Historical Markers in
Gray County, Texas

1931 Free Bridge Controversy 1934 Pampa Post Office Building Aaron S. Mangum Allison Cemetery Andrew Hanson Andrew L. Randell Antioch Baptist Church Austin College B. H. Zauk Barron Cemetery Barron-Veazey House Battle of North Fork of Red River Bennett-Richardson House Bethel Baptist Church Big Springs Binion Homestead Birthplace of Dwight D. Eisenhower Boy Scout Troop 1 (Troop 44) Butterfield Overland Mail Route Through Grayson County Cannon Cemetery Capt. John Henry LeTellier Captain N. A. Birge House Carpenters Bluff Bridge Carr-Taliaferro House Central Christian Church City of Sherman City of Tom Bean Coffman Cemetery Colbert's Ferry Cold Springs Log Cabin School Combs-Worley Building Courthouses of Grayson County Dannel Funeral Home Davis-Ansley Log Cabin Home Diamond Horse Ranch Dickson, James Nelson Dorchester School Dugan Family E. M. Kohl Building Eldridge Post Office Eleventh Texas Cavalry Elliott Cemetery Everheart-Canaan Cemetery Fairview Cemetery Federal Building (United States Courthouse) Fink First Baptist Church of Bells First Christian Ch. of Van Alstyne First Christian Church First Christian Church of Howe First Methodist Church of Pampa First Methodist Church of Whitewright First National Bank First Presbyterian Church First Presbyterian Church First Presbyterian Church and Manse First Site of City of Sherman First Texas Interurban First United Methodist Church First United Methodist Church of Sherman First United Methodist Church of Van Alstyne Forest Park Fred Douglass School Friendship Cemetery Friendship Methodist Church George B. McClellan George R. Reeves Grave of Collin McKinney Gray County Gray County Gray County 50th Year Anniversary Gray County Courthouse Grayson Bible Baptist Church Grayson College Grayson County Grayson County, C. S. A. Greenwood Cemetery Hagerman Hall Cemetery Hall Furniture Building Hendrix Cemetery Hiram Lodge No. 433, A. F. & A. M. Home County of Allison Mayfield, Conservationist Hopewell Baptist Church Howe Lodge No. 430, A. F. & A.M. Indian Battlefield J. K. Miller House Jabez and Harriet Haning James P. Dumas Jesse Elvis Hendricks Log Cabin Jesse P. Loving Joseph G. McCoy, Promoter of Chisholm Trail Judge C. C. Binkley Kentucky Town Kentuckytown Baptist Church Kidd-Key College and Music Conservatory L. A. Washington, Jr. and wife Martha A. Lake Texoma Lee Simmons Lone Star Masonic Lodge No. 403, A. F. & A. M. Louis Wilmouth Lyon House Mame Roberts (Aug. 19, 1883-Dec. 24, 1976) Mantua Masonic Lodge No. 209, A. F. & A. M. Martindale-Lackey-Hudgins House Mary Florence Cowell Masonic Temple 1924 Mattie Davis Lucas Mayes House McLean Methodist Church Merchants and Planters National Bank Metz House Milam, Eliza McKinney, Homestead Miller's Spring Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad Mita Holsapple Hall (1885-1965) Ninth Texas Cavalry North-South Railway Connection Oak Ridge Cemetery Odd Fellows Hall Old Bass Home Old Cedar Community Old Sherman Public Library Old Thompson Home Old Town of Cannon Oliveann Oatman Fairchild Pampa Pampa City Hall Park of Old Settlers Association of Grayson County Perrin Air Force Base Peter W. Gray Peter W. Grayson Pilot Grove Pilot Grove Baptist Church Pioneer Cottage Pioneer Cotton Seed Oil Mill Pool Manufacturing Company Pottsboro Present Home of XXI Club President T. Roosevelt's Visit to Grayson County Preston Road/Shawnee Trail Primitive Baptist Church of Tioga R. N. Younger Home Red River Expedition of 1852 Rescue of Two White Girls by Lt. Frank Baldwin Roberts House Sadler Cemetery Sadler United Methodist Church Saint John Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Samuel E. and Mary C. Marshall House Sanborn Ranch Sand Springs Sanford Homeplace Sherman Little Theater (The Sherman Community Players) Sherman Manufacturing Company Site of Binkley Hotel Site of Campus of Old Columbia College Site of Captain LeTellier's School Site of Early Grayson County Settlement - Whitemound Site of Fort Johnson Site of Old Sherman Opera House Site of Pampa Army Air Force Base Site of Saint Francis Xavier Academy Site of the Trading Post of Holland Coffee Sophia Porter St. Luke's Church St. Mary's Catholic Church St. Patrick's Catholic Church St. Patrick's Catholic Church Terrell High School, Site of The Civilian Conservation Corps at Loy Park The Fitzgerald Home The Great Sherman Storm of 1896 The Rev. J.M. Binkley The Rev. John Silliman Moore The Reverend J.H. Reynolds Thomas Jefferson Shannon Thomas V. Munson Home Tioga Cemetery Tioga Cemetery Tioga United Methodist Church Tom Bean Tom Randolph (Nov. 13, 1854 - Jan. 8, 1918) Town of Gunter, on Old Gunter Ranch Travis Lodge No. 117, A. F. & A. M. Trinity United Presbyterian Church Trinity United Presbyterian Church Umphress-Taylor Home Van Alstyne Van Alstyne Cemetery Vittitoe Cemetery Vittorio Emanuel von Brunow, M. D. W. B. and Ella Munson Home Walnut Street Church of Christ Waples Memorial United Methodist Church Waples-Platter Grocery Company Washburn Cemetery Washington Iron Works Inc. Whitaker Cemetery White Deer Land Building Whitesboro Whitewright Whitewright Masonic Lodge No. 167 William Whitley Wheat Wilson N. Jones (c. 1827-1901) Woody Guthrie World War II Prisoner of War Camp at McLean Younger Scott McKinney Home
The Texas Rangers, a famous law enforcement agency, were first organized in 1835 to protect settlers from Native American attacks.
Texas random facts
Gray County, located in the Texas Panhandle, has a rich and diverse history dating back thousands of years. The earliest known inhabitants of the area were the Plains Indians, including the Comanche and Kiowa tribes, who roamed the grasslands and utilized the region's abundant wildlife for sustenance.

European settlement in Gray County began in the late 19th century, driven by the expansion of railroads and the cattle industry. The area became a popular destination for cattle ranchers, with the establishment of large ranches and the construction of stockyards and rail lines. The growth of the cattle industry played a significant role in shaping the county's early economy and attracting settlers to the region.

In 1876, Gray County was officially organized and named after Peter W. Gray, a prominent Texas lawyer and judge. The county seat, Pampa, was established in 1892 and experienced rapid growth due to the discovery of oil in the early 20th century. The oil boom created a surge in population and economic activity, bringing prosperity to the region.

Throughout the 20th century, Gray County continued to thrive due to its diverse economy, including agriculture, oil and gas, and manufacturing industries. The area's agricultural sector remained strong, with crops like wheat, sorghum, and cotton being cultivated. Additionally, manufacturing companies set up operations in the county, further contributing to its economic stability.

Today, Gray County is a thriving community with a mix of rural and urban areas. It continues to be a center for agriculture, oil and gas production, and manufacturing. The county's rich history is celebrated through various cultural events and museums, providing visitors with a glimpse into the area's past.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Gray County, Texas.

  • 1876: Gray County was officially organized and named after Peter W. Gray, a Texas lawyer.
  • 1887: The first post office in Gray County was established.
  • 1889: The town of Pampa was founded and became the county seat of Gray County.
  • 1902: The first railroad, Southern Kansas Railway, reached Pampa, leading to significant growth and development.
  • 1924: A significant oil discovery, the White Deer Oil Field, sparked an oil boom in Gray County.
  • 1934: The county experienced severe damage and loss of life due to a devastating tornado.
  • 1952: The Pantex Ordnance Plant, a major nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility, was established in Gray County.
  • 1965: Lake McClellan, a reservoir on the Red River, was completed and became a popular recreational area.
  • 1995: The historic Gray County Courthouse, built in 1929, was restored and designated as a Texas Historic Landmark.