Electric City Texas, Texas Panhandle Ghost Town. (original) (raw)

Electric City Texas, Looking West
Courtesy Xcel Energy, Wes Reeves

History in an Oil Can

The town was built in 1926 during the Hutchinson County oil boom. The name is a reference to the Riverview Power Plant, constructed by the Panhandle Power and Light Company to furnish electricity to the oil fields - allowing them to drill at night. Following a 24 hour, seven day schedule, the plant produced its first lights in November of '26.

A camp grew around the facility as the boom continued, and it started evolving into an actual community. It might have remained if not for the improvement of the highway and its proximity to Borger. A few residents stayed and even as late as 1948 five people called Electric City home.

Electric Power Plant in Electric City
Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com

Electric City provided the power to illuminate the oil fields like this derrick in Borger
Click on image to enlarge
Photo courtesy Ken Sharpe Collection

Riverview Power Plant, 1949
Photo courtesy Tambre Lumpkin

Electric City Texas Forum

• Subject: Riverview Plant 1949
  I grew up in Borger, Texas. I was in an antique store and found this photo. On the back it says Riverview Plant 1949. Wanted to share. Great memory for those of us that have traveled the road from Borger to Stinnet passing through the skeleton on Electric City, TX - Tambre P Lumpkin , May 21, 2020
• Subject: RIVERVIEW POWER PLANT TX
  By chance found your site and was very interested in the pictures of camp. I was born in Borger and lived in Riverview. My dad worked at the Power Plant. I have looked at the images of the area on google earth and am able to place where we lived and even though the houses are long gone, the trees tell where they were. The image of camp you have on the site, does not seem to fit any of these configurations so was very puzzled unless it was not taken facing West. I do have images (will have to look for them) and when I find them, will email them to you. Do you have any other images I could see?
  It was quite a memory jogger and was delighted to realize how much was still there! Thanks for posting it. - Margot Carter Blair, April 02, 2006
• Subject: Electric City Old Photo
  It came from our company archives. Southwestern Public Service Company (now Xcel Energy) purchased the Riverview Power Plant, probably in the 1940s, and it's still there today and fired up when we need extra power.." - Wes Reeves, July 25, 2005
  To share history or photos of Electric City, Texas, please email us.

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