Plemons, Texas

Plemons is a ghost town in Hutchinson County, in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located 10 miles southeast of Stinnett, and 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Borger, on Plemons Road, just north of the junction of County Road R.

Plemons, Texas
Plemons
Location within the state of Texas
Coordinates: 35°48′03″N 101°18′33″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountiesHutchinson
Elevation
2,739 ft (835 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)806
FIPS code48[1]
GNIS feature ID1380381[2]

Establishment

In 1898, Oklahoma rancher James Andrew Whittenburg filed on four sections of land in Hutchinson County, where he built a dugout shelter near the Canadian River. He used the acreage as the family homestead. In 1901, Whittenburg donated acreage from the homestead land for the establishment of a town.[3] When Barney Plemons filed for land there, the town was named for him. Plemons became the county seat in 1901 when Hutchinson County was organized. E. E. Akers built the courthouse.[4]

Economy

Mattie Sams was appointed the first postmaster when Plemons received its post office on May 29, 1901. The post office was in operation until 1952.[5]

The first decade of its existence, Plemons had 15 families. Billy Dixon moved to Plemons from Adobe Walls and operated a boarding house. Dixon became the first county sheriff.[6] The Plemons economy realized modest benefit from nearby Turkey Track ranch and Tar Box ranch.[7]

New county seat

The Amarillo branch of the Rock Island and Gulf Railway bypassed Plemons, routing 10 miles (16 km) to the north. Stinnett was then developed to be a shipping point for the railroad. In 1926, the county seat of government was moved to Stinnett. Plemons began to decline after that, despite a brief spurt during the oil boom. Today, Plemons is considered a ghost town.[6]

Education

The area was served by the Plemons Independent School District until July 1, 1987, when it merged into the Plemons-Stinnett-Phillips Consolidated Independent School District.[8]

Plemons Cemetery

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark Marker number 12096 was designated for the Plemons Cemetery.[9] The first burial is believed to have been Mrs. E. E. Akers, date unknown. The last burial was Charles Ray Sessions in 1953. The local Boy Scouts troop spearheaded preservations efforts of the cemetery.[10]

Notable persons
  • Billy Dixon (1850–1913) lived in Plemons 1902–1906. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on November 4, 1874, for gallantry in action on September 12, 1874. In 1916, Dixon's was one of 900 medals withdrawn as "unwarranted". The U.S. Army Board of Correction of Records restored the medal in 1989.[11][12]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Plemons has a semiarid climate, BSk on climate maps.[13]

References
  1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. Anderson, H. Allen. "THSA-James Andrew Whittenburg". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  4. Anderson, H. Allen. "TSHA-Plemons, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  5. "Hutchinson County Post Offices". Jim Wheat. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  6. "Escape-Plemons, Tx". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  7. Anderson, H. Allen. "Turkey Track Ranch". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  8. "CONSOLIDATIONS, ANNEXATIONS AND NAME CHANGES FOR TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS" (PDF). Texas Education Agency. 2018-09-10. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  9. "THC-Plemons Cemetery". Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  10. "Plemons Cemetery". Find a Grave. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  11. "Medal of Honor Recipients-Indian Wars Period". U.S. Army Center of Military Intelligence. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  12. Billy Dixon at Find a Grave
  13. Climate Summary for Plemons, Texas
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