Ross City, Texas: The Oil Boomtown That Time Left Behind

Ross City is a small unincorporated community in Howard County, Texas, that traces its origins to the oil discoveries of the 1920s. Unlike many towns that developed slowly around agriculture or railroads, Ross City emerged almost overnight as part of a regional oil boom.

Founding and Naming

The community was established in 1926, shortly after oil was discovered in the surrounding area. Entrepreneur William Rossman purchased the land and divided it into lots, giving the settlement its name. This quick development reflected the pace of oil boomtowns across Texas, where drilling activity brought sudden waves of workers, families, and businesses.

Growth and Peak Population

During the 1930s, Ross City reached its peak as a local center for oilfield workers. According to the Handbook of Texas, the population grew to about 600 by 1936. At that time, the town supported businesses and community life that made it a recognizable settlement in Howard County.

Even as the Great Depression affected many parts of Texas, Ross City remained stable during those years because of its oil ties.

Decline After the Boom

By the late 1940s, Ross City began to experience population decline as oil activity slowed and opportunities diminished. In 1947, the population had dropped to around 250, and two businesses were recorded in operation.

The decline continued into the 1950s and 1960s, with about 80 residents reported in 1956 and again in 1966. By 1980, 1990, and 2000, the population figure remained at approximately 81. This shows that Ross City did not completely vanish, though it shrank significantly from its peak.

Unlike some oil boomtowns that disappeared entirely, Ross City survived as a small residential community, even as its role in the oil industry faded.

The Dance Hall

One of Ross City’s most notable landmarks is its old dance hall. Reports from local history and ghost town surveys note that the building still stands, serving as a visible reminder of the community’s livelier days. The dance hall was once a social center for residents and workers, and today it functions as the most recognizable remnant of Ross City’s boomtown era.

Present Status

Although its population is small, Ross City continues to be listed as a populated place on modern maps of Howard County. Its history remains tied to the oil development that defined much of West Texas during the early twentieth century. The community offers a glimpse into the rise and contraction of boomtowns that followed the fortunes of oil drilling across the state.

Key Facts

• Established in 1926 after oil discovery.

• Named for William Rossman, who purchased and divided the townsite.

• Population peaked at ~600 in 1936.

• Declined to 250 by 1947, about 80 by 1956–66.

• Population held steady around 81 from 1980–2000.

• Old dance hall still stands as the best-known surviving structure.