Hansford, Texas, Hansford County ghost town. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

If you thought that by having the same name as the county in which it once was, would guarantee county seat status, you would be wrong.

The future ghost town was established back in the 1880s by J.H. (�Huff�) Wright. The post office was granted in 1887 and after an 1889 fight with Farwell for county seat, Hansford emerged the winner. It held that coveted title until it was bypassed (in favor of Spearman) by the railroad in the 1920s.

The community�s first newspaper, the Hansford Herald, had its office destroyed by a tornado in 1890 and was replaced by the Investigator which soon folded. A third newspaper, the Hansford Headlight met the same fate.

English Businessman James H. Cator served as president of Hansford�s first bank in 1907 and the future looked bright until the arrival of the railroad. In this case it was the North Texas and Santa Fe.

Losing it�s status and not having a railroad connection doomed poor Hansford. The post office moved to Spearman as did residents. After WWII, there was no population to report and the only thing appearing on the county map was the Hansford cemetery.

Hansford County 1920s map (modified) showing Hansford
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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