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History
in a Pecan Shell
Bovina's history is encapsulated in the Historical Marker erected in 1968 on US
60 next to large bull sculpture.
Marker Text: Early in the 20th
century, this was one of largest cattle shipping points in the United States.
Originated as the Hay Hook Line Camp of the XIT -- famed ranch that received
over 3,000 acres of land in payment for building Texas State Capitol, 1882-1888.
One of the earliest structures in Parmer County, division number eight headquarters
of XIT, stood 400 yards northeast of site of this marker. The shipping pasture,
640 acres in area, was 1 mile east. The Pecos & Northern Texas Railroad built
to this point in 1898, and cattle for eastern markets were loaded here. Train
crews called the place "Bull Town", but the community chose the name "Bovina"
when establishing the post office in 1899.
This was the first post office
in Parmer County, created 1876, named for Martin Parmer (1778-1850), patriot and
signer of Texas Declaration of Independence. Although known to explorers early
as 18th century, county had few inhabitants before 1907, when it was organized,
with Bovina one of its leading towns. By 1915, Bovina had 200 people, 2 churches,
a bank, a school, and a hotel for prospective settlers. It is now market and supply
center for rich area of irrigated farms, and still produces fine cattle. (1968)
- Gary E. McKee
A
Visit to Bovina, TexasBovina
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Historical
Marker TextBovina
CemeteryPrior to
the founding of the city of Bovina, the XIT
Ranch located its southern headquarters in this vicinity. The Pecos and Northern
Texas Railway built through the ranch in 1898, and the settlement became known
as Bull Town because of cattle frequently found on the tracks. A community developed
around the railhead, and in January 1899 the official post office name became
Bovina. Due to a boom in cattle shipping, the town's population began to grow
after the turn of the 20th century. Since then, the city has owned this cemetery,
which was maintained for a time by the Bovina Cemetery Association.
The
XIT Ranch
initially used this site for burials of cowboys. Oral tradition holds that several
gravemarkers initially bore only common names of the cowboys, such as Dusty and
Big Jim. It is believed there were approximately 40 such graves, but all are now
unmarked. The earliest marked grave is that of J.W. McDonald (d. 1907). Bovina
Cemetery is the final resting place of veterans of military conflicts dating to
World War I, as well as generations
of area residents.
Historic
Texas Cemetery - 2004 |
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