Sandia, Texas, Jim Wells County. (original) (raw)

Sandia Justice Of The Peace Office
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2006

History in a Pecan Shell

The town dates from a Spanish land grant in 1807 issued to Juan Jos� de la Garza Montemayo. The land was purchased in 1852 by one John Wade who formed Casa Blanca Ranch, aka the Wade Ranch. In 1907 Max Starcke came into ownership and founded the town of Sandia which at that time consisted of dirt roads and a single building. The name Sandia, is Spanish for "watermelon" since the area's soil is well suited for that crop.

After the town was platted, the lots sold like proverbial hotcakes and by 1914 the town had a respectable population of 150, reaching 200 by the mid 1920s and swelling to 500 by 1927. It declined to 300 by 1940 and reached 215 by 1974. It has since grown to 431 in 2000, but decreased to 379 in 2010.

The two story former school is now in private ownership.

Sandia Senior Services Center
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2006

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.