Richland Springs, Texas, San Saba County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Jackson J. Brown is credited with being the first resident when he brought his family here in 1854. Fort Duncan (a non-military installation) was built here for protection in the late 1850s but was not used after the threat was gone.

In 1868 Richland Springs� first school was built and named after Jackson Brown. In 1877 a post office opened in a local store. The 1890 population was 150 and the town got its own newspaper in 1905.

A connection to the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway was completed in 1911, allowing passengers to travel to Galveston, Amarillo and the rest of the United States via of the railroad�s main line.

Richland Springs entered the Great Depression with a population nearing 500 and it wasn�t until the early 50s when it reached 600. The town was hit by a severe drought in the early 50s and by the early 60s, the population was down by almost half. The population was 420 in 1982 which has since declined to 338 for the 2010 census.

Richand Spring, Texas Landmarks

The 1910 First State Bank Building
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2010

First State Bank Building historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2010

Richland Springs Community Center
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2010

Entering Richland Springs City Limit
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2010

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