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Coke County TX
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FORT CHADBOURNE, TEXAS

Texas Ghost Town
Coke County, Texas Panhandle / Central Texas North

8 miles N of Bronte
4 miles SW of old Fort Chadbourne
Population: Unknown

Book Area Hotel › San Angelo Hotels

History in a Pecan Shell

The town dates from the 1850s and a post office opened in the last years of that decade through 1866. After the Civil War new settlers arrived and the community chose another site some four miles to the SW. A new post office (same name) opened its doors in 1879. Things were peaceful with few occurrences and little drama. In fact, in the early 1890 there were only twenty five residents. How much drama could twenty-five people generate?

In 1910, as the railroad approached, landowner W.D. McDonald donated land one mile east so that the town might secure contact with the rest of the world. The town exploded (figuratively). Suddenly the town had a bank, hotel, saloon, cotton gin and even a newspaper to report what was going on at the hotel, bank, gin, and saloon. The population swelled to sixty-five people who had their choice of two churches to attend. Children were given no choice and had to attend the only school. The post office closed its doors for the last time in 1942 and schoolchildren started attending Bronte schools. The last population figures came from the 50s and 60s when around 50 people still lived there. These souls drifted away until none were left.


Fort Chadbourne TX post office info
Fort Chadbourne TX 1908 Postmark
Postcard canceled with Fort Chadbourne postmark
Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection


Fort Chadbourne TX 1942 Last Day  Postmark
Fort Chadbourne TX 1942 Last Day  Postmark
Last day cover for the post office
(with the post office name misspelled)

Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection

TX Coke  County 1940s Map
Coke County 1940s map showing
Fort Chadbourne the town
From Texas state map #4335
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

TX Fort Chadbourne One Mile Sign
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
Fort Chadbourne


Take a road trip

Fort Chadbourne, Texas Nearby Towns:
Robert Lee the county seat
Bronte
Sanco | Hayrick | Silver | Edith | Tennyson
Colorado City | Sweetwater | San Angelo | Ballinger

See Coke County

Texas Panhandle
| Central Texas North

Book Hotel Here:
San Angelo Hotels | Sweetwater 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, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Texas Towns A - Z Texas Regions:
Gulf Texas Gulf Coast East East Texas North Central Texas North Central Woutn Central Texas South Panhandle Texas Panhandle
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