| History
in a Pecan Shell
The town dates from a Spanish land grant in 1807
issued to Juan José de la Garza Montemayo. The land was purchased in 1852 by one
John Wade who formed Casa Blanca Ranch, aka the Wade Ranch. In 1907 Max Starcke
came into ownership and founded the town of Sandia which at that time consisted
of dirt roads and a single building. The name Sandia, is Spanish for "watermelon"
since the area's soil is well suited for that crop.
After the town was
platted, the lots sold like proverbial hotcakes and by 1914 the town had a respectable
population of 150, reaching 200 by the mid 1920s and swelling to 500 by 1927.
It declined to 300 by 1940 and reached 215 by 1974. It has since grown to 431.
The two
story former school is now in private ownership. |
