From the record
2 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service
47 topographic sheets cover 31 settlements here, and 2 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
2 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service
Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.
| Photograph | Property | Type | Listed | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco Historic District | district | 1984 | 84000334 | |
![]() | Mobley Hotel | building | 1981 | 81000628 |
Drawn when these were printed as single large sheets: the town seen from the air, and the county divided into its farms with every owner named. Each opens the original at the Library of Congress.



Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 998 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 31 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.































The thermometers that kept this county's weather, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.
Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.
Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 506 of them, burning about 81,453 acres. 10 started naturally and 7 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 201 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 120 |
| Debris and open burning | 85 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 45 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 20 |
| Smoking | 11 |
| Natural | 10 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 7 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 5 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 2 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 35,300 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | CARBON |
| 7 April 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 18,360 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | CEDAR MOUNTAIN FIRE |
| 15 April 2011 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | 3,000 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | EAST SIDWYNICKS FIRE |
| 29 August 2000 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 3,000 acres | National Forests And Grasslands In Texas | RANGER HILLS |
| 26 December 2005 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2,000 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | COOKE CANYON |
| 16 April 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1,980 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | CR 104 FIRE |
| 12 August 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1,320 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | RANGER HILL FIRE |
| 12 February 2006 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1,200 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | CISCO |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 508 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 9 injuries and about $8,720,620 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Hail | 270 |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 121 |
| Tornado | 56 |
| Flash Flood | 46 |
| Lightning | 7 |
| Flood | 5 |
| Heavy Rain | 3 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | Tornado (EF3) | Nimrod | 1 killed, 2 hurt, $300,000 | A National Weather Service storm survey crew found evidence of EF-3 damage to the south of the city of Cisco. The tornado began as a small funnel, just west of State Highway 206, before making a slow trek eastward. As the tornado grew, the damage occurred to several buildings along U.S. 183. One house was completely destroyed, along with a mobile home just to the south of the main house. Two cars, one tractor, and several farm implements were tossed over one mile to the east with this tornado. |
| April 1971 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | 3 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| February 1954 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 2 hurt, $25,000 | no account filed |
| April 1985 | Hail | not stated | 1 hurt | no account filed |
| June 1955 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | 1 hurt | no account filed |
| March 2002 | Hail | Eastland | $2,000,000 | Widespread damage occurred across Eastland. The worst damage was in the east and south parts of town. Roof damage occurred to at least 150 homes. There were numerous reports of broken windows and damage to cars. Some locals claim this was the worse hailstorm in Eastland in 50 years. |
| June 2007 | Flood | Olden | $1,200,000 | Flooding of residences around Lake Leon continued from residual floodwaters flowing into the lake. Over 200 homes sustained flood damage. |
| April 2021 | Hail | Ranger | $1,000,000 | no account filed |
| April 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Eastland | $600,000 | Local news reported that a car dealership suffered approximately 600,000 dollars in damage from severe thunderstorm winds in the city of Eastland, TX. |
| April 1997 | Hail | Eastland | $600,000 | Large hail damaged cars and buildings, and broke windows. |
| May 1985 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| March 1975 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| May 1955 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| May 2024 | Tornado (EF2) | Pioneer | $100,000 | An EF-2 tornado developed in southwestern Eastland county and continued towards the east-northeast, where it damaged some trees along CR 376 and CR 240. It continued strengthening and caused significant damage to two neighboring properties along CR 223. On the first property, it snapped at least two wooden utility poles and the trunks of several large trees. An RV trailer was completely destroyed, where a family of three survived when they left their RV trailer and sheltered behind a small building. Fortunately, no injuries were sustained. On the second property, the tornado knocked over a large RV which resulted in broken windows and a door. The tornado also moved a small, well-built, structure off of its wooden blocks about thirty feet and pushed it into a tree, where it sustained minor roof damage. It also completely destroyed a metal barn along with a chicken coop and snapped some tree trunks. The tornado continued northeast across an open field where it snapped several large tree trunks along both sides of CR 223. After crossing the road the tornado started weakening as it moved across an open field then dissipated south of FM 2731. Maximum estimated winds were 115 mph. |
| April 2023 | Hail | Gorman | $100,000 | A trained spotter reported 3 inch hail near Gorman near Highway 6. |
| June 2007 | Lightning | Cisco | $100,000 | A lightning strike hit a chemical plant, causing several explosions. One man was killed in the fire that followed. |
| October 2002 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $100,000 | Many county roads, especially in the south part of the county, had substantial flash flood damage. |
| May 2015 | Tornado (EF0) | Staff | $90,000 | Amateur radio operators and storm spotters observed a brief tornado near the southern shore of Lake Leon. A National Weather Service storm survey crew confirmed the tornado damage the next day. Trees, fences, and one home suffered damage from this tornado. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Eastland Muni Arpt | $75,000 | A social media report with photos showed planes and hangars that were destroyed at the Eastland Municipal Airport. |
| October 1996 | Hail | Eastland | $70,000 | no account filed |
| April 2023 | Hail | Gorman | $50,000 | A social media picture near Gorman measured tennis ball sized hail. |
| June 2016 | Flash Flood | Cisco Muni Arpt | $50,000 | Eastland County Emergency Management reported that Highway 6 just downstream of Cisco Dam along Sandy Creek has been washed out. |
| October 2013 | Heavy Rain | Tiffin | $50,000 | A 24 year old female was killed in a chain reaction accident on Ranger Hill in rainy conditions. |
| May 2009 | Hail | Rising Star | $50,000 | Softball size fell in Rising Star. The newspaper reported that the hail broke car windows, tore limbs off trees, damaged outbuildings, knocked out power, damaged gardens and knocked fruit off trees. |
| May 2006 | Hail | Rising Star | $50,000 | Golf ball-size hail caused damage to roofs, skylights, and windows. |
| March 2002 | Tornado (F1) | Rising Star | $50,000 | Three barns were destroyed. |
| June 2012 | Hail | Cisco Muni Arpt | $40,000 | Quarter to golf ball sized hail fell for approximately 30 minutes 3 miles west of Cisco. |
| May 1995 | Tornado (F0) | Rising Star-Gorman | $40,000 | Mobile homes were damaged by a tornado. There was widespread damage to barns, outbuildings, and trees. |
| April 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rising Star | $30,000 | Tree limbs and a few trees were knocked down by thunderstorm winds in and around Rising Star. Homes and vehicles were also damaged by the winds and hail. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Eastland | $25,000 | Several large tree limbs and power lines were blown down by estimated an estimated 60 mph wind gust. |
| July 2002 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $25,000 | Many county roads were washed out. Many crops were washed out or flooded from the heavy rain. |
| October 2000 | Tornado (F0) | Desdemona | $25,000 | A tornado touched down just south of town and moved north-northeast with intermittent touchdowns for 2.5 miles. Damage was done to an abandoned turkey barn, three sheds, a house, a mobile home, a car and power lines. |
| May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ranger | $25,000 | A house roof was damaged by thunderstorm winds. Airport hangars were also damaged by the wind. |
| July 1996 | Heavy Rain | Ranger | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 1971 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 2023 | Hail | Staff | $20,000 | Tennis ball size hail was reported north of Kokomo. |
| April 2015 | Hail | Rising Star | $20,000 | Local spotters reported ping pong ball sized hail in Rising Star during the event but a newspaper article after the event reported the hail in and around Rising Star was as big as baseballs. |
| October 2013 | Hail | Eastland | $20,000 | Near tennis ball sized hail was reported in Eastland. |
| January 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Chuckville | $20,000 | The roof of a barn was torn off and a large tree was uprooted. Several structures also suffered minor damage. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ranger | $20,000 | Several homes in Ranger had shingles blown off the roofs. Winds were estimated at 55 to 60 MPH. |
| April 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Eastland | $20,000 | A large tree was blown down in Eastland and two docks were damaged along Lake Leon. Winds were estimated at 60 MPH in Ranger. |
| April 2006 | Lightning | Eastland | $20,000 | Lightning caused a house fire on South Daugherty Street. The fire was put out quickly and damage was confined to the attic. |
| April 2001 | Tornado (F0) | Carbon | $20,000 | A tornado touched down just south of town. It then moved northeast, damaging two homes. |
| April 2023 | Hail | Carbon | $20,000 | no account filed |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Eastland | $15,000 | Trained spotter reported via social media pictures of paneling removed from a gas station awning, and scattered trees that were snapped. A glass window of a business was shattered. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olden | $15,000 | Social media photos showed widespread wind damage across Olden. |
| May 2012 | Hail | Carbon | $15,000 | Golf ball sized hail was reported in Carbon. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cisco | $15,000 | Power lines were blown down in Cisco. The local emergency manager estimated a 60 mph wind gust. |
| June 2009 | Hail | Cisco | $15,000 | Marble to Softball size hail fell in and southeast of Cisco for approximately 15 minutes. |
| May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rising Star | $15,000 | Barn roofs were damaged and tree limbs were blown down. |
| May 2007 | Lightning | Cisco | $15,000 | Lightning knocked out power to the county's dispatch center, forcing employees to move to another building. |
| March 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Rising Star | $15,000 | Power lines and large trees were blown down by high winds. A barn was destroyed and other barns and sheds were damaged. The roof of the Cooperative Observer's house was damaged and his farm equipment was moved. |
| April 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carbon | $15,000 | A tree was blown onto a roof and a barn was destroyed. |
| May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ranger | $15,000 | Thunderstorm winds destroyed an historic oil well. |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olden | $15,000 | Strong winds blew down trees and destroyed several barns. |
| May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gorman | $15,000 | Wind gusts to 70 miles an hour blew down trees, damaged carports and outbuildings. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pioneer | $12,000 | Thunderstorm wind damage was reported at a property in western Eastland County, along TX-206 and south of FM 221. Metal paneling was pulled off the roof of a barn, a trailer was overturned and tree branches were broken. |
| April 2025 | Hail | Cisco Muni Arpt | $12,000 | A Facebook photo showed tennis ball sized hail fell near Cisco. |
| April 2025 | Hail | Cisco Muni Arpt | $11,000 | Mping report of 2.25 inch hail. |
| April 2025 | Hail | Cisco | $10,000 | Mping report of 2 inch hail. |
The Survey's mineral resources record lists 13 workings inside this county. 8 still produce and 5 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Clay | 9 |
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 2 |
| Kaolin, Stone, Crushed/Broken | 1 |
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 1 |
The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Waters Pits | Kaolin, Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | 1940 | |
| B C Company Operations | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Finley Pit and Plant | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Featherlite Corp Ranger Plant | Clay | Producer | ||
| Laura Todd Pit | Clay | Producer | ||
| Ranger Clay Company Operations | Clay | Producer | ||
| Ranger Pits | Clay | Producer | Sedimentary | |
| Terra Firma Tile Corp Operations | Clay | Producer | ||
| Unknown | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Clay | Past Producer |
One book written about this county, cut here where the book itself is cut, at its printed chapters: 12 chapters in all. Every chapter is public domain, machine-read from the scan and reproduced complete. A chapter already given under one of the county's towns is not repeated in this list.
| Chapter | Length |
|---|---|
| Chapter with an unread heading (no. 1 of those read) | 4,491 words |
| Chapter with an unread heading (no. 2 of those read) | 2,509 words |
| Chapter 9 | 1,188 words |
| Chapter 1 | 873 words |
| Chapter 2 | 3,349 words |
| Chapter 4 | 3,656 words |
| Chapter 5 (1 of 2 so headed) | 9,698 words |
| Chapter 5 (2 of 2 so headed) | 634 words |
| Chapter 6: Scuanton | 436 words |
| Chapter 7 | 480 words |
| Chapter 8 | 1,833 words |
| Chapter with an unread heading (no. 12 of those read) | 1,289 words |
Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.
Ranger census division · 76470 · Near Hamilton Hollow · Desdemona quadrangle
12 sheets, 1894 to 1985
Eastland census division · 76448 · On South Fork Leon River · Eastland quadrangle
13 sheets, 1894 to 1985
Gorman census division · 76454 · Gorman quadrangle
13 sheets, 1894 to 1985
No longer a settlement
Ranger census division · 76470 · Ranger quadrangle
13 sheets, 1894 to 1985
No longer a settlement
Eastland census division · 76448 · Near Round Mountain · Kokomo quadrangle
12 sheets, 1894 to 1985
Rising Star census division · 76471 · On Yellow Branch · Union Center quadrangle
13 sheets, 1894 to 1985
The vanished settlements of Eastland County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.