Citizens National Bank
Crosbyton, Crosby County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Site of Crosbyton's first bank. In 1909, First State Bank (soon named First National) opened in a new two-story concrete block and stone building, erected by C. B. Livestock Company. For bank, office use. In 1917, Citizens National Bank (est. 1905) purchased the property upon its move here from Emma, then county seat. December 14, 1929, the two banks merged. A new bank building was erected over the original basement and part of the old foundation in 1952. Present stockholders and directors are: R. A. Jefferies, Russell McCurdy, John Hughes, Leslie Mitchell, James C. Reed, John Brown. 1965
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Crosbyton's first bank opened in 1909 in a new concrete-and-stone building put up by the local livestock company, and within a few years a second bank moved in from Emma when the county seat shifted here. The two rivals finally merged just before the Depression closed in, and a new bank rose in 1952 atop the original basement and foundation, layering one era of the town's commercial life directly over another.
Why it matters
The building charts how banking followed the county seat across the West Texas plains, binding a young ranching town's fortunes to its first financial institutions.
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Themes & tags
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