Samnorwood, Texas, Collingsworth County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Named for early settler Sam W. Norwood, the townspeople decided not to use the man's middle initial. He joins the ranks of Edcouch, Tomball and Tom Bean for towns named after the first and last names of their founders / namesakes. (See Edcouch, Tomball and Tom Bean, Texas)

Samnorwood got off to a late start. It wasn't until the Fort Worth and Denver Northern Railway extended its line from Childress to Pampa in 1931 that the town came into being. A ceremony on July 4th of that year made it official. Most essential businesses opened almost immediately and in 1932 the post office was granted. A brick high school was built in the mid-1930s although the population never got much higher than 100. It is currently a mere 51 people.

Collingsworth County 1940s map showing Samnorwood
From Texas state map #4335
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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