Ogden, Texas, formerly Blanche, Texas, Cottle County ghost town. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Originally named Blanche, after Blanche McAdams, the town had a post office operating under that name in 1894. A wealthy man from Massachusetts arrived and romance fled. Blanche was forgotten and (perhaps to curry favor) Alfred Ogden, became the town's namesake.

In early 1917 the post office was moved to nearby Swearingen. Although the 1915 population was a respectable 300 people, without a railroad (or even a highway), Ogden faced a bleak future. The Ogden school merged with the Paducah school in 1936 and by 1940 the population had fallen to a mere 20 people.

Cottle County 1907 postal map showing Blanche
(NE of Paducah)
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Cottle County 1920s map showing Ogden
(NE of Paducah)
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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