Editing Schleicher County, Texas (section)

==History==
Around 8000 BC, the first inhabitants in the area were probably [[Suma-Jumano|Jumano Indians]]. Later inhabitants were [[Lipan Apache people|Lipan Apaches]]  and [[Comanche]]s.<ref name="Schleicher County">{{cite web|last=Smyrl|first=Vivian Elizabeth|title=Schleicher County|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcs06|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 30, 2010}}</ref> In 1632, Fray [[Juan de Salas (friar)|Juan de Salas]] and Father Juan de Ortega did missionary work among the Jumanos.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kessell|first=John L|title=Kiva, Cross, & Crown: The Pecos Indians and New Mexico, 1540-1840|year=1995|publisher=Southwest Parks & Monuments Association|isbn=978-1-877856-56-3|page=142}}</ref> Soldier Francisco Amangual led an expedition across the area in 1808.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kenner|first=Charles L|title=The Comanchero Frontier: A History of New Mexican-Plains Indian Relations|year=1994|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|isbn=978-0-8061-2670-8|page=57}}</ref> In 1882, Christopher Columbus Doty became the first permanent citizen of Schleicher County.<ref>{{cite web|title=Doty, Christopher Columbus (1857–1944)|url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/doty-christopher-columbus|website=Handbook of Texas|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=September 1, 2020|first=Vanessa|last=Brown}}</ref>

The Texas Legislature established Schleicher County in April 1887 from [[Crockett County, Texas|Crockett County]], and named it in honor of Gustav Schleicher.<ref name="Schleicher County"/> By 1890, the population was 155, of whom 134 were listed as White, four were Black, and 17 were American Indian.<ref name="Schleicher County"/>

In 1894, the county's first public school opened at Verand, and later moved to Eldorado.<ref name="Schleicher County"/> The next year, W. B. Silliman founded the Eldorado community and named it after the mythical city. To populate it, he offered free town lots to residents of nearby Verand.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eldorado, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/Eldorado-Texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.|access-date=November 30, 2010}}</ref>
In 1930, the [[Panhandle and Santa Fe Railway]] Company resumed work on a previous railroad, making access possible to San Angelo and Sonora.<ref name="Schleicher County"/> On February 27, 1941, the West Texas Woolen Mills plant in Eldorado held a grand opening, with a parade and BBQ lunch. About 5,000 people attended. [[W. Lee O'Daniel|Governor "Pappy" W. Lee O'Daniel]] was the guest speaker.<ref>{{cite web|title=West Texas Woolen Mills|url=http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5413005683|work=Texas Historical Markers|publisher=William Nienke, Sam Morrow|access-date=November 30, 2010}}</ref>

Oilfield discoveries on school lands in the 1950s enabled Schleicher County to build new library and gymnasium facilities for its students.<ref name="Schleicher County"/>