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CLYDE, TEXAS
Callahan County,
Panhandle
/ West
Texas
Interstate Highway 20 and FM 604
8 miles East of Abilene
5 miles West of Baird
Population: 3,345 (2000) 3,022 (1990)
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Downtown
Clyde
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, March 2008 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Clyde's beginning was naturally tied to Baird's
since Clyde was the next stop on the Texas and Pacific Railroad. It's
said that the name came from Robert Clyde's camp for the railroad
workers, established in 1880. Enough people stayed after the railroad
moved on - and in 1881 they got a post office.
Some of Clyde's first residents were a colony of Portuguese,
who didn't stay long. They may have realized how far from the sea
they were and moved on. Another group of Irish families transmigrated
from Pennsylvania.
The Bankhead Highway - the first transcontinental road across
the U.S. - included Clyde on it's route and Clyde also was gaining
a reputation for fruits and vegetables. It was publicized as being
"The California of Texas." Clyde has been blessed with abundant underground
water, but droughts in 1886-87, 1930-36, 1949 to 57, and 1983-85 have
reduced the once-popular slogan to a historical footnote.
Clyde has had a string of bad luck with tornadoes. (Has anyone had
good luck with them?) The first occurred in 1895 and destroyed the
Catholic Church. In 1938 the school was destroyed along with other
buildings. Fourteen people were killed. Another occurred in 1950 and
took the lives of five more of Clydes citizens. The most recent was
in 1989. |
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"There
are 6-8 old gas stations along highway 18. My best guess is that at
some time it was highway 80. It would have been more than 50 years
ago. Clyde could not have supported that many stations as I'd guess
75% of it's population growth has come in the last 30 years."
- Mike
Price, March 2008
More Texas
Gas Stations |
| "The
rundown building on Interstate 20. In the late 50's there was a sign
labeling it as a Uranium Sitting House, if you can believe it."
- Mike
Price, March 2008 |
Recreation
Lake Clyde -
5 miles south of Clyde.
On the headwaters of the Pecan Bayou.
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/infish/lakes/clyde/lake_id.htm
Clyde
local and tourist information:
Clyde
Chamber of Commerce: 915-893-4221
PO Box 257 Clyde TX 79510
Clyde Economic Development Corporation: 915-893-0058
PO Box 257 Clyde TX 79510
Clyde City Hall: 915-893-4234
222 Oak Street Clyde, TX 79510
www.clydecityhall.com/ |
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