History
Sheriffsfrom the Seminole, Texas Chamber of Commerce
Gaines County, TX, founded in 1876, is an area of 1590 square miles, which includes the town of Seminole. Settlers that came in the early 1900s suffered many hardships in trying to make this countryside their home. Housing was a major problem, as lumber had to be hauled by freight wagons from Stanton, Midland, or Big Spring, through deep sandy land.
The first industry to support Gaines County was the cattle business. Ranching utilized the vast acres of natural grassland and the easily obtainable water, accessible by windmills.
Over the years, farming became very important in this sandy, fertile soil. In the late thirties and early forties, the introduction of irrigation and vast underground water supply made faming more profitable. The unique combination of fertile soil, good water, and climate has propelled Gaines County to be the number one producing county of cotton and peanuts in the state of Texas.
The growth and development of this county has also been positively affected by the discovery of oil. It was in 1936 that the Seminole pool was discovered and resulted in one of the larger fields existing in the county today.
All three of our major industries, ranching, farming, and oil production, have taken advantage of the years of progress and offer a firm background to make Seminole and Gaines County a progressive and proud community.
The county was named for James Gaines, a merchant who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. Gaines County covers 1,489 square miles of rolling land.
Historical Markers
Information from Texas Historical CommissionC. M. Armstrong Building,
201 Main Street, Seagraves, Texas. Built in 1926 by Clifton Martin Armstrong (1888-1951), who was instrumental in the early growth of Northern Gaines County.
201 Main Street, Seagraves, Texas. Built in 1926 by Clifton Martin Armstrong (1888-1951), who was instrumental in the early growth of Northern Gaines County.
Cedar Lake or Laguna Sabinas -
located near Seminole, Texas. It is the largest alkali lake on the Texas Plains. It is an old Indian camp and burial site as well as the birthplace of Quanah Parker.
located near Seminole, Texas. It is the largest alkali lake on the Texas Plains. It is an old Indian camp and burial site as well as the birthplace of Quanah Parker.
Dann Cobb Home,
501 Northwest Third Street, Seminole, Texas. There is also an historical marker for Dann Cobb, a native of Tennessee who designed and constructed the first Gains County Courthouse in 1906 and the second Gaines County Courthouse in 1922.
501 Northwest Third Street, Seminole, Texas. There is also an historical marker for Dann Cobb, a native of Tennessee who designed and constructed the first Gains County Courthouse in 1906 and the second Gaines County Courthouse in 1922.
Gaines County,
located on the Courthouse lawn at the corner of Highways 180 and 385, Seminole, Texas.
located on the Courthouse lawn at the corner of Highways 180 and 385, Seminole, Texas.
Gaines County,
located at the intersection of U. S. Highway 180 and State Highway 214, Seminole, Texas.
located at the intersection of U. S. Highway 180 and State Highway 214, Seminole, Texas.
Hackberry Grove,
located two miles south of Seminole, Texas, on Highway 385 is the earliest known human habitation in Gaines County.
located two miles south of Seminole, Texas, on Highway 385 is the earliest known human habitation in Gaines County.
Oil Industry in Gaines County,
located in Gaines County Park five miles north of Seminole, Texas, on U. S. Highway 385.
located in Gaines County Park five miles north of Seminole, Texas, on U. S. Highway 385.
Seminole, Texas -
designated as the county seat in 1905, the same year the county was organized. Located at the intersection of U. S. Highway 180 and State Highway 214.
designated as the county seat in 1905, the same year the county was organized. Located at the intersection of U. S. Highway 180 and State Highway 214.