April 12 - Texas History

This is today in Texas history.

On this day, April the 12th in 1879, Wheeler County became the first organized county in

the Texas Panhandle.

The Kyle was and Comanches who displaced the earlier patchy peoples around 1700 dominated

the area until the mid-1870s.

By that time Buffalo Hunters had already established a settlement called Hyde Town in the area.

The U.S. Army established Fort Elliott near Hyde Town in 1875 and the first post office

in the Panhandle opened there in 1878.

Wheeler County was established in 1876.

Three years later, the residents of the area petitioned for county organization which became

official in April.

The small camp of sweet water became the first county seat.

I bet you didn't know that.

That was today in Texas history.