BlockBefore

Menard County, Texas

47 topographic sheets cover 11 settlements here, and 2 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

2 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Texas within the United States
Menard County within Texas
Explore by year 1879 1894

What the record shows

  • 105 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 2 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 1 district and 1 building.
  • 1 of the 2 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 11 populated places in this county; 11 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

2

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 PropertyType ListedReference
Fort McKavett Historic Districtdistrict197171000955
Menard County Courthousebuilding200303000935

Bird's-eye views and land ownership maps

2

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, 1879 - Map of Menard County, Texas
Land ownership map (1879) - Map of Menard County, Texas. Library of Congress.
Land ownership map, 1894 - Map of Menard County, Texas
Land ownership map (1894) - Map of Menard County, Texas. Library of Congress.

The county from the air

28 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 951 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 28 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, 1953-04-19, scale 1:69000
1953-04-19, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-19, scale 1:69000
1953-04-19, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-19, scale 1:69000
1953-04-19, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-19, scale 1:69000
1953-04-19, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-05, scale 1:63000
1954-05-05, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-05, scale 1:63000
1954-05-05, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-05, scale 1:63000
1954-05-05, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-05, scale 1:63000
1954-05-05, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-03-02, scale 1:30000
1967-03-02, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-03-02, scale 1:30000
1967-03-02, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-04-05, scale 1:30000
1967-04-05, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-04-05, scale 1:30000
1967-04-05, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-02, scale 1:19200
1968-02-02, scale 1:19200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-02, scale 1:19200
1968-02-02, scale 1:19200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-02, scale 1:19200
1968-02-02, scale 1:19200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-02, scale 1:19200
1968-02-02, scale 1:19200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-02-25, scale 1:31200
1969-02-25, scale 1:31200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-02-25, scale 1:31200
1969-02-25, scale 1:31200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-02-25, scale 1:31200
1969-02-25, scale 1:31200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-02-25, scale 1:31200
1969-02-25, scale 1:31200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-21, scale 1:119516
1971-01-21, scale 1:119516. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-21, scale 1:119516
1971-01-21, scale 1:119516. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-21, scale 1:119516
1971-01-21, scale 1:119516. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-21, scale 1:119516
1971-01-21, scale 1:119516. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-11-16, scale 1:46751
1973-11-16, scale 1:46751. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-11-16, scale 1:46751
1973-11-16, scale 1:46751. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-11-16, scale 1:46751
1973-11-16, scale 1:46751. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-11-16, scale 1:42272
1973-11-16, scale 1:42272. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

11 stations, 2 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 extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

9 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.

  • 164-1Justice Precinct 1: Menard town: Menard town - That part Bounded by Town limits; Town limits; Town limits, San Saba River; Town limits
  • 164-2Justice Precinct 1: Menard town - That part Bounded by Town limits, San Saba River; Decker, San Saba Ave., Gay, State Highway 151; Town limits; Town limits
  • 164-3Justice Precinct 1: Menard town - That part Bounded by San Saba River; Town limits; Town limits; State Highway 151, Gay, San Saba Ave., Decker
  • 164-4Justice Precinct 1 - That part outside Menard town
  • 164-5BN/A
  • 164-5AN/A
  • 164-6Justice Precinct 3
  • 164-7Justice Precinct 4
  • 164-8Justice Precinct 5

Wildfire, 1993 to 2020

55 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 55 of them, burning about 20,602 acres. 15 started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined18
Natural15
Debris and open burning10
Equipment and vehicle use8
Power generation/transmission/distribution2
Arson/incendiarism1
Recreation and ceremony1

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
15 August 1993Missing data/not specified/undetermined10,106 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceMENARD FIRE
30 July 2006Debris and open burning1,925 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceMENZIE
1 August 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,024 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceMENARD
14 October 2015Debris and open burning860 acresTexas A & M Forest ServicePRESTON RANCH
19 August 2015Natural657 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceTREADWELL LANE
20 August 2015Natural556 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceWILHELM LANE
1 July 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined500 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceFT MCKAVETT FIRE
11 June 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined500 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named

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

Storms, 1964 to 2025

60 of 204 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 204 reports for this county, causing no deaths, no injuries and about $7,982,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail117
Thunderstorm Wind42
Flash Flood36
Flood5
Tornado3
Wildfire1

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
October 2018FloodCallan$7,100,000TxDOT reported RR 2291, RR 1773, FM 2092, and FM 1311 in Menard County closed due to flooding. Lots of damage to area roads and county infrastructure form the prolonged flooding.
May 1997Thunderstorm WindFt Mckavett$300,000Golfball size hail and 100 mph winds were reported by a cooperative observier near Fort McKavett. The hail broke double-pane windows. The winds damaged three camp buildings along the San Saba River. One building was lifted off of its foundation. The roof of another, a lodge building, was removed and carried more than 100 yards by the winds. The camp was occupied during this storm but there were no injuries.
June 1997Flash FloodMenard$250,000Up to four inches of rain fell over Menard County with higher amounts in a few areas. The water was up to four feet deep. Farm-to-Market roads and highways were closed.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindMenard$75,000Large tree limbs were broken in Menard and throughout the county.
May 1997HailFt Mckavett$50,000no account filed
August 1996Flash FloodMenard$50,000no account filed
June 2019Thunderstorm WindFt Mckavett$30,000A roof was lifted from a residence by damaging thunderstorm winds.
June 2004Flash FloodMenard$25,000A store near the Conch county line was flooded.
November 2000Flash FloodCountywide$25,000Slow moving thunderstorms dropped 8 to 10 inches of rain across most of Menard County, causing extensive flooding. At one point, every road in the county was reportedly flooded and impassable due to both flash flooding and flooding along the San Saba River.
June 1997Flash FloodMenard$25,000no account filed
July 2000Thunderstorm WindMenard$15,000Many pecan and oak trees, some 300 years old, were toppled when a downburst struck near Menard. About 100 of the trees had diameters more than 2 feet in diameter. A gazebo was also heavily damaged by the falling trees.
June 2007HailMenard$10,000This large hail broke the windows of a house.
May 2005Tornado (F0)Ft Mckavett$10,000The supercell thunderstorm had now moved into northwestern Menard County. The storm produced its final known tornado just northeast of Fort McKavett at the Sol Mayer Boy Scout Camp. The tornado destroyed one out building and damaged the roofs on a couple of other buildings.
March 2004Thunderstorm WindMenard$8,000Several trees were blown over.
October 2006Thunderstorm WindMenard$4,000Fourteen telephone poles were blown down. Several trees were also knocked down due to the severe thunderstorm wind gust.
April 2001Thunderstorm WindMenard$2,000Large tree limbs downed by high winds.
August 1999WildfireCountywide$1,500Lightning started several wildfires across Menard County, consuming a total of about 500 acres.
August 1998Thunderstorm WindFt Mckavett$1,000Winds estimated at 60 mph blew out several windows at Fort McKavett State Park.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindMenard$1,000Trees blown down
May 2025Thunderstorm WindMenard Co Arpt-The West Texas Mesonet station in Menard measured a wind gust of 73 mph.
May 2025Tornado (EFU)Menard-A trained spotter reported a tornado just southwest of Menard.
May 2025HailMenard Co Arpt-Public report of 3.25 inch diameter hail 2 miles west of Menard.
May 2025HailMenard Co Arpt-A storm chaser reported a few giant size hail stones that measured between 5.51 and 5.87 inches in diameter. This information was posted on social media and the storm chaser was with the ICECHIP research group.||On May 26th, a long lived supercell thunderstorm moved from southeast Tom Green County to the southeast to around Menard and then into Mason County. This storm produced many reports of very large hail and giant size hail around Menard.
May 2025Flash FloodMenard-The public posted pictures on social media showing streets flooded and yards flooded in Menard.
May 2025FloodHext-Public reported streets flooded and yards flooded.
July 2025Flash FloodMenard-Law enforcement reported flood waters getting into homes in Menard. In addition, the flow at the San Saba River was elevated and producing flooding across a low water crossing.
July 2025Flash FloodFt Mckavett-The Menard County Emergency Manager reported that Ranch to Market Road 1674 in southwestern Menard County is closed due to flooding.
July 2025Flash FloodFt Mckavett-The Menard County Emergency Manager reported flooding at the low water crossing at RR 865 and the San Saba River.
July 2025Flash FloodHext-The Menard County Emergency Manager reported that a portion of RR 1773 is closed due to flooding.
July 2025Flash FloodHext-The Menard County Emergency Manger reported that a portion of RR 1221 was closed due to flooding.
July 2025Flash FloodHext-Law enforcement reported that most of the low water crossings and county roads across Menard County were flooded. In addition, there were several water rescues being conducted. Time is estimated by radar.
November 2025Flash FloodMenard-Emergency management reported significant street flooding in Menard. In addition, significant flooding was reported in the Harris Hollow section of Menard.
November 2025Flash FloodMenard Co Arpt-Emergency Management reported Ranch Road 2291 closed due to flooding.
November 2025Flash FloodMenard-Public posted a video was on social media, showing extensive flooding in Menard.
November 2025Flash FloodMenard-Emergency Management reported water has started to enter homes in the Harris Hollow section of Menard.
June 2025Flash FloodMenard-An emergency manager reported 6 to 8 feet of water flowing over FM 2092, at the Five Mile Crossing, 5 miles east of Menard. The road was closed due to flooding.
March 2024HailFt Mckavett-Public report through social media of 2 inch diameter hail 11 miles north of Fort McKavett.
May 2024HailMenard-An emergency manager reported quarter size hail five miles east of Menard on FM2092.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindMenard Co Arpt-A mesonet observation station measured an 81 mph wind gust.
May 2024HailMenard Co Arpt-A NWS COOP observer reported quarter size hail. Also, wind gusts of 50 mph were reported.
May 2024HailMenard-Public reported half dollar to ping pong ball size hail.
May 2024HailHext-Public reported ping pong ball size hail.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindMenard Co Arpt-A mesonet observation station measured a 60 mph wind gust.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindFt Mckavett-Delayed Report: The NWS conducted a storm survey. There was damage to 8 power poles along US 190. The wooden crossarms were snapped off. Also, power lines were blown down. The estimated wind speed was 85 to 100 mph. The time of damage is based on radar.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindMenard Co Arpt-Delayed Report: The NWS conducted a storm survey. There was major damage to an outbuilding. the roof was blown off an thrown about 100 feet. Also, many tree branches were broken. The time is based on radar.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindFt Mckavett-Delayed Report: The NWS conducted a storm survey. There was major damage to a mobile home and a an outbuilding was swept off its foundation. There were two carports that had mainly roof damage. A 4 wheeler was moved and the wind shield was blown out. Also, many tree branches were broken and a few trees were uprooted. The time of damage is based on radar.
May 2024HailMenard Co Arpt-Delayed report: The NWS conducted a storm survey. There were many windows broken from the large hail at a house and a few outbuildings. Also, lots of golf ball size hail and the hail lasted 20 to 30 minutes.
May 2024HailFt Mckavett-A CoCoRaHS observer reported quarter size hail from occasionally 715 PM to until 830 PM.
May 2024HailMenard-Public reported quarter size hail.
September 2024Flash FloodMenard-There was street and road flooding in Menard which resulted in roads being closed. Also, vehicles were stranded due to the high water.
March 2023Thunderstorm WindMenard-An Emergency Manager reported telephone lines down on the north side of Menard on Highway 83. Also, there was roof damage to 3 buildings and several tree limbs were blown down.
March 2023Thunderstorm WindMenard-An Emergency Manager reported large tree limbs blown down around town. Also, some minor damage to some structures.
June 2023HailHext-Amatuer radio operator reported quarter size hail.
June 2023HailMenard-Public reported quarter size hail. Also...hail is 3 inches deep in spots and completely covers the ground.
June 2023HailMenard-Emergency manager reported quarter size hail.
June 2023HailMenard Co Arpt-Public reported quarter size hail.
June 2023HailMenard-Trained spotter reported ping pong ball size hail.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindHext-The public reported large tress snapped.
March 2021HailMenard-Emergency manager reported quarter size hail about 9.7 miles south of Menard on U.S. Highway 83. The emergency manager also reported the occupants of a vehicle said the strong thunderstorm winds shook the vehicle.
February 2020HailMenard-The Menard Volunteer Fire Department reported nickle size hail covering the ground in Menard.

Every populated place in the county

11

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.