BORACHO, TEXAS

Nothing left but the Cemetery

Texas Ghost Town
Culberson County, West Texas

31° 4' 38" N, 104° 23' 19" W 31.077222, -104.388611
U.S. Highway 80
10 Miles W of Kent
26 Miles E of Van Horn
Population: 0

Boracho, Texas Area Hotels › Van Horn Hotels

History in a Pecan Shell

Founded in the early 1880s when the railroads were on their competitive rush toward Van Horn, the name may have been inspired by a prank played on the Texas Pacific track-laying crew by the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio gandy dancers. Supposedly the GH&SA sent a Trojan horse (a wagonload of whiskey) to the T&P workers. Unable to resist the present, the T&P crew overdid it and were unable to work until they sobered up. The spot was named Boracho, a corruption of the Spanish word borracho (“drunk”). The more likely origin is that it was named after the 5,661 Boracho Peak in neighboring Jeff Davis County – within sight of the workers.

The would-be community never developed beyond a post office. No population figures are available. The post office closed in 1912 and today only a small cemetery remains.

1920s Culberson County map showing Boracho between Plateau & Kent
(and Boracho Peak in Jeff Davis County)
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Take a road trip

Boracho, Texas Nearby Towns:
Van Horn the county seat
Kent
More - see Culberson County | West Texas

Book Hotel Here:
Van Horn Hotels | More Hotels

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and vintage/historic photos, please contact us.