Sam Fordyce (sometimes recorded as Samfordyce) was founded in 1905 as the western terminus of the St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico Railway. The community was established with the hope that irrigated agriculture would transform the western Rio Grande Valley. The town was named after Samuel W. Fordyce, a St. Louis railroad executive and financial backer of the line. That same year, the Havana post office was relocated to the settlement, helping establish Sam Fordyce as a budding town center.
Early Development and Collapse
The railway terminus created optimism that the area would thrive through large-scale farming. A hotel was built, businesses opened, and land was platted for settlement. However, irrigation plans never materialized, and without reliable water the farming venture failed. By 1910, the once-promising town had nearly emptied: the hotel sat vacant, stores had closed, and fewer than five families remained.
Military Presence and Border Troubles
A second period of activity came not in 1910, but during the border conflicts of 1916–1917, when unrest from the Mexican Revolution brought U.S. troops to the region. Sam Fordyce briefly served as a logistics point for federal supplies and personnel, reviving commercial activity. This military presence was short-lived, and the town soon slipped back into decline.
Oil Discovery and Temporary Revival
The post office closed in 1931, reflecting the community’s diminished importance. In 1934, however, oil was discovered nearby. This sparked a third wave of development, and Sam Fordyce became an oil boomtown that maintained economic life through World War II. After the war, oil production declined, and the town’s fortunes faded once more.
Later Years and Decline
Despite its reputation as a ghost town, Sam Fordyce was not completely abandoned after WWII. Census figures show a small but consistent population: about 125 residents from the 1930s through the 1960s, and 85 residents in the 1970s and 1980s. By 1990, the number of residents had fallen further, and today Sam Fordyce is generally considered a ghost town, though scattered dwellings remain in the area.
Interesting Facts
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Name Merge: When the settlement applied for a post office, postal rules required the two-word name “Sam Fordyce” to be joined, leading to the official spelling Samfordyce in many records.
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Three Eras of Activity: The community’s history is often divided into three phases: the railroad and agriculture era (1905), the military logistics era (1916–1917), and the oil boom era (1934–1940s).
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Enduring Presence: Though much reduced, Sam Fordyce was still listed as an unincorporated community in Starr County census reports as late as the 1980s.
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