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STERLING
CITY, TEXAS
Sterling County
Seat, Panhandle/West Texas
On the North Concho River
US 87, Hwy 163 and 158
43 miles NW of San
Angelo
42 miles SE of Big Spring
Population 1081 (2000) 1,096 (1990)
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The
depot in Sterling City
Photo courtesy Ken Rudine, August 2005 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Named
for buffalo hunter and Indian fighter W. S. Sterling when the town
became the county seat in July 1891. There wasn't any competetion
for the county seat and Sterling City remains the population core
for the county.
R. C. Stewart was the man who donated the land for the town in January
of 1891. It was platted the following month by H. B. Tarver.
By June of that year the town had its own newspaper as well as a hotel
and several essential businesses and before the year was out Sterling
City had a post office.
The first school was built in1892 and four years later the population
was 300 Sterling Citizens. |
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L
Sterling City water tower
R- At one time the town had 150 windmills |
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The
Santa Fe Railroad arrived in 1910, but later abandoned its service.
At one time the town had 150 windmills providing water to the town.
By 1914 the population had increased to 900. |
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Sterling
City ISD
Photo courtesy Ken Rudine, August 2005 |
No
figures were given through the thirties, but after WWII the population
had decreased by about 10%. By 1970 it was down to 780 but increased
back to 915 by 1980. The population finally broke the 1,000 person
mark in the late 80s or early 90s and is listed on the 2004 highway
map as 1,081.
Sterling
County Courthouse >
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The
Sterling County Jail
Photo courtesy Ken Rudine, August 2005 |
Sterling
City Forum
Subject:
Sterling City, Texas
Dear TE, I just read the letter of January 2006 from Debra Wimberly.
She was commenting on the building diagonally across from the Sterling
County Courthouse. When my family moved to Sterling City in 1945,
that building housed the Deal Pharmacy. It was always a very busy
place and was a hangout for us kids while we were in town. In the
same building, round the corner East toward the school, Dr. Swann
had his offices. Upstairs was the telephone system and where the
central operator worked.
Sometimes a photographer from San Angelo would come to Sterling
and set up for kids’ portraits, and he used rooms upstairs in this
building.
When we moved to Sterling City we actually lived in Coke County,
managing the 7 ½ section Mendenhall Ranch. The only road from the
ranch to pavement went to Sterling City. We were supposed to attend
school in Robert Lee, but arrangements were made for my brother
George and me to attend Sterling City schools.
We lived in Sterling City until 1955 and some of my fondest memories
are from this period in my life. - Johnny Thompson, Midland,
Texas, December 01, 2006
I was born
and raised in Sterling City. In 1974 I was one of the last babies
to be delivered by Dr. Swan in the hospital there.
I just wanted to let y'all know that one building [in your coverage]
has been left out. That would be the landmark on main street catercorner
from the courthouse and the jail. That building has been there forever.
It was a motel at one time and a bank and is supposed to be haunted.
It was redone to be a restaurant then the ownership changed and
it was reopened up as a restaurant again and again. I remember hearing
about it being haunted more than once. I thought that y'all would
like [to share] that little tidbit - Debra Wimberly, former Sterling
Citizen, January 19, 2006
Anyone wishing to share history or photos of Sterling City, Texas,
please contact
us
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