Crosbyton sits on the hinge between the level Llano Estacado and the plunging walls of Blanco Canyon. That dramatic geography produced equally dramatic stories—planned towns, pioneering women, renewable-energy experiments, and even a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Here are ten quick facts to spark your curiosity before you dive into our longer Crosbyton history feature.
1. The Town Began With an “X” in the Dirt
Julian Bassett of the C.B. Livestock Company marked an X on a 90,000-acre ranch in 1908 and declared, “This will be Crosbyton.” Within seven years surveyor stakes outlined the wide boulevards you still see today. That same vision later inspired the master plan highlighted in Crosbyton: The Historic Gateway to the West Texas Plains.
2. Named After a Texas Land Commissioner
Crosbyton honors Stephen Crosby, the state’s mid-1800s land commissioner. He never lived here, but his work surveying public lands set the stage for organized agriculture on the plains. Naming the town after him signaled that this settlement was designed for development, not just cattle drives.
3. Winner of a High-Stakes County-Seat Election
In 1910 Crosbyton defeated Emma 198–120 to become the county seat. By 1914 the Classical Revival courthouse was complete. Read the full tale of civic rivalry and courthouse construction inside our Top 10 Historical Landmarks guide.
4. Home to the World’s Largest Solar Dish (circa 1976)
Texas Tech and federal partners built a 65-foot mirrored solar collector on Crosbyton’s south edge during the 1970s energy crisis. Nicknamed the “Solar Bowl,” it powered research into municipal-scale renewable energy decades before utility-scale wind farms dotted the horizon.
5. Silver Falls Park Is Texas’ Largest Roadside Park
Just east of town, Silver Falls Park stretches across canyon bluffs with WPA-era stone stairs, picnic shelters, and a natural spring-fed cascade. The park once hosted a dance pavilion and skating rink, making it the “Playground of West Texas.”
6. A Museum Replica Honors the First Home on the Plains
The Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum features a full-size recreation of Hank and Elizabeth Smith’s 1876 “Rock House,” the first permanent home in Blanco Canyon. Walk through the rooms to see how postmasters, buffalo hunters, and traveling officers shared one rugged dwelling.
7. Birthplace of Hall of Famer Don Maynard
Legendary New York Jets wide receiver Don Maynard was born in Crosbyton in 1935. He caught Joe Namath’s passes in Super Bowl III, retired as the NFL’s all-time receiving leader, and entered the Hall of Fame in 1987—proof that Caprock grit travels well.
8. A Fossil Hotspot
The Mt. Blanco Fossil Museum, founded by the late Joe Taylor, once housed the world’s largest mastodon skull. Even though the museum closed in 2023, its discoveries continue to tour regional exhibits and inspire our Guide to Blanco Canyon, where many of those fossils were unearthed.
9. Once Home to a Major Cotton Gin
As dryland farming gave way to irrigated cotton in the mid-20th century, Crosbyton operated a major cotton gin that processed vast amounts of the region's harvest. Fall still brings the sight of giant white modules lined up along the railroad tracks waiting for processing.
10. Gateway to the Caprock Escarpment
Geography may be Crosbyton’s greatest asset. Head east on Highway 82 and the plains suddenly drop into Blanco Canyon, revealing layers of red rock carved by the White River. Pair that drive with our Essential Guide to Crosbyton for more outdoor stops and sunset tips.
Keep Digging
Want even more local knowledge? Follow this fact sheet with the Historical Landmarks tour and our Local Flavors dining guide to taste, see, and feel the stories that set Crosbyton apart.