City of Stockdale, TX

Homes For Sale In Stockdale, TX

Per the Stockdale, TX StockdaleTx.org

The area surrounding Stockdale was first settled in the 1830’s, but it was not until the 1860’s and 1870’s that a village formed. Early names for the area included High Prairie, Free Timber and Bunker’s Store. In 1871 a post office was designated, and the community needed a formal name. Jethro Bunker was the first postmaster, but he chose not to name the settlement after himself, so a committee of local citizens was formed to name the town.
Fletcher Stockdale had served as Lt. Governor and then Governor of Texas during the last days of the Confederacy. At the time that the name was selected, Stockdale was serving as an attorney for the railroad. It is possible that the town was named Stockdale in an attempt to influence the railroad to service the town. However, rail service did not reach Stockdale until the turn of the century, and was continued until the 1960’s.
The town was laid out on land owned by J.R. King, William Palm and John Wheeler, and a plat was recorded in 1872. Legend has it that Stockdale was offered the county seat, but declined because the site requested was being used for raising hogs by King and Wheeler. The first industry in Stockdale was Wheeler’s Mill, built in the 1870’s. Five or more cotton gins operated in the area during the heyday of cotton farming. Around 1915, watermelons became a cash crop in the area and peanuts followed in the 1930’s. Watermelons were such an important crop that in 1937 the community’s annual celebration was changed from the Autumn Fair to the Watermelon Jubilee. The annual Watermelon Jubilee remains today one of oldest watermelon celebrations in Texas.
Stockdale’s city government was incorporated in 1919, and a telephone franchise was granted to Will King. Electricity was made available in the 1920’s, a water system in the 1930’s and sewage service in the 1940’s.

Stockdale is located at the junction of 2 fairly large highways but that hasn’t affected it’ s small town look and feel.

Stockdale is a small town with a few small businesses. There are several cafes but only one franchise eatery. Dairy Queen is located at the junction of the crossroads of Hwy 97 and Hwy 123, the 2 major highways on the southside of town. The Dollar General store is across from the Post Office. On the southside is Hwy 97 which goes to Nixon and Hwy 123 goes to Seguin. Nixon is smaller than Stockdale but Seguin is a large city of almost 30,000 and has the amenities that a larger city has.

The commute from Stockdale to San Antonio is one of the longest in WIlson county at 43 miles. The trip to Seguin is 24 miles so many people work in Seguin. Many shop in Seguin as there is no longer a large grocery store in Stockdale. There are a couple of places to pick up items like Brahama Express and the Dollar Tree but very limited shopping overall. At the Hwy 97 and 123 bypass south of town are 2 large gas stations, one of which Texas Cooler has a small cafe that serves most of the day. Many get their breakfast tacos or a quick snack there.

Stockdale’s biggest event is the Watermelon Thump which is the third weekend in June. The events are held at the city park.

Stockdale is close to the Cibolo River which was a favorite place to picnic and swim in the early days. The locals call it the SeeWillow. Not sure where that nickname came from. It also has flow of water from the Guadalupe River which runs through Seguin. In the floods of 1998 and 2001, Wilson county had major flooding. In 2001 The Wilson county fire department had to rescue some people in this section of the county and part of Guadalupe county. Wilson County had purchased water rescue Zodiac boats which were put to good use. No major flooding since 2001.

The city of Stockdale home page link is Stockdale TX Chamber of Commerce page