Cryer Creek, Texas, Navarro County ghost town. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

William Melton is credited with being the town founder. Melton arrived in 1845 and was soon joined by others although the community didn't get it's first store until 1878, The name of the settlement was borrowed from a previously named creek. Settlers had said the stream didn't "babble" but sounded more like a sobbing woman.

In the late 1870s, the community was granted a post office (which later moved to Barry).

Cryer Creek in the mid-1880s supported 100 residents. Amenities included a school, two stores, three churches and three combination gins/ gristmills. By 1892 the community had a population of 200 and the future looked good. Hopes were dashed when the Texas and St. Louis Railway bypassed the town. The decline began during the Great Depression and slowly continued, reaching a population of 75 in the late 1960s. The 1970 census showed an abrupt decline to just 15 people - where it has remained ever since.

Navarro County 1920s map showing Barry
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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