Editing Cross Plains, Texas (section)

==History==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}

Cross Plains was once named "Turkey Creek", after the stream that now crosses the town's Treadaway Park. In its early years, Cross Plains had the basic necessities like a store, a [[cotton gin]] and [[gristmill]], but little else. Hugh Henry McDermett and J.C. McDermett, early settlers here, petitioned the federal government to establish a [[post office]] in Cross Plains. In 1878, the government granted the post office, named "Cross Plains" for the crossings of [[stagecoach]] and [[military road]]s prior to the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. East and West Caddo Peaks, located {{convert|5|mi|0}} west, were used as landmarks by early [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indians]], soldiers, and government [[surveying]] crews.

The town had one newspaper in 1902 (''The Herald''), but it soon went out of business. The second paper, ''The Cross Plains Review'', started in 1909 and continues to publish a weekly newspaper every Wednesday. The town moved from the west banks of Turkey Creek to its present site in January 1911, to be closer to the railroad. On January 12, 1911, a train full of prospective land buyers arrived in Cross Plains. Before the day was out, $75,000.00 worth of land had been purchased. Cross Plains was<ref>''Footsteps of Approaching Thousands''</ref> the last stop on the Texas Central [[Katy Railroad]] spur from [[De Leon, Texas|De Leon]] and [[Rising Star, Texas|Rising Star]]. The Katy abandoned the spur in the 1940s. An [[oil boom]] in 1925 increased the population, and by 1940 it was over 1,200. It has remained hovering around the 1,000 mark for the last 50 years.

=== 2005 wildfire ===

On December 27, 2005, a grass/range [[Texas-Oklahoma wildfires of 2005-06|wildfire]] destroyed 116 homes in and around Cross Plains. On December 29, 2005, the [[Texas Department of Public Safety]] listed 85 single family homes, 25 mobile homes and 6 apartment units as being destroyed. An additional 36 homes were damaged. The First United Methodist Church building of Cross Plains was also destroyed. Two people died after being trapped in their houses.