Old Townsite of Content
Crews, Runnels County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Named because of contentment of this valley. Founded 1881 by Dan W. Hale. Michael C. Bright, 1882 settler, early county commissioner, had a general store at this site. Family worked for progress of the area. Renamed "Tokeen," town bypassed by railroad in 1909. Post office was discontinued in 1916. (1966)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Founded in 1881 and named for the contentment of its valley, the little town of Content grew up around Michael Bright's general store as settlers worked to build the area. Renamed "Tokeen," it met the fate of countless prairie towns when the railroad passed it by in 1909; its post office closed in 1916, and the community faded away.
Why it matters
Content's brief life is a classic tale of the railroad age, when a rail line's route decided which frontier towns would thrive and which would vanish into the West Texas grass.
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Related people
- · Dan W. Hale
- · Michael C. Bright
Themes & tags
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