Historical Markers of Texas
Back to Counties
Upton County
Browse historical markers in Upton County.
Upton County Map
Open the county marker map.
A
B
C
E
F
G
J
K
M
R
S
T
U
W
Y
A
90
Adrian Building
On US 67, Eastern edge of McCamey in Santa Fe Park
Western Bungalow. Built 1915, in Girvin, by R. F. Mayse, first merchant. Moved to McCamey, 1946. Mr. and Mrs. Hal Holmes: gift. Recorded Texas Historic ...
B
444
Bobcat Hills
On FM 305, 7/10 mile S. of intersection w/ FM 1901 in McCamey.
Named for dens of lynx (bobcats) found her 1919 by a University of Texas geology team mapping the resources of the county. These hills, cretaceous ...
C
754
Castle Gap
US 67, N side 150 feet E of FM 2463 (King Mountain Rd.). (Geological feature of Castle Gap is 14 mi. NW of the marker.) Tourist Information Marker #3 sponsored by Texas Historical Survey Committee.
Castle Gap, famous early pass for southwestern trails, lies 14 miles northwest along the Upton-Crane County line. Through this mile-long gap between ...
755
Castle Mountain
Off US 385 on private property. Map dot approximate.
(2 mi. East) About 3,000 ft. elevation. Since 17th century, a landmark in travel from Texas points to Mexico and California. According to tradition, ...
E
1344
Early Humble Camp in Permian Basin
On US 67, Eastern edge of McCamey, across from Santa Fe Park
The World's largest complex of oil wells in the 1920s was developed in this area. Key to success of this vast petroleum field lay in finding ways ...
1460
Elliott Ranch
At the Yates Hotel (5th and Main Sts.) Rankin
Built 1880 near old Butterfield Stage Road by Geo. Elliott, from San Antonio, one of first to go so far out on open range. Had to haul water from ...
F
14417
First Baptist Church of Rankin
Rankin
1872
First State Bank of Rankin
10th and Main Sts. Rankin
Founded in 1911 on the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railroad, the town of Rankin saw for immense oil fields discovered in its trade area in 1923-1926. ...
G
23839
Garden of Memories Cemetery
marker pending
marker pending
J
2771
John C. Upton and His Brother, W. F. Upton
Courthouse Lawn, (corner of 10th and Rankin Sts.) Rankin
County named for Texas Confederates (Star and Wreath). Colonel John Cunningham Upton (1828-1862) Born Tennessee. Came to Texas 1859. Raised company ...
K
2948
King Mountain
About 3 miles NW of McCamey on US 385
Probably named for Guy King, rancher who drilled first water well on top of mountain about 1900. Elevation is 3,000 feet. Part of an uplift in southern ...
M
3276
McCamey
About 1 mile N of McCamey on US 385
Founded 1926. Had 10,00 people in 1927. Named for Geo. B. McCamey, driller of discovery well that by 1964 had led way to opening of 31 oil and gas ...
3277
McCamey Junior High School
112 E. 11th (corner of McKinney and 11th Sts.), McCamey
Site is "Old High School," an outgrowth of 1920s oil boom. No school existed in McCamey prior to 1925, when 20 students were taught in a tin shack ...
3330
Mendoza Trail
On US 67, Eastern edge of McCamey in Santa Fe Park
Route taken, 1683-1684, by the party of Lt. Gen. Juan Dominguez de Mendoza, whose purpose was to explore the Pecos Plains, obtain pearls from Texas ...
13883
Midkiff
in front of Midkiff Post Office on FM 3095
The remote community of Midkiff is situated near the intersection of the Midland, Glasscock, Upton and Reagan county lines. Settlement dates from ...
R
4200
Rankin
On US 67, about 6 miles E. of Rankin in roadside park
Made Upton County Seat in 1921. Named for F. E. Rankin, who gave site for railway station-- the center of community life over and above its business ...
4201
Rankin Cemetery
Take Main St. S out of town about 1/2 mile then go E. about 1 mile to cemetery, Rankin.
This cemetery was established in 1915. Soon after the founding of Rankin, by civic leaders Ira Yates, J. H. Felps, Tom F. Hickox, and Dr. J. H. Johnson. ...
16271
Rankin's All-Kid Rodeo
1324 Hwy 329
Since 1952, the community of Rankin has annually hosted an All-Kid Rodeo, an event unique to the sport, which has its roots in the American cattle ...
4205
Rattlesnake Butte
On US 67, about 10 miles E. of McCamey
Rattlesnake Butte was named for wildlife seen here in 1919 by students and professors of the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, who ...
4334
Rodman-Noel Oil Field
On US 67, about 10 miles E of McCamey
Discovered 1953. Initial well, about 2-1/2 miles south of this spot, was drilled by E. G. Rodman and W. D. Noel as No. 1 Radford Grocery. It was ...
S
4785
Site of First Church in Upton County
8th and Haflf Sts., in front of First United Methodist Church
After pioneers of Upland (12 miles N.) resettled here in 1912 on Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railway, they held religious services in the railroad ...
5024
Square Top Mountain
N/A
Named, 1919, by students and professors making a geological survey for the University of Texas. The peak rises 450 feet above its base and may be ...
T
14304
T.P. Tavern
McCamey
McCamey residents and visitors remember this site of a well-known nightclub. Co-owners Tom Bargesser and Perry Fitzsimmons used their first initials ...
5188
Table Top Mountain
On US 67, about 9 miles E. of McCamey, marker missing, replacement in progress 9/2021
Round, flat-topped mesa rising 475 feet above its base; part of an uplift in Permian Basin, which was once a prehistoric sea. The limestone-topped ...
5291
The Benedum Oil Field and Benedum Townsite
On SH 349 about 7 miles N. of Rankin, near intersection of 349 and 1555
Field named in 1950 by Texas Railroad Commission in honor of Michael Late (Mike) Benedum, 1869-1959, who devoted 69 of his 90 years to the oil business, ...
5371
The Little House on the Corner
111 E. 11th St. (corner of 11th and Burleson Sts.), McCamey
Built 1940-1941, on site furnished by independent school district, to house McCamey Girl Scout troops. First stone veneer structure in McCamey. Girl ...
U
5611
Upland First Upton County Seat
Courthouse Lawn, (corner of 10th and Rankin St.)
Now abandoned, the town of Upland (10 miles N) was intended as a station on the rail line from St. Louis to Chihuahua, Mexico. It was also located ...
5613
Upton County
6 mi. E of Rankin at roadside park. Plate and seal reported missing Feb. 2007.
Formed from Tom Green County. Created February 26, 1887, organized May 7, 1910. Named in honor of John Cunningham Upton 1828-1862, a distinguished ...
W
16
Weir No. 1 Oil Well
On SH 329, about 8 miles NW of Rankin
Except for the original Yates Ranch gusher of 1926, most dramatic oil discovery in Upton County. Brought in December 6, 1961. West of this site 3.5 ...
Y
5924
Yates Hotel
Corner of 5th and Main St., Rankin
Built as showplace by Ira Yates, for boom crowds drawn by his $15,000,000 gusher of 1926, on dry ranch with which he was "stuck" in swap off of a ...