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SCOTLAND, TEXAS


Archer County, Texas Panhandle / Central Texas North

33°38'32"N 98°26'54"W (33.642195, -98.448340)

Highway 281
Just S of Little Wichita River
NE of Archer City the county seat
18 Miles S of Wichita Falls
40 Miles N of Jacksboro
ZIP code 76379
Area code 940
Population: 474 Est. (2019)
501 (2010) 438 (2000) 490 (1990)

Book Area Hotel › Wichita Falls Hotels


Scotland TX City Limit
Scotland City Limit
Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009

History in a Pecan Shell

The town was not named after the country but for Canadian investor Henry J. Scott, who bought land and platted the town about 1907.

As a German Catholic community, the population was made up of farmers who transmigrated here from Central and South Texas. The town was connected to the outside world in 1908 when the Southwestern Railroad arrived from Henrietta and a post office opened that same year.

By 1910 the population was up to 600 and the railroad now connected Scotland to Archer City. Scotland entered a decline around 1920 when the railroad abandoned its tracks. Nearby oil discoveries failed to reverse the downward spiral but hopes were still high and the town managed to build a new school and auditorium in 1922.

There were only 316 people by the mid 1920s and that figure remained in place for years. With improved roads allowing residents to find jobs in Wichita Falls, the population declined to a mere 250 by 1950. The local school closed two years later.

In the mid 1960s Lake Arrowhead was conceived and as it neared completion workers and new landowners brought the population back up to 350.

Lake Arrowhead is owned by the City of Wichita Falls and provides their water supply. In 1970 Scotland was back down to only 145 people served by six businesses, but by 1990 it was up to 490. Scotland has since spread across the county line into Clay County and the 2010 population is back up to 501.


Photographer's Note:
A little over 400 people living mostly in a small part of a town covering several square miles, one historical marker, one church and cemetery, several interesting ranch or home drive entrances, and someone's huge collection of rusting old farm tractors pretty much sums up this town. The collection of tractors is impressive, unless you've seen the collection outside of Toco. - Mike Price, September 2009


Scotland TX - J. H. Meurer Home
J. H. Meurer Home
U.S. 281, Scotland

Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009

Historical Marker:

J. H. Meurer Home

German native John H. Meurer (b. 1850) settled his family in this area about 1900 when he became a land agent for H. J. Scott of the Clark and Plumb Company. In selling over 60,000 acres of land, Meurer helped to establish the towns of Windthorst (6 mi. S) and Scotland (named for H. J. Scott), both primarily German Catholic settlements. Meurer had this one-and-a-half story home built in 1911. The 11-room house with wraparound porch remained in the Meurer family until 1941 when Saint Boniface Catholic Church purchased it to serve as a residence for parish priests. (1982)

Scotland TX - J. H. Meurer Home historical marker
J. H. Meurer Home historical marker
Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009
More Texas Historical Homes


Scotland TX - St. Boniface Catholic Church
St. Boniface Catholic Church.
Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009


Scotland TX - St. Boniface Catholic Church
St. Boniface Catholic Church.
Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009
More Texas Churches


Scotland TX - St. Boniface
Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009


Scotland TX Cemetery
Cemetery
Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009
More Texas Cemeteries


Scotland TX Post Office
Scotland Post Office TX 76379
Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009
More Texas Post Offices


Scotland TX Parkey Ranch gate
Ranch Gate
Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009


Scotland TX Parkey Ranch gate
Ranch Gate
Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009


Scotland TX KJL Ranch gate
Ranch Gate
Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009


Scotland TX old tractor
Old tractor
Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009


Scotland TX Tractors
Collection of Tractors
Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009


Scotland TX Tractors
Collection of Tractors
Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009


Scotland TX Ranch gate
Photo courtesy Mike Price, September 2009

Take a road trip

Texas Panhandle | Central Texas North

Scotland, Texas Nearby Towns:
Archer City the county seat
Wichita Falls
Jacksboro
Vernon
See Archer County

Book Hotel Here:
Wichita Falls 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.


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