Rotan

The Handbook of Texas says White Flat was named for the powdery white gypsum sand near the surface. Ranchers J. W. Burrow and Alex and Warren Haynes sold land for the townsite, and the new name honored Ed Rotan of Waco. By its 1909 incorporation Rotan had two banks, three hotels, three churches, telephone, water and light service, an ice house and a bottling works. The Rotan Gypsum Plant, founded in 1923, was sold in 1935 to the National Gypsum Company, which made it one of the country's largest. Rotan peaked at 3,159 people in 1950.

What the plaque says

First known as White Flat, the town of Rotan was settled prior to the organization of Fisher County in 1886. A thriving community developed, but not until the railroad came through in 1906 did the town become a major area commercial center. During the summer of that year, the Texas Central Railway decided to extend the western terminus of its Waco line to White Flat. The coming of the railroad, which had had a dramatic economic impact in other Texas towns, was eagerly anticipated. The arrival of the first train in October 1906 signaled the opening for sale of many business lots. The name Rotan was adopted for the town when the post office was established. A postal station in Dickens County previously had been given the name White Flat, so Rotan was chosen to honor one of the railroad's principal stockholders. The town prospered with the opening of many business establishments to serve the surrounding agricultural area. Two Rotan businesses have operated continuously since their establishments--the "Rotan Advance," which began publication as the "Terminal Advance" one month before the first train arrived, and the First National Bank, which was chartered in 1907. (1983)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Scurry County Museum — 29 mi
  Snyder's county museum on the Western Texas College campus, with the rifle used to shoot the white buffalo, an 1878 chuckwagon and the millionth barrel of the Canyon Reef oil boom.

More markers nearby

• Roby Cemetery — 7.9 mi
• Roby — 9.0 mi
• Organization of Fisher County — 9.0 mi
• Fisher County — 9.0 mi