City of Junction

Junction grew steadily after its founding: 536 people in 1900, 800 in 1910 and 1,250 in 1920. Between 1910 and 1920 the automobile arrived, the first filling stations opened around 1916 or 1917, and by the early 1920s the livery stable had closed and the streets were graveled and electrically lit. Good highways to San Angelo and Menard followed by the mid-1920s. The 1930 census counted 1,415 people. A cedar-oil business took hold in the mid-1940s, though growth slowed, and the town had 1,464 people in 1950 and 2,593 in 1980.

What the plaque says

City of Junction County seat of Kimble County. Townsite platted 1876 (year of county organization) as "Denman" soon had named changed by voters to denote site at confluence of North and South Llano rivers. Growth was steady. By 1882 had 300 people, a courthouse, jail, school, 2 churches, 2 stores. In 1927, town was incorporated; water system bought, 1929; sewer system built, 1929; municipal hall and fire station erected 1939-40; swimming pool installed 1955. Eight mayors, 63 alderman, 5 city secretaries, and others have held offices. After annexations, by 1970 population reached 2654. (1972)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Kimble County Historical Museum — 1.0 mi
  A free county museum in Junction, the town at the meeting of the North and South Llano, with the papers, photographs and tools of a ranching county.
• Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve — 26 mi
  A limestone cave on the James River where about four million Mexican free-tailed bats raise their young each summer, kept open to visitors by a family's gift.
• Fort McKavett State Historic Site — 31 mi
  The post Sherman called the prettiest in Texas, home to soldiers of all four Buffalo Soldier regiments and then to a town that lived in its buildings until 1973.

More markers nearby

• First Post Office — steps away
• Burt M. Fleming American Legion Post No. 237 — steps away
• Kimble County — steps away
• Fight of Sheriff's Posse with Cattle Rustlers — steps away