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Somervell County is in north central Texas and is bisected by U.S. Highway 67 and State Highway 144. It comprises 188 square miles, the second-smallest area among Texas counties. Glen Rose, the principal town and county seat, is fifty-five miles southwest of Fort Worth. The county's center lies at 32°14' north latitude and 97°47' west longitude. The eastern half of the county is in the Grand Prairie region, while the western area is in the Cross Timbers.  The primary soil type consists of very shallow, clayey soils in limestone. Other types include deep loamy and alluvial soils, especially along the river bottoms. Most of the land is used for range, though some is pasture and cropland. The only mineral resources are brick clay, limestone, road materials, and a small amount of natural gas. The overall terrain is generally rough with outcroppings of limestone. Native trees on the uplands include live oak, Spanish oak, mountain cedar, post oak, black jack, and mesquite. Cottonwood, pecan, bur oak, and black walnut can be found along the river bottoms. The elevation ranges from 600 to 1,200 feet. Three major streams traverse the county; the Brazos River winds through the eastern third, while the Paluxy River passes through the center and empties into the Brazos near its confluence with Squaw Creek. Temperatures range from a July average maximum of 98° F to a January average minimum of 32°. The average annual rainfall is 32.65 inches, and the growing season is 236 days long. More than 100 million years ago dinosaurs roamed the area that is now Somervell County. The Paluxy River has some of the best-preserved tracks found in the continental United States. Much of the excavation on these tracks was done by Roland T. Bird of the American Museum of Natural History in New York. That museum, the University of Texas, the Smithsonian Institution, and several local museums retain samples. Local efforts to protect and preserve tracks imbedded along the river resulted in the foundation of Dinosaur Valley State Park, a 1,523-acre facility formally dedicated in 1970. Prior to European settlement of North America, the area was inhabited by American Indians, particularly members of the Caddo groups and Tonkawas. The southern edge of the Wichita Confederacy of Caddos extended into this area, although the Tonkawas were the major tribal group. Apaches and Comanches came into the area periodically. The first permanent Anglo settler was Charles E. Barnard, who established an Indian trading post in the late 1840s with his brother, George Barnard, for whom George's Creek was named. Charles's wife, Juana Cavasos Barnard, was the granddaughter of Don Narciso Cavasos, recipient of the largest Spanish land grant in Texas. She had been captured by Comanches in South Texas and ransomed by the Barnards. Barnard's Mill, built in 1860, was the first building at the site that is now Glen Rose. The mill is still standing and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During most of the 1850s and early 1860s the Barnard's Mill settlement was a part of Johnson County. In 1866 the area was included in a new county, Hood, marked off entirely from Johnson County. Somervell County was established in 1875, when residents in southern Hood and northern Bosque counties petitioned for a new county because of their separation from markets and seats of government. The county, taken completely from Hood County, was named for Alexander Somervell, who led an expedition to Mexico under the Republic of Texas. The first and only county seat is Glen Rose, named in 1872. Other early communities included Wilcox, Rainbow, Nemo, and Glass. The census of 1880 indicated a population of 2,649, with only 132 in Glen Rose. At that time Somervell County had a black population of twenty-four. Glen Rose was the center of activity for the county during the last two decades of the nineteenth century. A Baptist college was organized in 1879 and sold to the Paluxy Baptist Association the next year. In 1889 the northern Presbyterians opened Glen Rose Collegiate Institute. Four periodicals were published in Glen Rose during these decades; the Glen Rose Citizen, the Glen Rose Falcon, and the Glen Rose Herald were local newspapers, while the Monthly Baptist Standard had a wider circulation. A public school system was started in 1896, eventually eclipsing the private college. In spite of the county seat's prominence, Somervell remained an agricultural county, the primary product being livestock. This may account for the importance of People's party politics. Although the county usually voted Democratic, third parties did have considerable support. In 1892 the Populist ticket carried Somervell County. The county entered the twentieth century with a population of 3,498. A tornado destroyed thirty-six buildings in Glen Rose in 1902. The population peaked at 3,931 in 1910 and then declined to a low of 2,542 by 1950. The county had twenty-one rural schools operating by 1910, and Glen Rose had become something of a health resort because of the local mineral springs. Over 600 farms were operational in 1910, but almost half of these were tenant run. During the 1920s the county gained a reputation as the "Moonshine Capital of Central Texas." In a move by the Texas Rangers in 1923 to clean out illegal liquor operations, forty local men were arrested including the county sheriff and county attorney. By 1930 the county had no black residents. Although agricultural production during the Great Depression remained fairly constant, unemployment increased dramatically. In 1930 it was virtually nil; by 1935, however, the county had 143 workers on relief, and in 1940 approximately 15 percent of the workers were either on emergency work programs or were seeking work. New Deal programs provided some assistance. Glen Rose borrowed $80,000 under the Public Works Administration to construct a new water and sewage system. Three low-water dams on the Paluxy River, several local school buildings, and a canning plant were built with Work Projects Administration money. The years after World War II ushered in major changes. Although the county was still primarily agricultural and rural, its proximity to the Dallas-Fort Worth area led to a rapid increase in industry that transformed it. Between 1940 and 1960 the number of farms was reduced by more than half, and agricultural production dropped. Corn and cotton acreage decreased significantly, and a shift occurred from dairy to beef cattle. By the 1970s the chief agricultural products were cattle and hogs. Major crops included peanuts, pecans, hay, and small grains. Only 8 percent of the available farmland was under cultivation in 1982, and the county ranked 249th in agricultural receipts that year. Somervell County had virtually no industrial development until that decade, but dramatic changes came with the construction of a nuclear power plant by the Texas Utilities Electric Company along Squaw Creek north of Glen Rose. The construction of this plant, begun in the mid-1970s, resulted in some important financial advantages for the county. By the mid-1980s the county had nearly $2 billion worth of taxable property, and $141 million in wages were paid annually, an 11,000 percent increase since 1975. Population growth also resulted. Between 1960 and 1970 the county grew by 8 percent, but the next census reflected a 49 percent growth rate; half the population of 4,154 lived in Glen Rose. Somervell County also benefited recreationally from the nuclear plant. Squaw Creek Reservoir, a 3,275-acre lake built by Texas Utilities to provide cooling water, has camping and fishing facilities at a 475-acre park across from the plant. Dinosaur Valley State Park and smaller city parks in Glen Rose offer additional recreational opportunities. The Texas Lakes Trail passes through the county, and annual events include a May Bluegrass Jamboree. In the mid-1980s the county had one weekly newspaper, the Glen Rose Reporter, one airport, and one school district with 800 students. Ten churches existed in the county. Somervell County was in a nexus of growth. Hood County, to the north, was the fastest-growing county in Texas between 1970 and 1980 and continued to experience dramatic growth in the 1980s. Johnson County, to the east, also experienced rapid growth. U.S. Highway 67 provided direct access to Dallas, and Fort Worth was less than an hour away. Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station provided a stable and substantial tax base. In 1990 the population of the county was 5,360, with Glen Rose (1,949) the most populous community. In 2000 the census counted 6,809 people living in Somervell County. About 85 percent were Anglo and 13 percent were Hispanic; less than 2 percent were black or other minorities. Almost 77 percent of the residents age twenty-five or older had graduated from high school, and more than 17 percent had college degrees. The voters of Somervell County favored the Democratic candidate in virtually every presidential election from 1892 through 1948; the only exception occurred in 1928, when Republican Herbert Hoover took the county. After 1952, when Republican Dwight Eisenhowerqv carried the county over Democrat Adlai Stevenson, the area began to trend Republican. Though Democrats won majorities in the county in 1964, 1968, 1976, and 1980, Republicans took the county in 1956, 1960, 1972, 1984, and 1988. Independent candidate Ross Perot won a plurality of the county's voters in 1992, and George W. Bush carried the county by large margins in 2000 and 2004. In the early twenty-first century the Comanche Peak nuclear plant, agribusiness, and tourism were key elements of the area's economy; many residents commuted to jobs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In 2002 the county had 339 farms and ranches covering 84,262 acres, 65 percent of which were devoted to pasture, 26 percent to crops, and 7 percent to woodlands. In that year local farmers and ranchers earned $2,025,000; livestock sales accounted for $1,507,000 of the total. Cattle, hay, small grains, and goats were the chief agricultural products. Communities included Glen Rose (2000 population, 2,122), the county seat; Rainbow (76); and Nemo (56). Tourists travel to the area to enjoy Glen Rose Big Rocks Park, the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center and The Promise, a passion play that runs from September through November.

Relax in North Central Texas - Business Directory

Accommodation Hotel/Motel Americas Best Value Inn & Suites 1614 Big Bend Trail, Glen Rose TX 76043 www.americasbestvalueinn.com Reservations: 888.315.2378 t: 254.897.2111 f: 254.897.2232 Map Glen Rose Inn & Suites 300 SW Big Bend Trail, Glen Rose TX 76043 t: 254.897.2940 f: 254.897.8800 e: glenrosehotel@valornet.com Map top Attractions Granbury Live 114 N. Crockett St., Granbury, TX 76048 www.granburylive.com t: 817.573.0303 toll free: 800.989.8240 e: info@granburylive.com Map Lone Star Lanes 1815 W Lingleville Rd., Stephenville, TX 76401 www.nctxonlineguide.com/lsl.html t: 254.968.0440 e: lonestarlanes_info@yahoo.com Map  top Camping RV Parks Big John's Liquor and RV Park / Whit's Grocery Shak 4133 3rd St, Walnut Springs, TX 76690 www.bigjohnswalnut.com t: 254.797.5000 f: 254.797.0227 e: info@bigjohnswalnut.com Map top Churches Stephenville First Assembly Hwy 377 and 67 (across from the Sheriff's dept) www.cornerstoneforchrist.org  t: 254.918.5433 f: 254.965.0882 e: firstassembly@stephenville.com Map  top Eateries Bakeries Tiger Corner / Sub Express / Barnard St. Bakery 1110 NE Big Bend Trail, Glen Rose TX 76043 www.tigercorner.biz t: 254.897.3324 f: 254.898.8406 e: info@tigercorner.biz Map Coffee Bar Texas Treasures Coffee Bar, Designer Clothing, Unique Jewelry, Home Decor 103 Elm St, Glen Rose TX 76043 t: 254.897.9888 e: tmpearce1@windstream.com Map Fast Food Tiger Corner / Sub Express / Barnard St. Bakery 1110 NE Big Bend Trail, Glen Rose TX 76043 www.tigercorner.biz t: 254.897.3324 f: 254.898.8406 e: info@tigercorner.biz Map Restaurants Big Cup Eatery 226 SW Big Bend Trail, Glen Rose, TX 76043 www.nctxonlineguide.com/bigcup.html t: 254.897.3841 c: 254.396.3119 Map Chachi's Mexican Restaurant 800 Big Bend Trail, Glen Rose TX 76043 www.nctxonlineguide.com/chachis.html  t: 254.897.7504 c: 254.396.0922 Map Granny's Restaurant Family owned and operated  109 Hereford St, Glen Rose, TX 76043 t: 254.897.9773 Map Juliany's Italian Restaurant Family owned and operated 503 SW Big Bend Trail, Glen Rose TX 76043 t: 254.897.2576 Map Taqueria Rio Grande Authentic Mexican and Seafood Grill 509 Big Bend Trail, Glen Rose TX 76043 t: 254-897-9797 Map Texas Nutt House Restaurant 119 E. Bridge St, Granbury TX 76048 www.nutt-hotel.com t: 817.279.8688 Metro: 817.279.1207 Map top Florist Creations Flowers & Gifts Tuxedo Rentals, Invitations, Antiques too! 1001 NE Big Bend Trail, Glen Rose TX 76043 www.creationsflowers.net t: 254.897.1259 f: 254.897.9603 e: creationsflowers@windstream.net Map top Health Care Chiropractic Coble Chiropractic 507 SW Big Bend Trail, Ste. C, Glen Rose, TX 76043 t: 254.897.7447 f: 254.897.2099 e: coblechiropractic@valornet.com Map Dental Susan Baker, DDS 1104 Bluebonnet St, Glen Rose TX 76043 www.drsusanbaker.com t: 254.898.4646 f: 254.897.7321 e: sjbaker@windstream.net Map Pharmacies Best Value Medical Center Pharmacy Immunizations and Compounds too! 1100 Bluebonnet St, Glen Rose TX 76043 www.bestvaluepharmacies.com  t: 254.897.9917 f: 254.897.9919 Map top Home Services Plumbing Boyd's Plumbing Company Serving Somervell county and the surrounding areas http://boydplumbingco.net t: 254.897.3692 f: 254.897.1279 e: boydplumbingco@aol.com Well Drilling Pollock Well Drilling & Services Inc 2910 Hwy 67 N., Rainbow, TX 76077 t: 254.897.2350 f: 254.897.9613 e: pollockdrilling@valornet.com Map top Professional Services Business Consulting Powers Communication Serving all of North Central Texas www.nctxonlineguide.com/powerscom.html t: 254.436.0000 e: info@nctxonlineguide.com Computer Services John Cunyus - Mobile Computer Repair PO Box 482, Glen Rose, TX 76403 www.johncunyus.com/computerservice.html t: 254.897.4197 Toll Free: 888.896.6081 e: john@johncunyus.com Printing and Advertising Services Color Visual Concepts PO Box 250, Granbury, TX 76048 www.qualityprintingcheap.com Toll Free: 877.232.3624 f: 888.699.0392 top Ranch Services Well Drilling Pollock Well Drilling & Services Inc 2910 Hwy 67 N., Rainbow, TX 76077 t: 254.897.2350 f: 254.897.9613 e: pollockdrilling@valornet.com Map top Real Estate Agents Dinosaur Valley Reatly 1005 Big Bend Trail Ste. 4, Glen Rose TX 76043 www.dinosaurvalleyrealty.com t: 254.897.7158 f: 254.897.3602 c: 817.648.2122 e: scott@dinosaurvalleyrealty.com Map Home Inspectors Burgan Home Inspections Inspecting North / North Central Texas for over 20 years www.nctxonlineguide.com/burganinspections.html t: 254-898-0102 c: 817.379.9799 e: burganinspections@verizon.com Map top Retail Antique Texas Treasures Coffee Bar, Designer Clothing, Unique Jewelry, Home Decor 103 Elm St, Glen Rose TX 76043 t: 254.897.9888 e: tmpearce1@windstream.com Map Clothing Texas Treasures Coffee Bar, Designer Clothing, Unique Jewelry, Home Decor 103 Elm St, Glen Rose TX 76043 t: 254.897.9888 e: tmpearce1@windstream.com Map Convenience Tiger Corner / Sub Express / Barnard St. Bakery 1110 NE Big Bend Trail, Glen Rose TX 76043 www.tigercorner.biz t: 254.897.3324 f: 254.898.8406 e: info@tigercorner.biz Map Grocery Big John's Liquor and RV Park / Whit's Grocery Shak 4133 3rd St, Walnut Springs, TX 76690 www.bigjohnswalnut.com t: 254.797.5000 f: 254.797.0227 e: info@bigjohnswalnut.com Map Jewelry Texas Treasures Coffee Bar, Designer Clothing, Unique Jewelry, Home Decor 103 Elm St, Glen Rose TX 76043 t: 254.897.9888 e: tmpearce1@windstream.com Map Liquor Big John's Liquor and RV Park / Whit's Grocery Shak 4133 3rd St, Walnut Springs, TX 76690 www.bigjohnswalnut.com t: 254.797.5000 f: 254.797.0227 e: info@bigjohnswalnut.com Map Specialty Creations Flowers & Gifts Tuxedo Rentals, Invitations, Antiques too! 1001 NE Big Bend Trail, Glen Rose TX 76043 www.creationsflowers.net t: 254.897.1259 f: 254.897.9603 e: creationsflowers@windstream.net Map Texas Treasures Coffee Bar, Designer Clothing, Unique Jewelry, Home Decor 103 Elm St, Glen Rose TX 76043 t: 254.897.9888 e: tmpearce1@windstream.com Map top Trash Service Lone Star Disposal 1201 NE Baranard St, Glen Rose TX 76043 t: 254.897.3406 f: 254.897.2871 e: lonestardisposal@valornet.com Map  top Utilities Southwest Water & Electric Energy Powers Serving all of North Central Texas and the World www.sweepcorp.com e: info@sweepcorp.com top Wedding Services Creations Flowers & Gifts Tuxedo Rentals, Invitations, Antiques too! 1001 NE Big Bend Trail, Glen Rose TX 76043 www.creationsflowers.net t: 254.897.1259 f: 254.897.9603 e: creationsflowers@windstream.net Map Tiger Corner / Sub Express / Barnard St. Bakery 1110 NE Big Bend Trail, Glen Rose TX 76043 www.tigercorner.biz t: 254.897.3324 f: 254.898.8406 e: info@tigercorner.biz Map top

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frequently Requested Numbers [City Numbers] [Post Offices] [Glen Rose ISD] [County Government] [Service Org]  City Numbers County Government Service/Civic Organizations Glen Rose Chief of Police County Attorney American Cancer Society Weldon Mitchell Debbie Thompson Crystal Plaster 254-897-2109 254-897-2277 254-897-9359       Glen Rose City Attorney - County Clerk Atheletic Booster Club Law Office of Andrew Lucas Candace Garrett Shelley Ellis Andy Lucas 254-897-4427 254-898-2225 254-897-9777       County Commissioner Pct 1 Boy Scouts Glen Rose City Auditor Zach Cummings 817-694-2707 Cliff May, CPA 254-897-3750   817-578-5912   Child Welfare Board   County Commissioner Pct 2 254-897-4136 Glen Rose City Council Mike Ford   Member 254-897-2206 Cub Scouts Chris Bryant   Patrick Locke 254-897-3406 County Commissioner Pct 3 254-898-0503   Lloyd Wirt   Glen Rose City Council 254-897-2206 Diabetic Support Member   254-918-2222 Bob Striklin County Commissioner Pct 4   254-897-2272 James Barnard Eastern Star   254-897-2206 254-897-7480 Glen Rose City Council     Member County Judge Girl Scouts Rocky Terry Walter Maynard 254-898-8213 254-897-7846 254-897-2322       Glen Rose Optimist Club Glen Rose City Council Somervell County Animal Douglas Parker Member Control 254-897-3754 Alvis Million Tammy Ray   254-897-1507 254-897-3113 Glen Rose Rodeo     Association Glen Rose City Mayor Protem Somervell County Auditor Terry Starnes Rick Villa Darrell Morrison 254-897-4171 254-897-7361 254-897-2923       Glen Rose Youth Baseball Glen Rose City Mayor Somervell County Central Association Pam Miller Apprasial District 254-897-2225 254-897-2272 Ronald Babcock     254-897-4094 Glen Rose/Somervell Glen Rose City Office   County Ambassador's Beggy Busch Somervell County 254-897-2286 Mygnomee Thomas Economic Development   254-897-2272 254-897-2919 Glen Rose/Somervell     County Chamber of Glen Rose City Ordinance Somervell County Engineer 254-897-2286 Officer Wade Busch   Darrell Webb 254-897-2239 Humane Society 254-897-9373   254-897-3113   Somervell County Justice of   Glen Rose City the Peace Pct 1 Indegent Health Care Superintendent Kenneth Taylor Linda Puckett Ronald Bruce   254-897-2206 254-897-2850 Somervell County Justice of     the Peace Pct 2 LDL Educational Resources Glen Rose City Waste and Dwayne Griffin Dorothy Gibbs Water Treatment 254-897-2120 254-898-3605 Tracy Pollard     254-897-3185 Somervell County Library Lion's Club   Peggy Oldham Linda Rowe Glen Rose Convention & 254-897-4582 254-898-9999 Visitors Bureau     Billy Huckaby Somervell County Masonic Lodge 254-897-3081 Municipal Judge 254-897-7480   Kay McPherson   Landfill 254-897-4513 Senior Citizen's Center 254-897-3727   Pam Baker   Personnel Director 254-897-4838 Post Offices Ken Thrasher   Glen Rose Post Office 254-897-3750 Somervell County 254-897-9611   Committee on Aging, Inc   Somervell County Sherriff Pam Baker Nemo Post Office Greg Doyle 254-897-2139 254-897-3879 254-897-4068       Somervell County Crime Rainbow Post Office Somervell County Tax Assessor Stoppers 254-897-7851 Darlene Chambers 254-897-7777   254-897-4427   GRISD    Somervell County Glen Rose Elementary Somervell County Treasurer Extension Office 254-897-2433 Barbara Hudson Beverly Greenhill   254-897-4814 254-897-2289 Glen Rose Intermediate     254-897-2001 Somervell County Water District Somervell County   Helen Graham Geneological & Heritage Glen Rose Jr High School 254-897-4141 Society 254-897-4442   Rhonda     254-897-9073 Glen Rose High School     254-897-4383   Somervell County Historical     Society Glen Rose Independent   254-897-9737 School District     Nancy Moore   Somervell County Public 254-898-3900   Housing Authority     Nancy Bybee GRISD School Board   254-897-2159 254-897-3720         Somervell County United     Fund     254-897-3010           Somervell County Veterans     Service     254-897-9418           Somervell County Youth     Fair Association     Barbara Sharber     254-897-3143           Transit System, Inc The     Barbara L. Perry     254-897-2964           Veteran's Services     Ken Thrasher  Top of page   254-897-3730