Town of Dinero
Dinero, Live Oak County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Dinero was settled in the year 1838 by farmers and ranchers. The town was first named "Barlow" after the local ferry operator. The townspeople were instrumental in organizing Live Oak County, 1856; they started a school by 1858. By about 1872, rumors of money ("dinero" in Spanish) buried here led the town to change its name. A post office was established in 1885. Town buildings were moved a mile west, 1913, to be on a new rail line. In 1925 Dinero piped its first natural gas to Houston. Oil and gas continue to bolster its economy. The local landmark is hanging tree (200 yards southwest). One famous resident was J. Frank Dobie (1888-1964), Texas author. (1970)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Settled in 1838 by farmers and ranchers, this town began as "Barlow" after a local ferry operator, and its people helped organize Live Oak County in 1856 and started a school by 1858. Around 1872, rumors of buried "dinero"—Spanish for money—gave the town its lasting name. It moved a mile west in 1913 to meet a new rail line, later piped natural gas toward Houston, and counted among its residents the celebrated Texas folklorist J. Frank Dobie.
Why it matters
Dinero's shifting name, its move to follow the railroad, and its turn to oil and gas together trace how South Texas communities reinvented themselves with each new economy.
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Related people
- · J. Frank Dobie
Themes & tags
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