TexasEscapes.com HOME Welcome to Texas Escapes
A magazine written by Texas
Custom Search
New   |   Texas Towns   |   Ghost Towns   |   Counties   |   Trips   |   Features   |   Columns   |   Architecture   |   Images   |   Archives   |   Site Map

Young County TX
Young County





Counties
Texas Counties


Texas Towns
A - Z

NEWCASTLE, TEXAS

Young County, Texas Panhandle / North Central Texas

33°11'33"N 98°44'17"W (33.192383, -98.737969)

U.S. Hwy 380, State Hwy 251 and FM 926
13 miles W of Graham the county seat
31 miles S of Archer City
ZIP code 76372
Area code 940
Population: 531 (2020)
585 (2010) 575 (2000) 505 (1990)

Newcastle Area Hotels › Graham Hotels

History in a Pecan Shell

The earliest settlement in the region was the establishment of Fort Belknap three miles South, but it was abandoned decades before Newcastle’s first settlers arrived.

The Merrill and Clark Strip Mining (Coal) Company was here around 1906 and put out the “now hiring” sign. The Wichita Falls and Southern Railway arrived the following year from Olney and before long coal was being shipped to Wichita Falls.

In 1908 the old Fort Belknap post office was moved to town and an new application was submitted for Newcastle, Texas – after the English coal town. (“Carrying coals to Newcastle.”) By 1909 the Newcastle population had reached 800.

That same year miners working for the Belknap Coal Company went on strike and formed a chapter of the United Mine Workers. Other strikes occurred in 1914 and 1915. The switch to oil burning locomotives decreased demand for coal and by 1942 mining operations quit as America entered WWII.

From a population estimated at 1,000 in 1950, it had fallen to 617 ten years later. The decline slowed and by the 1970 census it was 624. In 1990 there were 505 residents reported which has since increased to the present 531 (2020)


New Castle & Proffitt TX, Young County Suspension Bridge 1914 Postmark
Suspension Bridge, Newcastle, Texas, Postmarked 1914
Click on image to enlarge

Old postcard courtesy Dan Whatley Collection


New Castle & Proffitt TX, Young County Suspension Bridge 1914 Postmark
Newcastle Suspension Bridge speed fine sign close-up
Old postcard courtesy Dan Whatley Collection


Wreck of the Brazos Bridge at Newcastle, Texas
Wreck of the Brazos Bridge at Newcastle
Old Photo ca 1900-1910?

Courtesy Will Beauchamp Collection


Newcastle Texas bank building
Newcastle bank building
Photo courtesy Mike Price, October 2007

Photographer's Note:
Bank looked vacant, but not sure about feed store. - Mike Price, October 15, 2007

Newcastle Texas Farm Supplies
Newcastle Farm Supplies
Photo courtesy Mike Price, October 2007


Belknap, Texas 1886 post office info
Belknap, Texas 1886 postmark
Cover cancelled with Belknap, Texas 1886 postmark
Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection

Newcastle, Texas Area Attraction

Fort Belknap

Three miles south of Newcastle on highway 251. Established in 1851, the fort was moved to be closer to the Brazos River. The fort was a stop on the Butterfield Stage Route and was abandoned in 1867.

Fort Belknap Texas
Photo courtesy Lexie Nichols and Jordan Gibson, 2007
Fort Belknap


TX  Young County 1907 Postal Map
Young County 1907 postal map showing Belknap before the name change to Newcastle
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Take a road trip

Texas Panhandle | Central Texas North

Newcastle, Texas Nearby Cities & Towns:
Graham the county seat
Proffitt Ghost town
Archer City
Fort Belknap
See Young County

Book Hotel Here:
Graham 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 Escapes Online Magazine »   Archive Issues » Home »
TEXAS TOWNS & COUNTIES TEXAS LANDMARKS & IMAGES TEXAS HISTORY & CULTURE TEXAS OUTDOORS MORE
Texas Counties
Texas Towns A-Z
Texas Ghost Towns

TEXAS REGIONS:
Central Texas North
Central Texas South
Texas Gulf Coast
Texas Panhandle
Texas Hill Country
East Texas
South Texas
West Texas

Courthouses
Jails
Churches
Schoolhouses
Bridges
Theaters
Depots
Rooms with a Past
Monuments
Statues

Gas Stations
Post Offices
Museums
Water Towers
Grain Elevators
Cotton Gins
Lodges
Stores
Banks

Vintage Photos
Historic Trees
Cemeteries
Old Neon
Ghost Signs
Signs
Murals
Gargoyles
Pitted Dates
Cornerstones
Then & Now

Columns: History/Opinion
Texas History
Small Town Sagas
Black History
WWII
Texas Centennial
Ghosts
People
Animals
Food
Music
Art

Books
Cotton
Texas Railroads

Texas Trips
Texas Drives
Texas State Parks
Texas Rivers
Texas Lakes
Texas Forts
Texas Trails
Texas Maps
USA
MEXICO
HOTELS

Site Map
About Us
Privacy Statement
Disclaimer
Contributors
Staff
Contact Us

 
Website Content Copyright Texas Escapes LLC. All Rights Reserved