Crosby County

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Crosby County. Out here on the South Plains, where the land stretches so flat and wide it'll make a person question their own sense of scale, this county carries a name worth knowing.

Formed from Young and Bexar Territories, it was created on August 21, 1876. Now, created is one thing. Organized is another.

Sometimes a place exists on paper long before anyone gets around to making it real, and Crosby County is proof of that. It took until September 20, 1886, a full decade later, before the county was officially organized. Ten years of existing in theory, waiting on the world to catch up.

The county was named in honor of Stephen Crosby, 1800 to 1869. He came to Texas in 1845, and he served as Commissioner of the General Land Office. A man who dealt in land, honored by a county full of it.

Now, when the county finally got organized in 1886, it needed a seat, and it picked Estacado. Estacado held that distinction until 1890, when Emma stepped in. And Emma held it until Crosbyton took over, and Crosbyton has been the county seat ever since 1911.

Three county seats in about twenty-five years. This county knew what it wanted, it just took a little while finding it.

What the marker says

Formed from Young and Bexar Territories. Created August 21, 1876. Organized September 20, 1886. Named in honor of Stephen Crosby 1800-1869. Came to Texas in 1845. Commissioner of the General Land Office. County seat, Estacado, 1886. Emma, 1890. Crosbyton, since 1911.