Townsite of Wentz
McMullen County, McMullen County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Founded as market center for a 44,000-acre farm development. Thrived for 3 years, 1914-1916. Wentz townsite was named for C.C. Wentz (1872-1957), agent of the Two Rivers Ranch Company. He promoted the townsite for the absentee Kansas landlords, and was also a well-known businessman in West Virginia before coming to Texas. The town grew to have about 200 people by 1916. A limousine was hired to meet each train at Three Rivers and bring the mail to Wentz. A severe drouth in 1917, though, forced most citizens to move. The post office closed, 1921; the two schools in 1948. 1968
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Founded in 1914 as the market center for a 44,000-acre farm development promoted for absentee Kansas landlords, the town of Wentz briefly boomed to about 200 residents, complete with a hired limousine to fetch mail from the train at Three Rivers. A severe drought in 1917 drove most citizens away, the post office closed in 1921, and the last school shut in 1948.
Why it matters
Wentz is a classic example of the speculative townsites that rose and vanished across the West, where boosters' promises collided with the hard limits of drought and drylands agriculture.
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Related people
- · C. C. Wentz
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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