Fort Hancock, Texas
Bank of Sierra Blanca far left. Storefront to right. Former 1950s-60s gas station third building on right. Far right former barbershop, Berta's Quik Shop and most recently coffee shop. State Highway 20.
Fort Hancock began as a military establishment named Camp Rice in 1882, along the San Antonio-El Paso Road. Camp Rice had formerly been located at Fort Quitman, and had been established by troops of the 10th U.S. Cavalry "buffalo soldiers". Camp Rice did not grow after moving to this community, and rarely hosted more than 60 men. It was renamed Fort Hancock in 1886 after the death of General Winfield Scott Hancock, a hero of the Battle of Gettysburg. The fort was damaged in a flood that year, but rebuilt. It was damaged again by fires in 1889, then abandoned in 1895.[4]
A post office was established in 1886, with Albert Warren as postmaster. In 1887, a new railroad depot was built at Fort Hancock, and by 1890, a town had grown up around it and had a population of 200, a general store, a hotel, and a meat market.
By 1914, the population of the town had dropped to 50, though by 1940, it had increased to 500.[5]
Fort Hancock, Texas
Bank of Sierra Blanca far left. Storefront to right. Former 1950s-60s gas station third building on right. Far right former barbershop, Berta's Quik Shop and most recently coffee shop. State Highway 20.
Fort Hancock began as a military establishment named Camp Rice in 1882, along the San Antonio-El Paso Road. Camp Rice had formerly been located at Fort Quitman, and had been established by troops of the 10th U.S. Cavalry "buffalo soldiers". Camp Rice did not grow after moving to this community, and rarely hosted more than 60 men. It was renamed Fort Hancock in 1886 after the death of General Winfield Scott Hancock, a hero of the Battle of Gettysburg. The fort was damaged in a flood that year, but rebuilt. It was damaged again by fires in 1889, then abandoned in 1895.[4]
A post office was established in 1886, with Albert Warren as postmaster. In 1887, a new railroad depot was built at Fort Hancock, and by 1890, a town had grown up around it and had a population of 200, a general store, a hotel, and a meat market.
By 1914, the population of the town had dropped to 50, though by 1940, it had increased to 500.[5]