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SAN ANGELO, TEXAS


Tom Green County
Seat, West Texas / Texas Panhandle

31°26'34"N 100°27'1"W (31.442628, -100.450145)

State Highways 126, 208
US Highways 67, 87, 277
220 miles from San Antonio
86 miles SE of Big Spring
43 miles SE of Sterling City
Population: 101,004 Est. (2019)
93,200 (2010) 88,439 (2000) 84,462 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › San Angelo Hotels


 San Angelo, TX - 1929 Texas Theatre
The 1929 Texas Theatre at S. Irving St. and W. Twohig Ave.
Click on image to enlarge
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017
More Texas Theatres | Texas Old Neon

San Angelo, Texas Topics:

  • History in a Pecan Shell
  • San Angelo Landmarks/Attractions
  • San Angelo Chronicles
  • San Angelo Vintage Postcards
  • San Angelo Old Photos by M. C. Ragsdale, Texas Traveling Photographer › next page
  • Tom Green County Courthousenext page
  • Tom Green County (towns, ghost towns, vintage maps, etc.) › next page
  • San Angelo Nearby Attractions



  • History in a Pecan Shell

    San Angelo had originally been named after the wife (or some say the sister-in-law) of Bartholomew DeWitt. Mr. DeWitt had bought the 360 acres opposite Fort Concho for $1.00 per acre. The town had been spelled San Angela but that spelling was rejected by the postal authorities for its "ungrammatical construction". They would accept either Santa Angela or San Angelo and so the city fathers chose the easier-to-pronounce San Angelo.

    San Angelo grew as a direct result of its proximity to Fort Concho. The town was a pretty rowdy place, and so was the fort. But Fort Concho's post hospital (built in the 1870s) served as the city hospital until St. John's Hospital and Health Center was constructed in 1910.

    Five miles away from the fort - a rival town was prospering and indeed, it became the county seat. But the town, later to be named Ben Ficklin was washed away in an 1882 flood. Ben Ficklin's colorful story is worth reading.

    After the courthouse at Ben Ficklin was swept away, San Angelo became the logical choice for the county seat. Shortly after the flood, Oscar Ruffini showed up and asked if anyone needed a courthouse. They did.

    Ruffini had been sent west for his health and ended up outliving his "healthy" brother by decades. He stayed in San Angelo and made it his home, dying in the late 1950s. He is said to have contributed more than 40 buildings to the city - some of which are still standing. Between Oscar and brother F. E. - the Ruffini Brothers dotted the Texas landscape with courthouses, jails and durable structures from McKinney (The Collin County Prison) to the Concho County courthouse in Paint Rock.

    San Angelo has always had a diverse economy. It developed a sheep raising industry in the 1870s and the railroad came through in 1888. Oil discoveries helped and in 1940 Goodfellow Air Field was developed, which later became Goodfellow Air Force Base.


    San Angelo Landmarks / Attractions



    San Angelo Tx - Ft Concho Headquarter
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson
    Fort Concho
    The best preserved of the chain of forts across Texas. Twenty-three buildings on 40 acres make up this National Historic Landmark.


     San Angelo, TX - Tom Green County courthouse
    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017
    Tom Green County Courthouse


    San Angelo TX - Some of the oldest buildings on E. Concho Ave
    Some of the oldest buildings in San Angelo on E. Concho Ave.
    including the 1884 San Angelo National Bank Building

    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017


    TX - San Angelo National Bank building Date detail on old building
    Date detail on San Angelo National Bank building on E. Concho Ave.
    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017
    More Pitted Dates | Texas Banks


    San Angelo TX -  Emmanuel Episcopal Church
    The Emmanuel Episcopal Church
    at the intersection of W. Harris Ave. and Randolph St.
    Completed in 1929, some of the stones and the bell came from
    the 1885 Tom Green County courthouse

    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017


    San Angelo TX - First Baptist Church
    The First Baptist Church at E. Harris Ave. and Oakes St.
    The current sanctuary was completed in 1952.

    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017


    San Angelo TX - The First Presbyterian Church
    The First Presbyterian Church across from the City Hall.
    Built between 1906 and 1908.

    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017


    San Angelo TX - First Presbyterian Church
    First Presbyterian Church
    Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

    More Texas Churches | Texas Then & Now


    San Angelo TX -  1910 Orient-Santa Fe Depot
    The 1910 Orient-Santa Fe Depot
    703 S. Chadbourne Street
    Museum featuring West Texas Railroading.
    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017

    More Texas Depots


    San Angelo TX -  mural on S. Chadbourne St and Concho Ave.
    Mural on a building on S. Chadbourne St and Concho Ave.
    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017


    San Angelo TX -  mural on S. Chadbourne St. north of Twohig Ave.
    Another mural on a building on S. Chadbourne St. north of Twohig Ave.
    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017

    More Texas Murals



    San Angelo TX - The Cactus Hotel (formerly the Hilton Hotel)
    The Cactus Hotel (formerly the Hilton Hotel)
    at E. Twohig Ave. and S. Oakes St.
    Built between 1928-29, the 14 story building is the tallest building in San Angelo.

    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017


    Cactus Hotel in San Angelo, Texas
    Cactus Hotel Lobby
    Photos courtesy Lou Ann Herda, 2001

    San Angelo view
    San Angelo from the 15th floor of the Cactus Hotel


    San Angelo TX -  Naylor Hotel
    The Naylor Hotel (later known as the Town House Motor Hotel)
    at Concho Ave. and S. Chadbourne St.
    It was built in the 1930s at a location where three previous hotels burned down.

    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017


    San Angelo TX -  Naylor Hotel
    Alamo parapet detail at the roofline of the Naylor Hotel.
    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017

    More Rooms with a Past


    San Angelo TX - The 1908 Trust Building
    The Trust Building at S. Chadbourne St.and Beauregard Ave.
    Construction on this six story building began in 1908.

    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017


    San Angelo TX -  1928 City Hall
    The San Angelo City Hall at the intersection of N. Irving St. and W. College Ave. It was built by the El Paso architectural firm of Trost and Trost in 1928.
    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017


    San Angelo TX -  The 1909 O. C. Fisher Federal Building and Courthous
    The 1909 O. C. Fisher Federal Building and Courthouse
    across E. Twohig Ave. from the Cactus Hotel.

    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017


    San Angelo TX - Five and Dime Store
    San Angelo’s (Semi-) Old Five-and-Dime
    by Audrey A. Herbrich


    San Angelo TX - Running of the sheep
    Running of the Sheep
    by Audrey A. Herbrich
    On the last Saturday in September, local West Texan’s showcase their idea of “fun” by releasing a herd of sheep in the downtown streets.


     San Angelo, Texas - Pearl of the Concho mermaid statue
    Bronze "Pearl of the Concho" mermaid statue, which was dedicated in 1994, sits in the Concho River just west of the Celebration Bridge at S. Oakes. St.
    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, March 2017
    More Texas Statues & Monuments

  • Concho Avenue:
    Many fine examples of San Angelo's early architecture, beautifully restored.

  • San Angelo State Park:
    Camping, boating and fishing on 7,000 acres on O. C. Fisher Reservoir.

    3900 - 2 Mercedes San Angelo TX 76901
    325-949-4757
    http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us


  • San Angelo Chronicles



    Ice Company in San Angelo, 1931
    [Picture from the papers of Robbie Nell Wood Fulton, 1927-2018, of San Angelo, Texas.

    Transcription of back of photo:
    Charley Stages
    Bert Allen worked Angelo Ice
    1931
    Name of Mules Tom on Right Jerry on Left]
    - Trudi Becht, February 24, 2021

  • Elijah Cox by Murray Montgomery
    Fighting Indians on the Texas Frontier


  • The Zentners by Mike Cox
    Recently, I said adios to a place-Zentner's Daughter's Steakhouse in San Angelo. The West Texas culinary landmark closed on December 31 after 45 years in business. But the restaurant's story goes back much further.

  • News from interesting to stale to interesting again by Mike Cox
    Consider some of the goings on in West Texas in December 1884 and January 1885 as reported by the newly founded San Angelo Standard... more

  • Born in a Wagon Yard, the Buck Started There by Mike Cox
    Frank Buck

  • Dead Ellis by Mike Cox (From "Texas Tales" Column)
    Docents guiding tours of Fort Concho's reconstructed hospital still tell the story of “Dead” Ellis.



    History Cartoon by Roger T. Moore

  • No shorts while campaigning for office

  • Feb 28, 1948 - Girls Rodeo

  • Militia whipped by Kickapoo Indians near San Angelo

  • "Mohair Capitol of the World"

  • San Angelo

  • Cowgirls


  • San Angelo Vintage Postcards


    San Angelo TX - West Texas Freight Trains. 1907
    San Angelo Old Photos
    by M. C. Ragsdale, Texas Traveling Photographer


    Beauregard Avenue Bridge, San Angelo, Texas
    Beauregard Avenue Bridge in San Angelo
    Postcard courtesy The William Beauchamp Collection


    San Angelo TX - "Dam" San Angelo & Concho Lake
    "Dam Angelo" Written on back- "Dam" San Angelo & Concho Lake,
    San Angelo, Texas Postmark Dec 1908
    Courtesy The Will Beauchamp Collection
    More Texas Bridges


    San Angelo TX - Chadbourne St. old postcard
    Chadbourne Street
    Postcard courtesy Danny Whatley


    San Angelo TX - Chadbourne St., 1940s
    San Angelo Chadbourne St. showing Hilton Hotel (Cactus Hotel) & Naylor Hotel
    Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    San Angelo TX - Chadbourne St. viaduct and business section
    San Angelo Chadbourne St. viaduct and business section
    Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    Cactus Hotel, San Angelo, Texas
    The Cactus Hotel
    TE postcard archive
    More Rooms with a Past


    San Angelo TX - 1940s street scene
    1940s street scene showing the Cactus Hotel
    Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    San Angelo TX - U.S. Post Office
    San Angelo U.S. Post Office
    Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

    More Texas Post Offices


    San Angelo TX -The Ward Schools
    The Ward Schools
    Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

    More Texas Schoolhouses


    San Angelo TX - City Hall
    San Angelo City Hall
    1940s Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    San Angelo TX - Goodfellow Air Force Base
    Goodfellow Air Force Base
    Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    San Angelo TX - Guinn Field, Home of the San Angelo Colts
    Guinn Field, Home of the San Angelo Colts
    Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    San Angelo Nearby Attractions:


    Sherwood TX 1901 Irion County Courthouse
    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, June 2005
    Former Irion County Courthouse in Sherwood
    On US 67, 28 miles SW of San Angelo



    San Angelo, Texas Forum
  • I recently purchased a travel book on Texas here in Germany, in which they focused on about five cities in Texas and San Angelo was one of them. They pointed out that San Angelo, in their opinion, is the real Texas, with genuine friendly people, etc. I am very proud of my home!! Take care and best greetings from Hamburg, Germany - Glenn Du Pree, December 2001



  • Take a road trip

    West Texas | Texas Panhandle

    San Angelo, Texas Area Destinations:
    Big Spring
    Sterling City
    See Tom Green County

    Book Hotel Here:
    San Angelo 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 and recent/vintage/historic photos, please contact us.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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