Historical Marker
McCulloch County
Brady, McCulloch County · Texas
Erected 1936
In the 1920s McCulloch County billed itself as the Turkey Center of the Universe, and Brady's annual turkey trot made the newsreels in theaters across the country. Poultry had grown fast from 1890 on, and wool and mohair thrived in the 1920s and 1930s. Cotton came on around 1900: by 1910 it covered more than half the county's improved land, and production peaked in 1920 at 23,968 bales. Between 1900 and 1910 the population more than tripled, to 13,405, as the railroad arrived and farms nearly tripled in number.
What the plaque says
McCulloch County Created Aug. 27, 1856. One of 128 counties formed from Bexar County that extended from the Rio Grande to the Panhandle, and as far west as El Paso. Named for Texas hero, Ben McCulloch, who fought in Texas Revolution, Indian, Mexican and Civil Wars. Indian and frontier hazards made growth slow and 20 years passed before buffalo were hunted off and ranches established. Organized Aug. 4, 1876 with Brady, county seat. Became ranch, farm, recreation center. Site of geographical center of Texas and 1831 Calf Creek Battle, where James Bowie, Alamo hero, defeated 100 Indians.
Where it stands
31.13512, -99.33552 · Directions
More markers nearby
- General Ben McCulloch, C.S.A. — steps away
- Curtis Airfield — 3.0 mi
- Soldier's Waterhole — 7.0 mi
- Western Trail — 8.9 mi