Texas Almanac, 1939-1940 Page: 441

                                
COUNTIES AND CITIES.

seed  oil mill and a refinery.    Thorndale
(1,002), in the southwestern part, has mineral
wells and mineral crystal industry, four cot-
ton gins and cottonseed oil mill. Other towns
include Milano (920) in the southeast, Buck-
holts (800) i zthe west, and Gause (750) in
the east.
*MILLS.-In Central Texas, created and
organized in 1887 from Brown, Comanche,
Hamilton and Lampasas Counties, named for
Judge John T. Mills, lawyer who was Dis-
trict Judge during the Republic.
Area (sq.mi.)      696 No. farms       1,543
Pop.........      8,293 Crop land (a)  79,201
Pop. sq. mi...    11.9 Mfr. val..
Tax val...... $4,525,935 Retail S.,. $1,478,000
Tot. val...... $9,051,870 Auto reg -   1,941
Income ...   $2,805,000 Inc. tax ret      35
Mills has a rolling to broken surface, bor-
dered on the southwest by the Colorado River.
Altitude 1,500 feet, rainfall 27.55 inches, mean
annual temperature 65.5 degrees.
Resources: Loam, sandy loam     and sandy
soils prevail, with some alluvials along the
Colorado. Nearly one third of the area is
wooded with post oak, live oak, cottonwood
and pean.
Crops! The county raises about 6,000 bales
of cotton, corn, pecans, oats, an abundance of
forage crops and some fruit and truck crops,
most of which are consumed locally. Trench
silos are being built in which to store feed for
a growing livestock population. About 1,000
hcres are irrigated.
Livestock: Production of livestock is the
principal industry with most of the land in
pasture for grazing. Beef cattle, sheep, goats,
hogs and poultry are produced, and consider-
able amounts of wool and mohair are sold. A
marked increase in turkyes is noted. Some
honey is produced.
Goldthwaite (1,324), county seat, is the
principal trading center and shipping point
for livestock; it has a cheese and poultry-
dressing plant, Mullin (459), in the north
central part, is a trading point and ships
livestock, particularly turkeys.
* MITCHELL.--In northwestern lower plains,
created in 1876 from Bexar County, organized
in 1881, named for Eli and Asa Mitchell, mem-
bers of Austin's colony.
Area (sq.mi.)      885 No. farms.      1,348
Pop.........     14,183 Crop land (a) 129,950
Pop. sq. mi...      16 Mfr. val..
Tax val ...  $7,902,570 Retail S... $2,649,000
tTot. val..... $15,805,140 Auto reg.   3,280
Income  .... $3,977,000 Inc. tax ret     159
Mitchell is at the lower edge of the South
Plains and has a level to rolling surface. Alti-
tude 2,050 feet, rainfall 23 inches, mean
annual temperature 34.5 degrees. The Colo-
rgdo River flows southward through the cen-
tral part of the county.
Resources: Dark red loams and sandy loam
soils prevail. Only timber is a scattering of
mesquite. The county in 1938 produced 390,-
369 barrels of oil, and in addition has deposits
of salt, clay and potash.
SCrops: The county raises 15,000 to 30,000
'bales of cotton, small grains, an abundance of
feedstuffs and some truck and fruit. Home
canning is highly developed. More than two
thirds of the area is terraced.
Livestock: Beef cattle and feeder calves are
produced  for commercial market.      Sheep,
horses, mules and hogs are produced and wool
and mutton are sold on market. Dairying is
increasing, but poultry is mostly for home
consumption.
Colorado (5,200), county seat, is the princi-
pal trade c nter and big livestock shipping
;point. Indu tries include cottonseed oil mill,
compress, o I refinery, sand and gravel indus-

try, asphalt plant. The city has a fine park,
where amateur programs are given       each
week, and other recreational facilities.
Loraine (750) is a shipping point in the
eastern part and is a big cotton ginning cen-
ter. Westbrook (512) is in the west central
part.
*MONTAGUE.-In      Central North   Texas,
created in 1857 from Cooke County, organized
in 1858, named for Daniel Montague, early
Texas colonist and surveyor.
Area (sq.mi.)      929 No. farms.      2,649
Pop.. ....      21,270 Crop land (a)  91,095
Pop. sq. mi...    23.1 Mfr. val...  $320,489
Tax val...... $11,072,935 Retail S... $3,769,000
Tot. val...... $22,145,870 Auto reg .  4,630
Income ..... $6,406,000 Inc. tax ret    209
A diversified farming and livestock area
with oil and gas, Montague has mostly a
rolling surface, partly timbered. Altitude 850
to 1,350 feet, rainfall 29.96 inches, mean an-
nual temperature 64.5 degrees. The Red River
borders the county on the north.
Resources: Sandy and sandy loam soils pre-
dominate, with much of the subsoil a rich red
loam. Besides deposits of coal, lignite and
clay, the county has extensive gas fields and
in 1938 produced 2,046,495 barrels of oil.
Cedar, mesquite, post oak, blackjack, walnut,
hickory, cottonwood, elm and pecan comprise
timber resources. Some walnut timber is sold
commercially.
Crops: The county raises about 8,000 bales
of cotton, corn, oats, feedstuffs, hay for for-
age, melons, cantaloupes, pecans and a wide
variety of truck crops. Tomatoes are becom-
ing a commercial crop and farmers are grow-
ing more vegetables. Most of the feed for
stock is raised in the-county.
Livestock: Montague is one of the best-
diversified livestock counties in Texas. Beef
cattle are shipped and horses, mules, sheep,
hogs and poultry are raised. Some of the best
commercial chicken farms in Texas are in the
county, and dairying is a major source of
income. One of largest poultry farms In
Texas is near Bowie.
Montague (284), county seat, is an inland
trade center.
Bowie (3,131), in the southwestern part, is
the principal shipping point, with a cottonseed
oil mill and other industries. Nocona (2,352),
in the north central part, is an industrial cen-
ter with a cottonseed oil mill, women's dress
factory and leather goods factories which have
developed from a single pioneer boot-making
shop to plants employing 500 to 700 workmen.
A big gas field is hear here. Saint Jo (960) is
in the eastern phrt, Ringgold (415) in the
northern part and Sunset (632) in southern.
*MONTGOMERY.-In       lower  East Texas
timbered region, created and organized in
1837 from   Washington County, named for
Richard Montgomery, delegate from Dutchess
County in first New York Provisional Assem-
bly (1775).
Area (sq.mi.)    1,017 No. farms.      1,659
Pop.........    24,500 Crop land (a)  32,777
Pop. sq. mi...     24 Mfr. val...   $996,184
Tax val......$51,423,410 Retail S... $3,766,000
Tot. val......$146,924,028 Auto reg.   3,954
Income ... $11,803,000 Inc. tax ret     340
Montgomery is a heavily timbered county
with a level to rolling surface. Altitude 150 to
300 feet, rainfall 50 inches, mean annual tem-
perature  69 degrees. It is one of the leading
oil counties in the state.
Resources: The county in 1938 produced
12,530,094 barrels of oil, considerable gas and
has deposits of lignite and clay. Lumber is
cut from pine, oak, ash, gum, magnolia and
? See notations on page 386.