| |
Mural
of Lorenzo street scene with hotel, barber shop and church
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2009 |
History in a Pecan
Shell
Lorenzo Dow is the namesake of Lorenzo. Although he is mentioned
as "an employee of the C. B. Livestock Company" he somehow managed to buy the
land which soon became the town. Lorenzo's purchase was made one day after April
Fool's Day, 1910. In July that year the Crosbyton-South Plains Townsite Company
bought Lorenzo out and the town was platted the next year. The first train didn't
arrive in 1911 - but it did pass through. Classes (taught in a store) began in
September of 1911 and the town's post office also opened that year.
Incorporated
one day after April Fool's Day in 1924, Lorenzo had a population of just over
700 by 1930. Most towns in Texas were decimated by The Great Depression which
was surprisingly kind to Lorenzo. When the dust had settled (literally) after
the Depression, the town had managed to retain 616 people. The population had
increased to 935 people by 1950.
Consolidations combined the school districts
of Pleasant Hill, Estacado, Robertson,
and Farmer and eventually Lorenzo's District increased to 226 square miles.
The town's population has remained over 1,000 since the 1950s with the latest
figure being 1,372.
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save
Lubbock
Hotels |
A Visit to LorenzoPhotographer's
Note:
One of those
nice lazy West Texas Town one passes through without even realizing that people
live there and call it home. - Barclay
Gibson, August 03, 2009 |
Mural
of Corner Grocery Market
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2009 | |
|
