1914. During the latter half of the 20th century, energy, space exploration, and the medical sciences placed this city on the world stage. Big dreams, big discoveries, hard work, and a little luck made Houston the thriving city it is today.

Lampasas County

9781467126977

$24.99

Native American tales of the medicinal sulfur springs found in what is now Lampasas County drew settlers and, later, tourists who sought cures for various ailments throughout the 19th century. The region soon became known as the Saratoga of the South, and when the first passenger train arrived in Lampasas in 1882, it opened a new market for the local waters. Entrepreneurial citizens capitalized on the springs, building bathhouses, opera houses, and other amenities. In 1884, the Lampasas County Courthouse was built—the third-oldest Texas courthouse still in use today. Vestiges of Lampasas's heyday are found in Hanna Springs and Hancock Park, which remains a thriving recreational area with a free-flow sulfur pool and an 18-hole golf course. Public murals, a sculpture garden, historic sites, and a proud engaged community draw people to Lampasas County today.

Cover image for Lampasas County, isbn: 9781467126977

Longview

9780738579207

$24.99

Situated in the East Texas Piney Woods, Longview was established in 1870 when O. H. Methvin deeded land to the Southern Pacific to build a railroad station. The village became the county seat of Gregg County in 1873 and quickly prospered as a rail, cotton, and manufacturing center. The discovery of the East Texas Oil Field in 1930-1931 revealed that Longview sat in the middle of the world's largest pool of petroleum. The boom had begun! Today Longview is home to almost 80,000 residents. The city that bills itself as "Real East Texas" is a manufacturing, medical, and educational center and home to such events as the Great Texas Balloon Race and AlleyFest arts festival.

Lubbock

9780738579689

$24.99

The city of Lubbock began as a compromise between two smaller settlements known as Lubbock and Monterey. These settlements agreed to combine on December 19, 1890, and by 1891, the combined settlement was elected the new county seat as farmers, ranchers, and settlers began to arrive. In 1909, Lubbock incorporated as a city, and the Santa Fe Railroad sent its first train south from Plainview. The Texas legislature authorized the establishment of Texas Technological College in 1923, and Lubbock won the regional contest for the new university's location. Today Lubbock is the 10th largest city in Texas with an estimated population of 230,000. The Lubbock economy thrives on agriculture, education, manufacturing, and health industries.

Midland

9781467134460

$24.99

Midland was a young farming and ranching community on the southern edge of the Llano Estacado when the real-photo postcard era began near the opening of the 20th century. Businesses, residents, and promoters embraced this new technology to produce images capturing Midland's unusual rural-and-cosmopolitan mix. As postcards changed to linen and chrome, Midland also underwent dramatic changes. The city on the plains worked hard to become an indispensable part of the vast 1920s Permian Basin oil industry. In post-World War II years, Midland grew into an urban center of West Texas, positioned strategically at the midpoint of Interstate 20's path from Fort Worth to El Paso.

San Antonio in Vintage Postcards

9780738508795

$24.99

Postcards are an important element of understanding our history, for they provide future generations with a rare glimpse into the past. Since the late 1800s, photographers have traveled around the nation to places such as San Antonio to capture scenes of everyday life and preserve them in this unique form. San Antonio began as a small mission village, a wild west frontier town, and starting point for huge cattle drives northward, and quickly grew into a bustling economic and cultural center for South Texas, luring residents and tourists with its colonial missions, diverse people, prominent military bases, long-standing traditions, and festive celebrations.

Temple in Vintage Postcards

9780738529394

$24.99

Founded in 1881 by the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway Company, Temple, Texas became a railroad town overnight. The company purchased 181 acres and then auctioned off parcels to prospective buyers interested in providing services for railroad equipment and passengers. Though early on Temple had several unfortunate nicknames--"Mudville," "Tanglefoot," and "Ratsville"--it soon shed its image as a muddy, rat-infested land, became a major junction for four railway lines, and offered a land of opportunity for commerce. The railway would bring flattering new nicknames like "Progressive Temple" and "Prairie Queen" as well as a chance to be part of the American Dream.

Tyler

9780738571782

$24.99

In the early 1900s, the golden age of postcards was just beginning. Millions of cards were mailed across America, and many survive today in archives and private collections. Through these snapshots of history, Tyler's evolution can be traced. While fruit and cotton production was king into the early 20th century, a floral beauty soon brought Tyler new royalty-the Rose Queen. The discovery of oil in the city's backyard supplied a security blanket during the Great Depression's uncertain days, and Tyler benefitted with commercial and population growth. This book contains more than 200 vintage postcards that chronicle Tyler's social, educational, and medical history and its place in the heart of East Texas.