Rocksprings

Rocksprings, Texas

Rocksprings, Texas

Rocksprings Visitor Center in the town of Rocksprings, Texas, the seat of Edwards County. Photograph by Billy Hathorn.
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Map of Edwards County

Rocksprings, the county seat of Edwards County, is on Hackberry Creek at the junction of U.S. Highway 377 and State Highway 55, 100 miles west of San Antonio in the central part of the county. The site was selected in 1891 by J. R. Sweeten because of the natural springs bubbling forth from the rocks. In 1891 the town acquired a post office and was made county seat. In 1892 Rocksprings had a population of 250, a blacksmith, a hotel, a doctor, two saloons, a real estate agent, a general store, two lawyers, and a druggist. The name of the town was originally written as two words, but it was changed after the first courthouse burned in 1897. The town drew attention from across the state and Mexico after the lynching of Antonio Rodríguez, who was accused of murder, on November 3, 1910. By 1914 Rocksprings had a population of 500 and a bank. As the county seat, the town grew as the county population grew, reaching 998 in 1931, 1,433 in 1952, 1,248 in 1980, and 1,339 in 1990. It declined somewhat in the 1990s, and in 2000 the town had 1,285 inhabitants and fifty-eight businesses. The economy of Rocksprings is centered on the wool and mohair industry. Edwards County is one of the top producers of wool and mohair in the world. Hunting and fishing revenues account for 20 percent of the city and county income. The state of Texas has purchased 40,000 acres of land surrounding the Devil's Sinkhole, a natural cave descending 150 feet in a sheer drop, for a wildlife preserve seven miles north of the town. In 2004 the Rocksprings Record and Texas Mohair Weekly was published at Rocksprings. The Edwards County Airport, several motels and restaurants, and a general store are located there. The Angora Goat Breeders Association Museum is located in Rocksprings, and in May the town hosts the annual "Top-o-the-World" festival in honor of mohair and wool production.

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James B. McCrain | © TSHA

Handbook of Texas Logo

Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.

Belongs to

Rocksprings is part of or belongs to the following places:

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

Rocksprings is classified as a Town

Associated Names

  • [Rock Springs]

Location

Latitude: 30.01710810
Longitude: -100.21282000

Has Post Office

Yes

Is Incorporated

Yes

Population Count, 2021 View more »

874