El Campo grows as the 'Pearl of the Prairie'
Modern El Campo hasn't forgotten its country roots
El Campo's founding fathers gathered together a century ago to incorporate a town from the dusty, windswept railhead known as Prairie Switch.

The city's come a long way yet much remains the same, more than a century later. Agriculture is still the backbone of the economy, and business continues to grow based on what grows in area fields. The city of El Campo started the 21st Century with 10,945 souls and a slow, but steady business growth.

The 2000 Census reported 3,931 households in El Campo.

As late as 1881, there were no towns west of the Colorado River in Wharton County. By July 1882, however, there were six new towns and two switching points along 91 miles of new railroad track between Rosenberg and Victoria.

In 1882, a railroad camp called Prairie Switch developed as a switching point. Cowboys referred to the camp as the "Pearl of the Prairie."

Located in the midst of cattle country, the camp was a home base to Mexican cowboys. By 1890, Prairie Switch had been renamed to El Campo.

Four large ranches surrounded the camp, and thousands of cattle were shipped yearly to San Antonio. For several years the only permanent structures in Prairie Switch were a section house, a switch serving the cattle-loading chute, a depot and a railroad water tank.

Many buildings from the city's early downtown area are still recognizable with active retail businesses operating within their doors.

"The grass and hay were so high you couldn't see through it," reported one family of settlers in 1888.

In 1889, a general store was built, and in 1890, the post office opened. By the early 1890s, northern promoters brought many settlers of Swedish descent to the El Campo area from the states of Illinois and Iowa and the Dakotas.

They planted rice, cotton and corn. But it was hay that soon became the chief product. By the early 1900s, El Campo was the second largest hay-shipping center in the United States.

Just before the city charter was inked by the founding fathers in 1905, the local business scene reflected the needs of a sprouting city that was well on its way to a prosperous - if not fast-paced - future of growth.

Around the turn of the last century, El Campo could boast three grocers, eight general

merchandise stores, two hardware stores and two druggists. Lumber could be purchased at either of the city's two lumber yards and then shopping families could dine at one of three restaurants.

Other businesses included a barber, furniture store, jeweler, milliner, a tack shop and a bank.

Three saloons were available to wash the dust from throats of road-weary travelers. There were, of course, gins and blacksmiths, a public weigher, a shoemaker, dentist and an architect.

Stables were available, a lawyer's services could be retained and the railroad agent was open for business most days of the week.

On June 19, 1905, with residents desiring law and order, by an 87 to 43 vote, the City of El Campo was chartered. During the summer of 1935, the Texas Co. (Texaco) drilled its discovery oil well

on 12,000 acres leased on the massive Pierce Ranch by the Armour family. Oil and gas discoveries in Wharton County spawned the local petroleum and oil-service industries.

With all this bustling trade, banks were a necessary addition to the town.

The First National Bank of El Campo was established in 1902 and is still in operation as NewFirst National Bank. The Commercial State Bank of El Campo was founded in 1921 and is

still serving customers today. Other banks have joined as years progressed, and El Campo is now also home to Prosperity Bank, First State Bank and Franklin Bank.

Industry turned to manufacturing later in the city's history. In 1948, the Isaacson-Carrico Manufacturing Co. was established to sell a double-seat girl's panty. Today, ICM - the reorganized version of that business - still operates in El Campo.

Along the way, other industry has joined. Everything from cabinets to foam cups to machinery is produced in El Campo.

In addition, local aquaculture interests are moving forward into the packaging industry. Aquaculture ponds and processing plants are allowing what were once no more than farm ponds to become major suppliers to tables across the globe. El Campo is currently experiencing

a miniboom in retail business construction with well-known chain stores moving into the area. At the same time, shops with local history and character continue to offer unique goods and services.

It's still home town flavor, just on a bigger scale.