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Hale County
Hale County


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Plainview Hotels

PLAINVIEW, TEXAS

Hale County Seat, Texas Panhandle

34°11'28"N 101°43'8"W (34.191204, -101.718806)

Intersection of I-27, Hwy 87 and 70
76 miles S of Amarillo on Hwy 27
47 miles N of Lubbock on Hwy 27
Population: 20,859 est. (2016)
22,194 (2010) 22,336 (2000) 21,700 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › Plainview Hotels


Cement Block Plant, Plainview, Texas
The Cement Block Plant, Plainview, Texas
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

History in a Pecan Shell

The County was named after John Hale, who fell at San Jacinto. Plainview is named after no person, but the unobstructed view of the countryside.

Hale County was formed in the country's centennial year, before there was any community. In 1888 there were enough people to organize and declare Plainview the county seat.

The railroad came in 1907 and then they hit on the idea of tapping into the underground water which was (and is) abundant. An east-west railroad (Fort Worth and Denver) joined the north-south Santa Fe, and the rest as they say is history.

According to the Texas Handbook: By 1925 Plainview had 7,500 people and 50,000 shade trees.


Photographer's Note:
Plainview strikes me as a practical type of town. At about 22K, not too awfully big and not too small. Moderate weather but prone to tornadoes and hail storms. On an interstate and near enough to Lubbock and a nice airport. - Barclay Gibson

Plainview, Texas
Landmarks / Attractions

Photo Gallery

1910 Hale County courthouse today, Plainview Texas
Terry Jeanson, February 2007 photo
Hale County Courthouse

Painted steer on Hale County courthouse lawn
Painted steer on Hale County courthouse grounds
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

Painted steer on Hale County courthouse lawn
Painted steer on Hale County courthouse grounds
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

  • Historic District -
    Historic downtown with WWI era brick streets, antique shops and restaurants.
    Designated a Texas and National Main Street City.
    Call Main Street office for brochure. 806-296-1119

  • Museum of Llano Estacado -
    In the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Regional Heritage Center
    1900 West 7th Street 806-296-4735.
    Weekdays 9 to 5. Weekends 1 to 5 (March through November)

  • Abraham Family Art Gallery -
    In the Learning Resources Center, Wayland Baptist University campus. Free admission.
    Information - 806-291-1000

  • Plainview Tx Santa Fe Depot
    Santa Fe Railroad Depot
    1200 North Broadway

    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
    The Santa Fe Railroad in Plainview

    Hale County - Plainview Tx Santa Fe Railroad Historical Marker
    Plainview Santa Fe Railroad Historical Marker
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
    More Texas Railroads | Texas Depots

    Plainview, Texas depot - Site of Lake Plainview historical marker
    Historical Marker by the Santa Fe Depot
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

    Historical Marker:

    Site of
    Lake Plainview

    The City of Plainview, founded in the 1880s, sought agricultural supremacy for its trade area. Civic leaders pioneered irrigated farming in 1911 by boring the first of many deep water wells. In 1912, Texas Land & Development Co. installed a demonstration well near the Santa Fe Railway Depot and created Lake Plainview and a park at this site. Called Texas' largest body of water fed by a well, the lake was very popular with the public, but expensive to maintain. After fire destroyed the pump house in 1917, park and lake went back to nature. In 1977 the area again became a park.

    (1977)

    Plainview Tx - Plainview Tribune
    The Plainview Tribune
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

    Plainview Tx Post Office
    Plainview U.S Post Office.
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
    More Texas Post Offices

    Plainview Tx Granada Theater

    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

    The Granada Theater in Plainview
    Donna Reed and The Granada Theater
    by Dwight Young


    Plainview Tx Fair Theater
    The restored Fair Theater
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
    More Texas Theatres

    Broadway, Plainview Texas main street
    Broadway, Plainview's main street, with the restored Fair Theatre
    Photo by Wes Reeves, October 2001

    Plainview Tx - Schick Opera House historical marker
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
    Schick Opera House

    Plainview Tx - Wayland Baptist University
    Wayland Baptist University
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

    Plainview Tx Closed Hotel
    An early Hilton? Now vacant
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
    More Rooms with a Past

    Plainview Tx 1947 W. O. Speck Building
    The 1947 W. O. Speck Building
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

    Plainview Tx Ghost Coca-Cola sign
    Ghost Coca-Cola sign
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

    Plainview Tx Ghost Dr Pepper sign
    Ghost Dr Pepper sign
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
    More Texas Ghost Signs

    Plainview Tx T33 Display
    U.S. Air Force T33 Display
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
    See World War II

    Plainview Tx - Corner Building
    A corner building
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

    Plainview Tx Closed Club - Desert Inn Private Club
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

    Plainview Tx "Rust Water" water tower
    An artifact from the movie "Leap of Faith"
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
    More Texas Water Towers

    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
    More Texas Grain Elevators

    Plainview Tx Road Sign
    Plainview City Limit
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

    Hale County Plainview Tx MacKenzie Trail Marker
    1936 Texas Centennial Monument
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
    The Old MacKenzie Trail

    Plainview Tx boll burner
    Gin Furnace
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009
    See Texas Cotton


    Plainview, Texas Old Photos

    Plainview TX - Hauling Cotton
    Hauling Cotton in Plainview
    Courtesy The Will Beauchamp Collection
    More Texas Cotton Scenes | Texas Cotton Gins

    Plainview, TX - Restriction Street
    Restriction Street, Plainville Texas 1892
    Click on image to enlarge
    Postcard courtesy Dan Whatley Collection

    Plainview, TX - Citizen's National Bank Building
    Citizen's National Bank Building in Plainville
    Postcard courtesy Dan Whatley Collection
    More Texas Banks

    Plainview, TX - High School old photo
    Waiting for the High School to be completed.
    Click on image to enlarge
    Postcard courtesy Dan Whatley Collection
    See Texas Schoolhouses

    City Auditorium, Plainview, Texas
    City Auditorium, Plainview, Texas
    1940s Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

    1910 residence in Plainview, Texas
    A residence
    1910 Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/



    Plainview Chronicles
  • Stars Falling on the Texas Panhandle by Mike Cox



  • Plainview Tourist information
    Chamber of Commerce - 710 West 5th Street
    806-296-7431 or 800-658-2685
    http://www.plainviewtex.com/



    Plainview, Texas Forum

  • Subject: Hilton Hotel & old memories
    I have been told the first hotel Mr. Hilton built with his name on it was in Plainview, Texas. The last time I was downtown in Plainview, I believe it was still so. A boyhood friend, Dr. Richard E. Morgan's father had been the manager at that time when we were still in high school, the mid fifties. Richard is still there you might check with him. I lived there from 1948 to 1968 and remember those times with fond memories, it was one of the best places to grow up in !!! Recently went to my classes 50th reunion, one of my most pleasurable memories, good to see people you had not seen in so many years. - Jimmy Nowell, class of 1953, Granbury, Texas, September 18, 2004

  • Subject: Naming of Plainview
    My grandmother was from Plainview, Texas. She was born in 1928. Although I'm sure that the name came from the unobstructed view as you said, she tells an amusing story that I would like to share with you. She said that a young couple was traveling across the Plains in a covered wagon. They stopped for the day, and the wife said that she needed to use the rest room. He told her to go ahead and she said, "Where? Right here in Plain View?" Thus, the community was named. :>) Ron Williams, grandson of Minnie Jeanelle Bell Nichols, November 25, 2002


  • Take a road trip

    Texas Panhandle
    Route 66 in Texas

    Plainview, Texas Nearby Towns:
    Hale Center
    Lubbock
    Amarillo
    See Hale County

    Book Hotel Here:
    Plainview 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.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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