Stoneburg, Texas, Montague County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Stoneburg dates from the early 1870s.

Settlement began in the early 1870s. The community, such as it was, was called Riley. A post office opened the same year the railroad arrived (1893) under the name Riley. Landowner J.M. Stone had set aside a parcel of land for the townsite as the railroad pulled in, and in appreciation, the town was renamed Stoneburg a few months later.

The population was estimated to be around 150 during the first few years of the 20th century, remaining more or less at this level until the Great Depression. Stoneburg declined after WWII with the post office closing in the mid 1950s.

By the late 1980s the number of residents had fallen to a mere 51 � the same number used for the 200 Census. In the Spring of 2009 Montague County was scorched by out-of-control grassfires that burned several communities � including Stoneburg.

A Visit to Montague

Photographer's Note:
Wish I had gotten to Stoneburg a week earlier. Seemed like the ashes were still smoking. The smell was strong. I assume it was a terrible wild fire. Shocking reality. - Barclay Gibson, April 2009

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