Seymour, Texas, Baylor County Seat. (original) (raw)

Courtesy Lauren Bush, Economic Development Director, City of Seymour
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History in a Pecan Shell

Originally the town was named Oregon City after it was settled by people from Oregon. The town grew around the crossing of the Brazos River with the Western Trail. With the opening of the post office in 1879 the town underwent a change of name to Seymour after a cowboy named Seymour Munday. 1879 was a busy year with a newspaper appearing, the first store opening and the post office opening.

An abbreviated timeline of significant events:

1880: A stone hotel was built and the Baylor county judge was killed.
1884: The Baylor county courthouse was constructed when the town had a population of 500.
1890: Construction of the Wichita Valley began after citizens raised $50,000 to pay the railroad
1892: The town corporation was dissolved because of inability to meet obligations. Population is 1,900.
1904: Population is 1,475
1906: Oil discovered and the town incorporated for the second time.
1950: Population reaches 3,778.

Seymour, Texas

Landmarks/Attractions

Whiteside Museum of Natural History
Courtesy Lauren Bush, Economic Development Director, City of Seymour

Baylor County Museum
Courtesy Lauren Bush, Economic Development Director, City of Seymour
More Texas Museums

Baylor County WWI & WWII Memorial
Courtesy Lauren Bush, City of Seymour

Seymour, Texas Vintage Photos

Seymour Area Recreation

Millers Creek Reservoir -
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us.htm

Seymour Chronicles

• Go Fishing Day by Mike Cox
  Lake Kemp
• From Old-time Cowboy by Mike Cox
  "In the summer of 1896, as a long-defunct magazine called the Illustrated Texas Monthly noted the following year, the people of Baylor County put together a reunion for old-time drovers and "[an] exhibition of horseback athletics...." In other words, a rodeo.
  The following year, during the first week of August, Seymour saw its second cowboy reunion. An estimated 20,000 people showed up for an event featuring "bronco bustin' by which the tenderfoot will understand the breaking and riding of wild mustangs; steer-roping in approved cow-boy style; and a notable gathering of Comanche Indians under their chief, Quanah Parker...."
  The magazine's editor opined that the Baylor County reunion-exhibition had proven "creditable alike in its conception and its execution." " more
• Record Heat in Texas - August 12, 1936 Cartoon by Roger T. Moore

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