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Schleicher County, Texas

26 topographic sheets cover 3 settlements here.

Research this county

Texas within the United States
Schleicher County within Texas

What the record shows

  • 31 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 3 populated places in this county; 3 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, 1898 - Map of Schleicher County
Land ownership map (1898) - Map of Schleicher County. Library of Congress.

The county from the air

33 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 520 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 33 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, 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, 1966-02-02, scale 1:17200
1966-02-02, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-02-02, scale 1:17200
1966-02-02, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-02-02, scale 1:17200
1966-02-02, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-02-02, scale 1:17200
1966-02-02, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-01-24, scale 1:19200
1968-01-24, scale 1:19200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-01-24, scale 1:19200
1968-01-24, scale 1:19200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-01-24, scale 1:19200
1968-01-24, scale 1:19200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-01-24, scale 1:19200
1968-01-24, scale 1:19200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-02-17, scale 1:17600
1970-02-17, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-02-17, scale 1:17600
1970-02-17, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-02-17, scale 1:17600
1970-02-17, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-02-17, scale 1:17600
1970-02-17, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-06, scale 1:33600
1971-02-06, scale 1:33600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-06, scale 1:33600
1971-02-06, scale 1:33600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-06, scale 1:33600
1971-02-06, scale 1:33600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-06, scale 1:33600
1971-02-06, scale 1:33600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-08-21, scale 1:119273
1972-08-21, scale 1:119273. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-09-11, scale 1:47836
1972-09-11, scale 1:47836. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-09-11, scale 1:47836
1972-09-11, scale 1:47836. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-09-11, scale 1:47836
1972-09-11, scale 1:47836. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-05, scale 1:115856
1973-08-05, scale 1:115856. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-05, scale 1:115856
1973-08-05, scale 1:115856. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-05, scale 1:115856
1973-08-05, scale 1:115856. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-05, scale 1:116427
1973-08-05, scale 1:116427. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-10-05, scale 1:80000
1979-10-05, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-10-16, scale 1:80000
1979-10-16, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-10-16, scale 1:80000
1979-10-16, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-10-16, scale 1:80000
1979-10-16, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

18 stations

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.

The 1950 census, district by district

6 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.

  • 207-1Commissioner's Precinct 1: Eldorado town: Eldorado town - That part east of U.S. Highway 277
  • 207-2Commissioner's Precinct 1: Eldorado town - That part west of U.S. Highway 277
  • 207-3Commissioner's Precinct 1 - That part outside Eldorado town
  • 207-4Commissioner's Precinct 2
  • 207-5Commissioner's Precinct 3
  • 207-6Commissioner's Precinct 4

Wildfire, 2001 to 2020

198 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 198 of them, burning about 30,162 acres. 62 started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural62
Missing data/not specified/undetermined56
Equipment and vehicle use35
Power generation/transmission/distribution35
Debris and open burning7
Smoking2
Misuse of fire by a minor1

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
20 July 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined5,097 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceOGLESBY
4 February 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,500 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceBRIGGS
7 October 2015Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,250 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceMERTZ
19 September 2016Natural1,681 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceCASE
30 June 2006Natural1,394 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceTREADWELL LANE
23 July 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,235 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceMADA
24 January 2018Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,200 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceROOSTER MCCONAUGHEY
1 April 2011Equipment and vehicle use1,111 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceHARKEY FIRE

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

Storms, 1956 to 2025

60 of 150 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 150 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 1 injury and about $7,157,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail82
Thunderstorm Wind32
Flash Flood23
Tornado11
Wildfire1
Flood1

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
May 2019Tornado (EF2)El Dorado Muni Arpt1 hurt, $500,000This tornado touched down in northern Schleicher County and took the roof completely off a home made out of stone. The tornado snapped trunks, scattered debris for a considerable distance. The tornado also moved a vehicle and wedged vinyl in between the rim and the rubber of a tire.
November 1996HailEldorado$4,500,000no account filed
February 1997Tornado (F1)El Dorado Muni Arpt$800,000no account filed
October 2002Flash FloodSouth Portion$500,000Heavy rains of 1 to 3 inches over the southern portion of Schleicher County produced flooding of several roads. A few roads were washed out as well.
November 1996Thunderstorm WindEldorado$500,000no account filed
February 1997Thunderstorm WindEldorado$100,000no account filed
May 1994Tornado (F0)Eldorado$50,000The Schleicher County Sheriff's Office reported a tornado at Eldorado at 0710 CST. Two mobile homes were overturned (one burned after a gas line ruptured), a few power poles were snapped, and trees were uprooted. One of the trees damaged a house. Damages were estimated at $45,000.
August 1996Flash FloodEldorado$50,000no account filed
June 1997Tornado (F1)Eldorado$35,000Brief tornado touchdown. Trees uprooted.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindEldorado$25,000Winds blew down large tree branches in the town of Eldorado.
April 1997Thunderstorm WindEldorado$25,000no account filed
September 1997Thunderstorm WindEldorado$15,000Winds blew down large tree branches and three power lines.
March 2004Thunderstorm WindEldorado$12,000A mobile home was destroyed when a severe thunderstorm moved through the area.
May 1999Tornado (F2)Eldorado$10,000A slow moving tornado skipped across a 23 mile long path just north of Eldorado in northern Schleicher County. Eleven power poles were snapped, trees uprooted, and at least 2 barns lost their roofs as the tornado passed. Other outbuildings along the path of the tornado were also damaged.
August 1999WildfireCountywide$10,000Lightning started a very large wildfire in northwest Schleicher County, eventually consuming a total of about 10,000 acres.
September 2000Thunderstorm WindEldorado$7,000The Schleicher County ISD's exhibit building lost its roof when high winds blew through the area, tossing the debris onto Highway 277. Luckily, all the animals inside the building were unhurt.
April 2000Thunderstorm WindEldorado$5,000High winds ripped the roofs off of two barns across southwest Schleicher County.
May 1995HailEldorado$5,000no account filed
July 1995Thunderstorm WindEldorado$5,000no account filed
April 2011HailAllison Ranch Arpt$2,000The large hail damaged vehicle windows.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindEldorado$500Large tree limbs broken
October 1998Thunderstorm WindEldorado$500High winds downed tree limbs across the city
May 2025HailEl Dorado Muni Arpt-Law enforcement reported quarter size hail.
July 2025Flash FloodEl Dorado Muni Arpt-Law enforcement reported a flooded draw on Highway 915, north of Eldorado.
July 2025Flash FloodEl Dorado Muni Arpt-The Schleicher County Sheriff's Office reported that FM 915 was closed due to flooding, approximately 3.5 miles north of Eldorado.
June 2025HailAllison Ranch Arpt-Public reported baseball size hail near the intersection of U.S. Highway 190 and FM 1828. Time based on radar.
May 2024HailEl Dorado Muni Arpt-A storm chaser reported quarter size hail.
June 2023HailEl Dorado Muni Arpt-Public reported quarter size hail.
March 2022HailEl Dorado Muni Arpt-There were broken windows in some homes in Eldorado. Also, quarter size hail was reported.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindEl Dorado Muni Arpt-Law Enforcement reported a wet microburst winds of 75 to 85 mph which ripped a metal roof and some siding off a residence and also damaged a roof from a nearby barn. The damaging winds also broke some tree limbs.
April 2020HailEl Dorado Muni Arpt-An amateur radio operator reported nickel to quarter size hail.
September 2018Flash FloodEl Dorado Muni Arpt-Numerous road were closed throughout central Schleicher County due to flash flooding.
September 2018Flash FloodEl Dorado Muni Arpt-A vehicle was stranded in high water off of County Road 316 with one individual forced onto a rooftop. A water rescue was underway with a helicopter enroute.
September 2018Flash FloodEl Dorado Muni Arpt-Flooding was reported FM 2596 about 8 miles southeast of Eldorado.
September 2018Flash FloodEl Dorado Muni Arpt-Flooding was reported on FM 915 just north of Eldorado.
October 2018FloodEl Dorado Muni Arpt-TxDOT reported RR 2596, FM 2129, and County Roads 220, 245, 300, 312, 316, 329, and 350 in Schleicher County closed due to flooding.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindEl Dorado Muni Arpt-There were reports of trees blown down in Eldorado.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindEl Dorado Muni Arpt-A trained spotter estimated a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph and reported tree limbs down at the intersection of FM Road 2129 and County Road 100.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindEl Dorado Muni Arpt-Law enforcement reported one power pole, several large branches, and some playground equipment damaged.
May 2014Thunderstorm WindEl Dorado Muni Arpt-A National Weather Service Cooperative Observer estimated a wind gust to 80 mph.
September 2013Flash FloodEl Dorado Muni Arpt-FM 915 was closed because of flooding about 13 miles south southeast of Mertzon.
September 2013Flash FloodEl Dorado Muni Arpt-McIntosh Road located in southeast Schleicher County was closed due to flooding.
August 2012Thunderstorm WindEl Dorado Muni Arpt-The public reported wind damage along U.S. Highway 277, south of Eldorado. A roof was removed from a pump house, a flagpole was bent over, and a ten foot section of a barn door was blown inward. There was extensive tree damage as well.
October 2012HailEl Dorado Muni Arpt-This golfball sized hail broke limbs and sky lights on a home.
October 2012HailEl Dorado Muni Arpt-The sheriff reported golfball size hail just north of Eldorado.
October 2012HailEl Dorado Muni Arpt-This hail fell along U.S. Highway 277 which is approximately 4 miles north of Eldorado.
October 2012Thunderstorm WindEl Dorado Muni Arpt-Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down three power poles along U.S. Highway 277.
September 2012Flash FloodEl Dorado Muni Arpt-The sheriff's office reported a vehicle stranded in several feet of water in the Dove Creek Draw on the JW Ranch in northwest Schleicher County. The driver was rescued by the sheriff's department. Additional flooding was noted on County Road 915 approximately 20 miles northwest of Eldorado, where water was running over the bridge and along the draws on County Road 427.
April 2011HailEl Dorado Muni Arpt-Hail covered the ground.
April 2009HailAllison Ranch Arpt-Penny size hail was reported along Highway 190.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindEl Dorado Muni Arpt-The thunderstorm wind gust was reported at the intersection of Ranch Road 915 and Ranch Road 1828.
September 2009Thunderstorm WindEl Dorado Muni Arpt-A Sheriff's Deputy reported a roof was taken off of a storage building and a utility pole was snapped in half on the east side of Eldorado.
March 2007Flash FloodEl Dorado Muni Arpt-Farm to Market Road 1828 was closed due to flooding.
May 2007Flash FloodEl Dorado Muni Arpt-Farm to Market Road 2569 between Eldorado and Sonora was closed because of flooding.
May 2007Flash FloodEl Dorado Muni Arpt-Farm to Market road 915 between Eldorado and Mertzon was closed due to high water.
August 2006Flash FloodEldorado-Law enforcement officials reported water over the road at numerous low water crossings on Ranch Road 915 between Eldorado and Mertzon.
October 2005Flash FloodNorthwest Portion-FM Road 915 flooded for a time in Northwestern Schleicher County.
May 2003Flash FloodEldorado-Several roads to the southeast of Eldorado had water over them.
October 2002Flash FloodSouth Portion-Heavy rains on the morning of the 25th caused rapid rises in streams across the southern portion of Schleicher County. Highway 864, along with numerous secondary roads, had to be closed for several hours due to the high water.
August 2001Flash FloodEldorado-Heavy rainfall forced the closure of Ranch Road 915 for the second time this day, as flood waters forced Finnegan Draw to climb out of its banks near the Eldorado city limits.

Every populated place in the county

3

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.