Stamford Library
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TX Cowboy Reunion
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Stamford Bulldogs
2013 State Champs |
Stamford Hospital
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Stamford Theatre
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History
Stamford is a city located on the border of Jones and Haskell counties in west central Texas. The population was 3,124 according to the 2010 census. Henry McHarg, president of the Texas Central Railroad, named the site in 1900 for his hometown of Stamford, Connecticut.[3] The city is home to the Texas Cowboy Reunion.
Stamford is located on US Highway 277 and State Highway 6. Most of the city is in Jones County, one of 46 dry counties in Texas. The portion of the city within Jones County is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.While the town was named by Henry King McHarg for Stamford, Connecticut, the townsite was donated by the family of Swante Magnus Swenson. Mr. Swenson was the first Swedish immigrant to Texas. He became one of the largest landowners in Texas, and by 1860 his holdings in West Texas approached 500,000 acres (202,343 ha). These ranches, which spread across twelve Texas counties, became known as SMS Ranches. Later reorganized as the Swenson Land and Cattle Company, it is headquartered in Stamford to this day.[4] Mr. Swenson had two sons, Eric Pierson and Swen Albin, who became known as the Swenson brothers. They ran SMS Ranches, and even developed a Morab horse breeding program near the city.
Swante M. Swenson is largely responsible for initiating and supporting Swedish immigration to Texas starting in 1847. Mr. Swenson would assist Swedish immigrants with the cost of their passage from Sweden to Texas in exchange for their labor. In 1899, the Swenson brothers persuaded Henry McHarg, president of the Texas Central Railroad, to extend the railroad through their land. The brothers then founded Stamford in 1900 and provided the townsite of 640 acres (259 ha). The town and surrounding area was then partially settled by immigrants from Sweden. Many of the cotton farmers who moved to the area bought tracts of land from the Swenson brothers.[4][5][6] Stamford's main street is named Swenson.
Stamford College was founded as Stamford Collegiate Institute in September 1907 by the Northwest Texas Methodist Conference. Drought and World War I caused declining enrollments, and the college was closed in 1918 after a fire. The President of Stamford College went on to foundMcMurry University in Abilene.[7]
In 1930, the Swenson's were largely responsible for the founding of the annual Texas Cowboy Reunion.[4]
The city's general aviation airport, Arledge Field, began operation in April 1941 as an Army Air Corps training center during World War II.
For the city's first half century, order was kept by police chief George G. Flournoy. A small, crippled, cigar-chewing man, Flournoy began each day's work with target shooting at a stump outside city hall.[3]
Stamford is located on US Highway 277 and State Highway 6. Most of the city is in Jones County, one of 46 dry counties in Texas. The portion of the city within Jones County is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.While the town was named by Henry King McHarg for Stamford, Connecticut, the townsite was donated by the family of Swante Magnus Swenson. Mr. Swenson was the first Swedish immigrant to Texas. He became one of the largest landowners in Texas, and by 1860 his holdings in West Texas approached 500,000 acres (202,343 ha). These ranches, which spread across twelve Texas counties, became known as SMS Ranches. Later reorganized as the Swenson Land and Cattle Company, it is headquartered in Stamford to this day.[4] Mr. Swenson had two sons, Eric Pierson and Swen Albin, who became known as the Swenson brothers. They ran SMS Ranches, and even developed a Morab horse breeding program near the city.
Swante M. Swenson is largely responsible for initiating and supporting Swedish immigration to Texas starting in 1847. Mr. Swenson would assist Swedish immigrants with the cost of their passage from Sweden to Texas in exchange for their labor. In 1899, the Swenson brothers persuaded Henry McHarg, president of the Texas Central Railroad, to extend the railroad through their land. The brothers then founded Stamford in 1900 and provided the townsite of 640 acres (259 ha). The town and surrounding area was then partially settled by immigrants from Sweden. Many of the cotton farmers who moved to the area bought tracts of land from the Swenson brothers.[4][5][6] Stamford's main street is named Swenson.
Stamford College was founded as Stamford Collegiate Institute in September 1907 by the Northwest Texas Methodist Conference. Drought and World War I caused declining enrollments, and the college was closed in 1918 after a fire. The President of Stamford College went on to foundMcMurry University in Abilene.[7]
In 1930, the Swenson's were largely responsible for the founding of the annual Texas Cowboy Reunion.[4]
The city's general aviation airport, Arledge Field, began operation in April 1941 as an Army Air Corps training center during World War II.
For the city's first half century, order was kept by police chief George G. Flournoy. A small, crippled, cigar-chewing man, Flournoy began each day's work with target shooting at a stump outside city hall.[3]
Fun facts about Stamford
Elvis Presley came to Stamford twice. First in early 1954 while he was recording for Sun Records. The show was in the Stamford High School Auditorium and tickets were $3.00 each. He appeared several months later at the Round Up Hall located on the Texas Cowboy Reunion Rodeo grounds.
Stamford was selected as the site of Stamford College because the community raised $67,000 and donated a campus of twenty acres. Opening classes were September 17, 1906. In 1918, The Stamford College burned and was relocated to Abilene and is now known as McMurry University.
The Texas Cowboy Reunion Rodeo was organized in 1930 and was first held June 26, 27 and 28, 1930. It was organized as a means of gathering together the ever-thinning ranks of true cowboys and preserving traditions of the once great cattle empire of the Southwest. The Texas Cowboy Reunion Rodeo is known as the “World’s Largest Amateur Rodeo”. In 1940, the Quarter Horse Show was added as an attraction.
Will Rogers made his last public appearance at the Texas Cowboy Reunion Rodeo one month before he was tragically killed in a plane crash.
The Stamford Inn, a grand three story primarily wood structure with a porch running across the entire front, was originally built by the Swensons and purchased in 1919 by A. C. Cooper of Center, Texas. On December 24, 1924 at about 11:00 p.m., the structure burned. Four people tragically died in the fire: Mrs. W. B. Winters and her children Warren Jr., age 3 ½ and Bonnie Ruth, age one year; along with E. D. Lotspeich. The cause of the fire was not determined and still remains a mystery today.
Swenson Ranches established the City of Stamford in order to provide railroad passage for transportation of commodities, although they owned land throughout Throckmorton and Shackelford counties. Swenson Ranches was deeded the land by the United States Government.
In September 1900, Stamford flooded due to the heavy rains caused by the hurricane that hit Galveston. Ten people reportedly died due to the flooding.
Stamford was selected as the site of Stamford College because the community raised $67,000 and donated a campus of twenty acres. Opening classes were September 17, 1906. In 1918, The Stamford College burned and was relocated to Abilene and is now known as McMurry University.
The Texas Cowboy Reunion Rodeo was organized in 1930 and was first held June 26, 27 and 28, 1930. It was organized as a means of gathering together the ever-thinning ranks of true cowboys and preserving traditions of the once great cattle empire of the Southwest. The Texas Cowboy Reunion Rodeo is known as the “World’s Largest Amateur Rodeo”. In 1940, the Quarter Horse Show was added as an attraction.
Will Rogers made his last public appearance at the Texas Cowboy Reunion Rodeo one month before he was tragically killed in a plane crash.
The Stamford Inn, a grand three story primarily wood structure with a porch running across the entire front, was originally built by the Swensons and purchased in 1919 by A. C. Cooper of Center, Texas. On December 24, 1924 at about 11:00 p.m., the structure burned. Four people tragically died in the fire: Mrs. W. B. Winters and her children Warren Jr., age 3 ½ and Bonnie Ruth, age one year; along with E. D. Lotspeich. The cause of the fire was not determined and still remains a mystery today.
Swenson Ranches established the City of Stamford in order to provide railroad passage for transportation of commodities, although they owned land throughout Throckmorton and Shackelford counties. Swenson Ranches was deeded the land by the United States Government.
In September 1900, Stamford flooded due to the heavy rains caused by the hurricane that hit Galveston. Ten people reportedly died due to the flooding.
The Stamford Bulldogs
The Stamford Bulldogs rallied for an historic win to become the 2013 Class 1A, Division 1 State Champions.