BlockBefore

Foard County, Texas

28 topographic sheets cover 6 settlements here.

Research this county

Texas within the United States
Foard County within Texas

What the record shows

  • 52 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 6 populated places in this county; 6 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Bird's-eye views and land ownership maps

1

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.

Land ownership map, 1891 - Foard Co
Land ownership map (1891) - Foard Co. Library of Congress.

The county from the air

30 shown

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 1,627 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 30 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.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-01-28, scale 1:69000
1953-01-28, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-01-28, scale 1:69000
1953-01-28, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-01-28, scale 1:69000
1953-01-28, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-01-28, scale 1:69000
1953-01-28, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-02-02, scale 1:64600
1954-02-02, scale 1:64600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-02-02, scale 1:64600
1954-02-02, scale 1:64600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-02-02, scale 1:64600
1954-02-02, scale 1:64600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-02-02, scale 1:64600
1954-02-02, scale 1:64600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-02-12, scale 1:17200
1965-02-12, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-02-12, scale 1:17200
1965-02-12, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-02-12, scale 1:17200
1965-02-12, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-02-12, scale 1:17200
1965-02-12, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-01-14, scale 1:18600
1966-01-14, scale 1:18600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-01-14, scale 1:18600
1966-01-14, scale 1:18600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-01-14, scale 1:18600
1966-01-14, scale 1:18600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-01-14, scale 1:18600
1966-01-14, scale 1:18600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-23, scale 1:58881
1973-08-23, scale 1:58881. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-23, scale 1:57704
1973-08-23, scale 1:57704. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-02-09, scale 1:80000
1975-02-09, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-02-12, scale 1:80000
1975-02-12, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-02-12, scale 1:80000
1975-02-12, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1975-02-12, scale 1:80000
1975-02-12, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-05-21, scale 1:24400
1977-05-21, scale 1:24400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-05-21, scale 1:24400
1977-05-21, scale 1:24400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-05-21, scale 1:24400
1977-05-21, scale 1:24400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-05-21, scale 1:24400
1977-05-21, scale 1:24400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1978-10-26, scale 1:56765
1978-10-26, scale 1:56765. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1978-10-26, scale 1:56574
1978-10-26, scale 1:56574. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1978-10-26, scale 1:56574
1978-10-26, scale 1:56574. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1978-10-26, scale 1:56574
1978-10-26, scale 1:56574. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

4 stations, 3 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them.

The 1950 census, district by district

12 districts

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.

  • 78-1Crowell city, comprising parts of Commissioner's Precincts 1, 2, 3, and 4: Crowell city - That part in Commissioner's Precinct 1 Bounded by Precinct line; City limits City limits Precinct line
  • 78-2Crowell city - That part in Commissioner's Precinct 2 Bounded by City limits; City limits; Precinct line; Precinct line
  • 78-3Crowell city - That part in Commissioner's Precinct 3 Bounded by Precinct line; Precinct line; City limits; City limits
  • 78-4Crowell city - That part in Commissioner's Precinct 4 Bounded by City limits; Precinct line; Precinct line; City limits
  • 78-5ACommissioner's Precinct 1 - Thap part north of Beaver Creek and south of U. S. Hwy. 70 and old Commissioners Precinct line, outside Crowell city
  • 78-5BCommissioner's Precinct 1 - That part Bounded by Commissioners Precinct line; County line; Old Commissioners Precinct line
  • 78-6Commissioner's Precinct 1 - That part south of Beaver Creek (Remainder of Commissioner's Precinct 1 is in Crowell city)
  • 78-7ACommissioner's Precinct 2 - That part east of Mule Creek and north of old Commissioners Precinct line and U. S. Hwy. 70
  • 78-7BCommissioner's Precinct 2 - That part Bounded by Old Commissioners Precinct line; Old Commissioners Precinct line; Commissioners Precinct line; Old Commissioners Precinct line
  • 78-8Commissioner's Precinct 2 - That part west of Mule Creek, outside Crowell city (Remainder of Commissioner's Precinct 2 is in Crowell city)
  • 78-9Commissioner's Precinct 3 - That part outside Crowell city (Remainder of Commissioner's Precinct 3 is in Crowell city)
  • 78-10Commissioner's Precinct 4 - That part outside Crowell city (Remainder of Commissioner's Precinct 4 is in Crowell city)

Wildfire, 1996 to 2019

32 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 32 of them, burning about 51,054 acres. 10 started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural10
Power generation/transmission/distribution8
Missing data/not specified/undetermined7
Equipment and vehicle use4
Debris and open burning2
Arson/incendiarism1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
23 March 1996Missing data/not specified/undetermined26,294 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceTRIANGLE FIRE
20 August 2019Power generation/transmission/distribution12,021 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceVIVIAN
21 September 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined8,080 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceCOPPER BREAKS
25 February 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,920 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceTHALIA FIRE
11 June 2011Natural716 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceMCLARTY FIRE
29 July 2017Power generation/transmission/distribution381 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceRASBERRY
13 June 2008Natural250 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
3 April 2014Power generation/transmission/distribution200 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceCR 293 FIRE

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1954 to 2026

60 of 291 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 291 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 2 injuries and about $1,355,760 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail182
Thunderstorm Wind76
Tornado24
Flash Flood6
Flood2
Lightning1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
April 1979Tornado (F2)not stated1 hurt, $250,000no account filed
April 1976Tornado (F3)not stated1 hurt, $250,000no account filed
August 1994Tornado (F2)Crowell$500,000no account filed
April 2000Thunderstorm WindCrowell$60,000A barn, several sheds and grain storage bins were blown down on the south side of Crowell, while on the southeast side of Crowell, numerous power poles were downed; sheet metal was blown off a carport; house windows were blown out, and a tree was downed.
February 2000HailCrowell$50,000Numerous roofs and vehicles were damaged by hail to the size of golf balls (1.75 inches).
May 1994Thunderstorm WindCrowell$50,000no account filed
June 1994Thunderstorm WindN Crowell$50,000no account filed
May 1978Tornadonot stated$25,000no account filed
May 1954Tornado (F4)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1999Tornado (F1)Thalia$15,000no account filed
June 2018Thunderstorm WindThalia$10,000Barn roof and out-building damaged.
December 2012Thunderstorm WindCrowell$10,000Power lines were reported down and windows blown in, along with tin roofs peeled back.
June 1999Flash FloodMargaret$10,000no account filed
June 1999LightningCrowell$6,000no account filed
June 2025Thunderstorm WindThalia$5,000A shared image shows a power pole blown over along FM267. The location is approximate, and the event time is estimated from radar observations.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindCrowell$5,000A pick-up truck pulling a trailer was blown off of Highway 6 south of Crowell. Monetary damages were estimated.
May 1994Thunderstorm WindCrowell$5,000no account filed
June 1994Thunderstorm WindCrowell$5,000no account filed
October 1993HailCrowell$5,000no account filed
October 1993HailMargaret-$5,000no account filed
March 1993HailCrowell$5,000no account filed
April 1999Thunderstorm WindCrowell$3,000no account filed
April 1979Tornado (F0)not stated$2,500no account filed
April 1979Tornado (F4)not stated$2,500no account filed
September 2005Thunderstorm WindCrowell$750Three inch diameter tree limbs were downed. There was also minor sign damage. The shutters were blown off a house.
April 2000Thunderstorm WindCrowell$500Powerlines were downed.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindCrowell$500no account filed
May 1996Thunderstorm WindRayland$10no account filed
April 2026HailThalia-The report was relayed through Spotter Network.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindCrowell-Comanche Springs (COMA) Mesonet observation. Intermittent severe (>50-knot) wind gusts beginning at 2308 LST, with the peak gust of 57 knots at 2314 LST. A heat burst was likely responsible for this event.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindCrowell-Crowell (CROW) Mesonet observation.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindCrowell-Crowell (CROW) Mesonet observation.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindCrowell-Crowell (CROW) Mesonet observation.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindCrowell-Comanche Springs (COMA) Mesonet. Severe (>50-knot) wind gusts occurred during the event time, with the peak gust of 59 knots occurring at 2032 LST.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindCrowell-Crowell (CROW) Mesonet observation. Severe (>50-knot) wind gusts occurred during the event time, with the peak gust of 70 knots occurring at 2053 LST.
March 2024HailCrowell-Time is radar estimated.
February 2024Thunderstorm WindCrowell-Comanche Springs (COMA) Mesonet observation.
November 2024Thunderstorm WindCrowell-Comanche Springs (COMA) Mesonet observation.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindCrowell-Relayed by 911 call center.
April 2024HailThalia-MPing report.
October 2023HailThalia-Social media video.
September 2023HailMargaret-Social media video.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindCrowell-Crowell (CROW) Mesonet observation.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindCrowell-While surveying the tornado path that crossed south of Crowell, storm surveyors noted tree damage along State Highway 6 and along County Road 340 to the north of the tornado path.
May 2022Tornado (EFU)Crowell-Storm chasers reported a tornado southeast of Crowell at 811 pm CDT. No damage is known to have occurred and the location is estimated based on the chasers' viewpoints.
May 2022Tornado (EFU)Crowell-Storm chasers observed this tornado that initially developed in northern King County TX (see separate entry for King County from NWS Lubbock TX) before moving northeast into the far southwest corner of Foard County. A storm survey observed no damage as this tornado occurred in open ranchland with few roads, so the specific location is estimated.
May 2022Tornado (EF0)Crowell-This tornado developed southwest of Crowell and was observed by many storm spotters and storm chasers. Although information from storm chasers indicate that the tornado initially formed farther to the west-southwest in open ranchland, the damage found in a storm survey was generally confined to mesquite tree limb damage observed on FM-263 about 3 miles west of State Highway 6. Numerous storm chaser videos and observations show that the tornado turned more to just south of east after crossing FM-263 and narrowly missed wind turbines along FM-263 just west of Highway 6 before turning to the northeast and crossing State Highway 6 before dissipating.
May 2022Tornado (EF0)Thalia-The Lockett tornado was observed by storm spotters and storm chasers to have developed in eastern Foard County to the southwest of Thalia. This tornado moved east and then northeast before crossing into Wilbarger County and eventually moving through Lockett TX. In Foard County, only tree damage was observed along County Road 183, otherwise the tornado moved through open or inaccessible ranchland.
April 2021HailCrowell-Twitter picture, location radar estimated.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindCrowell-No damage reported.
May 2018Flash FloodCrowell-Eight inches of water reported over FM 263 and FM 1594.
May 2018Flash FloodThalia-Four to six inches of water over roadway.
September 2016Flash FloodThalia-Foard county sheriff's office reported numerous farm to market roads closed east and south of Crowell proper, including the closing of U.S. Highway 70 between Crowell and Thalia. Up to 6 inches of water were covering the highway.
May 2015Flash FloodCrowell-Highway 6 and several rural roads closed due to flooding with up to a foot of water over many roadways.
May 2015Tornado (EF0)Crowell-Storm spotters observed a tornado approximately 6 miles west of Crowell. No damage was reported.
May 2015HailCrowell-Time estimated from radar.
May 2015HailThalia-Delayed report of hail along highway 70 between Crowell and Thalia. Time estimated from radar. No damage reported.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindCrowell-No damage reported.
May 2015HailCrowell-No damage reported.
May 2015HailCrowell-Time estimated from radar. No damage reported.

Mines and quarries

8 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 8 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 7 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Copper8

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
McclellanCopperUnknown
Mcclellan MinesCopperProducer1877, 1970
MineCopperPast Producer
North Wichita River-1CopperOccurrence1916
Raggedy CreekCopperUnknown
Raggedy Creek-1CopperOccurrence1877
Teacup Mountain-1CopperOccurrence1878
Teacup Mountain-2CopperOccurrence1971

Every populated place in the county

6

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.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.