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BIG
LAKE, TEXAS
Reagan County Seat,
West Texas
Hwy 67
70 miles W of San
Angelo
79 miles E of Fort
Stockon
Hwy 137
44 miles N of Ozona
60 miles S of Big Spring
Population: 2,885 (2000) 3,672 (1990)
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The
1927 Reagan
County Courthouse was built of brick in the Texas Renaissance
Style. The sidewalk leading to the main entrance is lighted by a row
of lamps providing an beautiful night view of the building.
A 1911 Courthouse is still standing in the former town of Stiles,
although it was gutted by fire in a case of arson, Christmas Eve,
1999. The shell remains.
The county seat moved in 1925. The town was named after a lakebed
that was already dry. It occasionally has some water.
The land around Big Lake was owned by the University of Texas
in 1923 when Santa Rita No. 1 came in. The oil propelled the
University of Texas into being one of the richest Universities in
the country.
The Hickman Museum: - 609 Main St. The museum can be toured
by appointment - call 915-884-2980 or 884-2082.
Santa Rita No. 1 - about 13.5 miles west of town on Hwy 67
is the actual well site. Next to the well site is the "ghost town"
of Texon
(FM 1675 .3 mile south of 67). Texon was a former "company
town" built for employees of the Big Lake Oil Company.
1927 Reagan
County Courthouse
Big Lake Tourist Information
Chamber of Commerce on Highway 67 going through town.
915-884-2980 Website: www.biglaketx.com
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Big Lake
Texas Forum
If anyone would
like to share history or photos of Big Lake, Texas with our readers,
please contact
us.
© John Troesser
Special thanks to Tammy Blakely, Manager of the Big Lake Chamber
of Commerce, for providing update information for this page. |
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