STONEBURG, TEXAS

Montague County, Central Texas North

33° 40' 16" N, 97° 54' 19" W (33.671111, -97.905278)

Highway 81 and FM 1806
15 Miles W of Montague the county seat
12 Miles N of Bowie
2mmiles NE of Bowie Lake
Population: 51 (2000)

Stoneburg, Texas Area Hotels: Bowie Hotels

Stoneburg Baptist Church
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2009
See Texas Churches | Texas Towns

History in a Pecan Shell

Stoneburg dates from the early 1870s.

Settlement began in the early 1870s. The community, such as it was, was called Riley. A post office opened the same year the railroad arrived (1893) under the name Riley. Landowner J.M. Stone had set aside a parcel of land for the townsite as the railroad pulled in, and in appreciation, the town was renamed Stoneburg a few months later.

The population was estimated to be around 150 during the first few years of the 20th century, remaining more or less at this level until the Great Depression. Stoneburg declined after WWII with the post office closing in the mid 1950s.

By the late 1980s the number of residents had fallen to a mere 51 – the same number used for the 200 Census. In the Spring of 2009 Montague County was scorched by out-of-control grassfires that burned several communities – including Stoneburg.

A Visit to Montague

Photographer's Note:
Wish I had gotten to Stoneburg a week earlier. Seemed like the ashes were still smoking. The smell was strong. I assume it was a terrible wild fire. Shocking reality. - Barclay Gibson, April 2009

Entering Stoneburg
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2009

Wildfire aftermath
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2009

Take a road trip

Stoneburg, Texas Nearby Towns:
Montague the county seat
Bowie
See Montague County

Book Hotel Here:
Bowie Hotels | More Hotels

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.