Abernathy

History

The Santa Fe Railroad wanted to follow a straight line from Plainview to Lubbock. A straight-line survey was run, and it went east of the present site of Abernathy. This route did not please the residents of Hale Center, which had been established since the 1890s. They influenced the Santa Fe to come southwest out of Plainview to serve them, and from there the Santa Fe followed an approximate straight line into Lubbock. The developers of the town sites along the new railroad wanted to organize a town on a section north of the present town of Abernathy. The owners, who lived in Wisconsin, were contacted. They thought gold might be on the land and refused to sell. Therefore, the last section south in Hale County was chosen as the town site. Originally owned by John Y. Ligon, the section that was to become the Abernathy town site was purchased by J.C. Roberds from E.S. and W.L. Stanfield. When the South Plains Investment Company was formed by Roberds, Dr. M.C. Overton, and Monroe Abernathy, Mr. Roberds deeded the section to the firm and became the president of the firm. Dr. Overton was secretary and Mr. Abernathy was treasurer. On June 18, 1909, the official survey of the town site was recognized by Gov. T.M. Campbell. The town site was platted on July 8, 1909, and was named for M.C. Abernathy. Mr. Monk was the resident agent for the company, and a small frame office building was built. Lots and blocks were sold from there. Since several buildings were already in Bartonsite and none in Abernathy, the founding fathers here contracted with J.J. Barton to move some of the buildings to Abernathy. In the late summer of 1909, the move began. Buildings were placed on rollers. The latest equipment, steam-driven tractors, were hooked on. The exodus began to huff…

Geography

Most of the city is located in Hale County; roughly 25% of the city extends southward into Lubbock County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  286
• Great-tailed Grackle

  Quiscalus mexicanus (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  236
• Killdeer

  Charadrius vociferus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  167
• Western Kingbird

  Tyrannus verticalis Say, 1823 · Aves
  166
• American Avocet

  Recurvirostra americana J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  163
• Black-necked Stilt

  Himantopus mexicanus (P.L.S.Müller, 1776) · Aves
  151
• Western Meadowlark

  Sturnella neglecta Audubon, 1844 · Aves
  145
• American Kestrel

  Falco sparverius Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  142

Most recent

• M 2.6 — 2022-04-30
  8 km E of Anton, Texas