Plainview, Texas, Historic Plainview, Plainview Texas Hotels. (original) (raw)

Hale County Seat, Texas Panhandle

34�11'28"N 101�43'8"W (34.191204, -101.718806)

Intersection of I-27, Hwy 87 and 70
76 miles S of Amarillo on Hwy 27
47 miles N of Lubbock on Hwy 27
Population: 20,859 est. (2016)
22,194 (2010) 22,336 (2000) 21,700 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › Plainview Hotels

The Cement Block Plant, Plainview, Texas
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

History in a Pecan Shell

The County was named after John Hale, who fell at San Jacinto. Plainview is named after no person, but the unobstructed view of the countryside.

Hale County was formed in the country's centennial year, before there was any community. In 1888 there were enough people to organize and declare Plainview the county seat.

The railroad came in 1907 and then they hit on the idea of tapping into the underground water which was (and is) abundant. An east-west railroad (Fort Worth and Denver) joined the north-south Santa Fe, and the rest as they say is history.

According to the Texas Handbook: By 1925 Plainview had 7,500 people and 50,000 shade trees.

Photographer's Note:
Plainview strikes me as a practical type of town. At about 22K, not too awfully big and not too small. Moderate weather but prone to tornadoes and hail storms. On an interstate and near enough to Lubbock and a nice airport. -

Barclay Gibson

Plainview, Texas

Landmarks / Attractions

Photo Gallery

• Historic District -
  Historic downtown with WWI era brick streets, antique shops and restaurants.
  Designated a Texas and National Main Street City.
  Call Main Street office for brochure. 806-296-1119
• Museum of Llano Estacado -
  In the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Regional Heritage Center
  1900 West 7th Street 806-296-4735.
  Weekdays 9 to 5. Weekends 1 to 5 (March through November)
• Abraham Family Art Gallery -
  In the Learning Resources Center, Wayland Baptist University campus. Free admission.
  Information - 806-291-1000

Santa Fe Railroad Depot
1200 North Broadway
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

Historical Marker by the Santa Fe Depot
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

Historical Marker:Site of
Lake Plainview

The City of Plainview, founded in the 1880s, sought agricultural supremacy for its trade area. Civic leaders pioneered irrigated farming in 1911 by boring the first of many deep water wells. In 1912, Texas Land & Development Co. installed a demonstration well near the Santa Fe Railway Depot and created Lake Plainview and a park at this site. Called Texas' largest body of water fed by a well, the lake was very popular with the public, but expensive to maintain. After fire destroyed the pump house in 1917, park and lake went back to nature. In 1977 the area again became a park.

(1977)

Broadway, Plainview's main street, with the restored Fair Theatre
Photo by Wes Reeves, October 2001

The 1947 W. O. Speck Building
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

1936 Texas Centennial Monument
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2009

Plainview, Texas Old Photos

City Auditorium, Plainview, Texas
1940s Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

A residence
1910 Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

Plainview Tourist information
Chamber of Commerce - 710 West 5th Street
806-296-7431 or 800-658-2685
http://www.plainviewtex.com/

Plainview, Texas Forum

• Subject: Hilton Hotel & old memories
  I have been told the first hotel Mr. Hilton built with his name on it was in Plainview, Texas. The last time I was downtown in Plainview, I believe it was still so. A boyhood friend, Dr. Richard E. Morgan's father had been the manager at that time when we were still in high school, the mid fifties. Richard is still there you might check with him. I lived there from 1948 to 1968 and remember those times with fond memories, it was one of the best places to grow up in !!! Recently went to my classes 50th reunion, one of my most pleasurable memories, good to see people you had not seen in so many years. - Jimmy Nowell, class of 1953, Granbury, Texas, September 18, 2004
• Subject: Naming of Plainview
  My grandmother was from Plainview, Texas. She was born in 1928. Although I'm sure that the name came from the unobstructed view as you said, she tells an amusing story that I would like to share with you. She said that a young couple was traveling across the Plains in a covered wagon. They stopped for the day, and the wife said that she needed to use the rest room. He told her to go ahead and she said, "Where? Right here in Plain View?" Thus, the community was named. :>) Ron Williams, grandson of Minnie Jeanelle Bell Nichols, November 25, 2002

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