| |
 |
History in a Pecan
Shell
Friona began in 1898 as just plain Frio, Texas, a shipping
point on the Pecos Valley and Northern Texas Railroad. There are two versions
to the origin of the name. The most likely being that it’s named after nearby
Frio Draw. The less likely (but more popular) explanation is that residents named
it for the cold (Frio) weather.
In 1906 the XIT
Ranch was selling off some of its holdings and the site was surveyed for subdivion
into farms. In 1907 when a post office opened the name was altered to the present
form. Excursion trains brought in prospective buyers and many families stayed.
In 1908 Friona had a church, school, bank, hotel and even a photographer. The
town lived up to the name of Frio with one blizzard in the winter of 1910-11 and
another in 1918-19. By 1915 the population was up to 200 but the second blizzard
as well as severe droughts discouraged further growth.
In the early 1920s
new farming methods sparked a renewed land-sale. New people moved in and the town
had a cotton gin by 1927. The following year a water plant was established as
well as a fire department.
From a population of 731 in 1930, Friona grew
to over 2,000 by 1960.
The Friona Wheat Growers Association has storage
space for over three million bushels of wheat. In 1980, Friona became the largest
town in Parmer County. In 1990 the population was 3,688, growing to the current
(2007) level of 3,602. | |
|
