Stiles, Texas

Stiles is a ghost town in Reagan County, Texas, United States, about 18 mi (29 km) north of Big Lake.[2] As the only town in the area when Reagan County was established in 1903, Stiles was made the county seat.[2] Bypassed by the railroad and eclipsed when oil was discovered near Big Lake, Stiles was replaced with Big Lake as the county seat in 1925.[2]

Stiles, Texas
ghost town
Abandoned Reagan County Courthouse at Stiles
Stiles, Texas
Location of Stiles in Texas
Stiles, Texas
Stiles, Texas (the United States)
Coordinates: 31°24′25″N 101°33′58″W
Country United States
State Texas
CountyReagan
Physiographic regionWest Texas
Founded1894
Elevation2,549 ft (777 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total4
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code325
WebsiteHandbook of Texas

Stiles Courthouse

The ruins of the old 1911 Reagan County Courthouse are still visible just off Texas State Highway 137, between Big Lake and Texas State Highway 158 on Stiles Courthouse Loop. The courthouse was constructed with local stone by William Martin.[2]

In 1998, the structure burned several times, damaging the courthouse. Ralph Denton was charged with arson for several fires in Reagan County.[3]

Stiles Cemetery

The Stiles Cemetery is located off of SH 137 across the Centralia Draw, southwest of the courthouse.

Established about 1903. Site is on land then owned by early settlers G. W. and Lizzie Stiles. Plot summarizes much frontier history, as it holds graves of cowboys who died in accidents on cattle range; one Spanish–American War veteran; victims of shootings, rattlesnake bites, epidemic dysentery. Most were pioneers of steady habits and quiet lives. Already in use for many years, the 3-acre plot was deeded to county in 1920 by J. D. Wagner, an adventuring man who lived for years alternately in Texas and in South America.[4]

Centralia Draw

Stiles lies within an ancient stream channel called Centralia Draw that rises 13 mi (21 km) northeast of Rankin in eastern Upton County (31°19′N 101°52′W) and runs east for 43 mi (69 km) across Upton, Reagan, and Irion counties to the Middle Concho River.[5] Today, Centralia Draw remains dry most of the year except during occasional brief periods of heavy rainfall and runoff.[6] Evidence suggests that in the past a more active spring-fed stream once flowed through Centralia Draw cutting the broad valley we see today.[7]


  • Broad valley of Centralia Draw just south of Stiles.
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See also

References
  1. "Stiles". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "Stiles, Texas," https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hns86 (accessed June 3, 2007)
  3. "Stiles - Texas Ghost Towns".
  4. historical marker
  5. Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "Centralia Draw," https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rbccp (accessed February 21, 2009).
  6. Sibley Nature Center, "Memories of elderly ranchers of Stiles," http://www.sibleynaturecenter.org/essays/moseying/history/030312_stilesranchers.html (published March 12, 2003, accessed February 24, 2009)
  7. Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "Reagan County," https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcr03 (accessed February 21, 2009).
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