Glasscock County

Three hamlets near Lacy Creek vied for the county seat: Garden City, Dixie and New California. The post office had been named for a Mr. Gardner, agent of an Ohio land company, and apparently misspelled in Washington. New California won because its higher ground promised easier well water, though it had only two houses, so most of Garden City's homes were put on wheels and moved a mile and a half. On April 5, 1893, the new site took the old name. Its jail once sat unused for seven years, until a mesquite blocked the door.

What the plaque says

Glasscock County Created in 1887. Organized 1893, with Garden City county seat. Named for George W. Glasscock (1810-68), flatboating partner of Abraham Lincoln in Illinois. Came to Texas 1834 and fought 1835-36 in the War for Independence from Mexico. Built first Central Texas flour mill, Williamson County. Georgetown was named for him. Was in Texas Legislature, 1864- 68. Of the 254 Texas counties, 42 bear Indian, French or Spanish names. 10 honor such colonizers as Stephen F. Austin, "Father of Texas". 12 were named for Washington, Clay, and other American patriots. 96 were named for men like Glasscock who fought in the Texas War for Independence (15 dying at the Alamo), signed the Declaration of Independence, or served as statesmen in the Republic of Texas. 23 have the names of frontiersmen and pioneers. 11 honor American statesmen who worked for the annexation of Texas; 10, leaders in Texas since statehood, including jurists, ministers, educators, historians, statesmen; and 36, men prominent in the Confederacy during the Civil War. Midland and 8 others have geographical names. San Jacinto and Val Verde were named for battles. Live Oak and Orange for trees, and Mason for a Fort. (1964)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Hangar 25 Air Museum — 25 mi
  A restored World War II hangar on the old air base above Big Spring, telling the story of the bombardier school of 1942 and of Webb Air Force Base, which trained pilots until 1977.

More markers nearby

• First Commercial Oil Well in Howard County — 16 mi
• Camp Elizabeth — 21 mi
• Route of Marcy's Trail — 25 mi
• First United Methodist Church of Stanton — 26 mi