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Taylor County TX
Taylor County

Merkel Hotels

MERKEL, TEXAS

Taylor County, Texas Panhandle / Central Texas North

32° 28' 6" N, 100° 0' 48" W (32.468333, -100.013333)
Off I-20
17 Miles W of Abilene the county seat
Population: 2,590 (2010) 2,637 (2000)

Book Hotel Here › Merkel Hotels

Merkel TX Windmill & T&P water tank
Windmill & T&P water tank
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
See Texas Windmills
History in a Pecan Shell

Once known as Windmill Town, Merkel came into existence with the arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railroad. It was properly named after early settler S. M. Merkel in 1881. The towns first store opened in 1882 and a post office opened in June of 1883.

By 1885 there were 25 people calling Merkel home but five years later this number had increased to 400. Merkel's population was served by a Methodist church (1882), a Baptist Church (1885), Grace Presbyterian Church (1886) and the Church of Christ (1903).

Merkels first students were taught by Mrs. A. M. Thorntonin in the railroad depot before a proper school was constructed in 1887. In 1887 a college was opened but it closed after a short four years of operation. Merkels population reached 600 by 1897.

In 1890 the Merkel Mail was first published. Merkel incorporated in 1906 with G. W. Johnson serving as the town's first mayor. The Farmers and Merchants National Bank was organized in 1904.

Dr. Robert Grimes opened the town's first hospital in 1926 which remained in service until the 1960s. While agriculture was the town's first economic engine - it has shifted over the years to include oil-related employment and work at the nearby Dyess Air Force Base.

Merkel has maintained a healthy population over the years - never having suffered a serious decline. From 1,800 in 1933, to 2,000 in 1940, and 2,300 by 1950.
Merkel TX  - T&P water tank by the railroad tracks
T&P water tank by the railroad tracks
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
Merkel TX -  City Limit Pop Sign
Merkel City Limit & Pop. Sign
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
Merkel TX Street Scene
Merkel Street Scene
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
Merkel TX Street Scene & water tower
Merkel street scene & water tower
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
 Merkel Texas - former Farmers and Merchants National Bank
The former Farmers and Merchants National Bank downtown
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010

More Texas Banks
Merkel TX - Post Office
Merkel Post Office, TX 79536
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
More Texas Post Offices
Merkel TX Business
The Merkel Mail
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
Merkel TX Drug Co
Merkel Drug Co
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
 Merkel, Texas - First Methodist Church
First Methodist Church
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
More Texas Churches
Merkel TX - Old Brick Building
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
MerkelTexas/MerkelTXRoseWindow
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
Merkel TX Grain Elevators

Grain Elevators
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
More Texas Grain Elevators

Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
Merkel TX - Water Tower &  Merkel Badgers
Merkel Water Tower - Merkel Badgers
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
More Texas Water Towers
Merkel Texas - The Merkel Mail
The Merkel Mail & ghost sign
Photo courtesy Steve Johnson, May 2007
Merkel TX Ghost Sign
Ghost Sign
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010
More Texas Ghost Signs

Remembrances

The Queen Theatre in Merkel
or Reflections through a Dr. Pepper bottle

by Roger T. Moore
Merkel TX - Queen Movie Theatre
Former Queen Theatre in Merkel
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, June 2010

Merkel Events

Lord's Acre by Mike Cox
"... Always held the Saturday night before Thanksgiving, the event makes for a double November holiday for folks who live in and around Mulberry Canyon and its nearest town, Merkel. ..."

People

Cornelia Clark Fort Marker
Southwest of Merkel

James Swann
Cartoon by Roger T. Moore

Merkel is the hometown of
Texas Cartoonist Roger T. Moore.

See "Moore Texas" Texas History Cartoon
Roger T. Moore drawing his cartoon
Roger T. Moore at work on "Moore Texas"

Take a road trip

Merkel, Texas Nearby Towns:
Abilene the county seat
See Taylor County
Texas Panhandle | Central Texas North

Book Hotel Here:
Merkel Hotels | More Hotels
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