Lingleville
Lingleville, Erath County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Founded in 1884 by Jacob C. Lingle, the town of Lingleville originally covered a ten-block area. A post office was established in 1885, and by 1892 the community boasted stores, blacksmith shops, a mill, gin, and three churches. Although bypassed by the railroad, the town thrived and soon included education facilities and more businesses. Almost completely devastated by a downtown robbery and fire in 1901, the town rallied and rebuilt. The 1919 oil boom at the nearby Desdemona oil field brought increased settlement and business to Lingleville. (1990)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Jacob C. Lingle laid out this Erath County town in 1884, and within a decade it had stores, blacksmith shops, a mill, a gin, and three churches. Though the railroad passed it by and a 1901 robbery and fire nearly leveled downtown, Lingleville rebuilt, and the 1919 oil strike at the nearby Desdemona field brought a fresh rush of people and business.
Why it matters
Lingleville traces the arc of countless inland Texas towns—farm village, railroad snub, and the boom-and-bust jolt of the early oil age that transformed the state's economy.
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Related people
- · Jacob C. Lingle
Themes & tags
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