Fort Griffin

Historical marker location:

Belton vicinity, Texas

( 5 miles SE of Belton on FM 436)

Marker installed: 1936

Site of a picket fort on Little River commonly called Fort Griffin; also known as Fort Smith and Little River Fort.

Erected by Geo. B. Erath and 20 Texas Rangers in November, 1836 as a protection against Indians. Abandoned as a military post before the Santa Fe Expedition camped here, June 24-29, 1841 but used by settlers many years as a place of defense against the Indians.

rangers forts

The first oil well in the United States was drilled in Texas in 1859. The discovery of oil transformed the economy of the state and helped to make Texas one of the wealthiest states in the nation.