Estacado, Texas: The First Quaker Settlement on the South Plains

Estacado is an unincorporated community and near-ghost town located in northeastern Lubbock County, Texas, on the Crosby County line along Farm to Market Road 1527. It holds historical significance as the first Anglo (white) agricultural settlement on the South Plains.

Founding and Early Years

The town was founded in 1879 by Paris Cox, a Quaker from Indiana who had been drawn to the Texas plains with the idea of establishing a religious agricultural colony. The settlement was originally called Marietta (or Maryetta) in honor of Cox’s wife.

By the early 1880s, the colony grew with the arrival of more Quaker families. Life on the plains was harsh, but the settlers attempted to build a community centered on farming, education, and their religious practices. In 1882, classes began in a dugout taught by Emma Hunt, making it one of the earliest organized educational efforts on the South Plains. By 1884, classes moved into a Quaker meetinghouse, reinforcing education as a cornerstone of the community.

County Seat and Growth

In 1884, the settlement’s name was changed to Estacado, after the nearby Llano Estacado (Staked Plains), when a post office was established. Two years later, in 1886, the newly organized Crosby County selected Estacado as its first county seat. This brought temporary growth and recognition to the town, with a population estimated at around 200 residents by 1890.

Decline of the Quaker Colony

The community faced significant challenges in the late 1880s. The death of Paris Cox in 1888 left the settlement without its visionary leader. Severe droughts and grasshopper infestations in the early 1890s further weakened its agricultural base. In 1891, the county seat was moved to the short-lived town of Emma, which accelerated Estacado’s decline. By 1893, the original Quaker colony had largely disbanded.

Later Years and Legacy

Although its role as a county center ended, Estacado continued as a small rural community. The post office operated until 1918, after which it closed. A steady, though small, population remained, with about 80 residents recorded in 2000.

Today, Estacado is regarded as an important historic site. Remnants of its past include an abandoned church and a cemetery where some of the original settlers are buried. The story of Estacado reflects both the ambitions and difficulties of early settlement on the South Plains.

Key Facts

• Founded: 1879 by Paris Cox, a Quaker from Indiana.

• Original name: Marietta (after Cox’s wife).

• Renamed: Estacado in 1884, when the post office was established.

• County seat: Served as Crosby County’s first county seat from 1886 to 1891.

• Population peak: Around 200 by 1890.

• Education: Emma Hunt began teaching in a dugout in 1882; classes later moved to a meetinghouse.

• Decline: Began after Cox’s death in 1888, worsened by drought and grasshoppers; county seat lost in 1891.

• Post office: Closed in 1918.

• Population in 2000: About 80.

• Historical importance: First Anglo agricultural settlement on the South Plains.