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Monterey High School

Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas

Marker Inscription

Opened in 1955. Named for town of Monterey, one of the two original townsites for Lubbock. It was founded in present northwest Lubbock by W. E. Rayner in 1890. In a unique compromise in 1891, Rayner joined the promoters of the other townsite to establish Lubbock in its present location. 1969

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

Monterey High School opened in 1955, taking its name from one of the two original townsites platted for Lubbock. That earlier Monterey was founded in present-day northwest Lubbock by W. E. Rayner in 1890, but in a notable 1891 compromise Rayner joined forces with the rival townsite's promoters to establish Lubbock in its current location. The school thus carries forward the name of a would-be town that merged into the city instead.

Why it matters

The story preserves the frontier town-site rivalries that shaped how West Texas cities like Lubbock came to be, settled by cooperation rather than conflict.

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Related people

  • · W. E. Rayner

Themes & tags

EducationWestward ExpansionFrontier HistorySchool

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