Stonewall County: Rivers, Landscape and History

Rivers and a varied landscape shape the character of Stonewall County: its topography ranges from rolling plains to hilly terrain. The county covers 926 square miles in the Texas Rolling Plains. Mesquite savannas, bunchgrasses, short grasses, and mesquite growth are among the vegetation types shaped by the soils. The landscape and local history offer different perspectives on the region.

Rivers and distinctive landscapes

Two rivers help define the county geographically. The Salt Fork crosses its northern half. The Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos River runs through the southern part of Stonewall County and then turns back into its eastern part. Near Stonewall County’s southern border, it turns north; after curving through western Haskell County, it flows into the Salt Fork. Its course to the confluence is 165 miles long. The confluence is near the Old Glory oilfield, northeast of Aspermont.

Smaller waterways also tell of local connections. Tonk Creek rises five miles southwest of Aspermont in south-central Stonewall County and is the main outlet of Aspermont Lake. The creek contributes to the rugged terrain, marked by canyons and ravines. Its name comes from the Tonkawa Indigenous people. Aspermont Lake lies south of the county seat.

Double Mountain consists of two hills that rise about 600 feet above the surrounding terrain. Another historic landmark is Kiowa Peak, which was significant to Indigenous peoples and later to early explorers. Together with the rivers and the vegetation described above, these landscape features give the county a distinct regional character.

Settlement history in the county

The history of Old Glory begins with the community of Brandenburg, founded by German settler families on the Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos River. On August 9, 1918, Brandenburg was renamed Old Glory. The town’s school history also reflects the connection between education and community life: Old Glory’s school served both as an educational institution and as a civic center.

Rath City was established in 1876 near the Double Mountain Fork as a supply station for buffalo hunters. During its time in the buffalo trade, the town had a corral, a place to store buffalo hides, a saloon, and a restaurant. Rayner was the first county seat of Stonewall County; it is no longer an active settlement. These places and facilities belong to different chapters of the county’s history and should not be confused with current amenities.

Another historic structure is the Oriana Bridge, built in 1917. The Oriana Bridge is on the Salt Fork of the Brazos River at County Road 207 in Peacock.

Events and information to help plan your trip

Two recurring events take place in Aspermont at different times of the year: the Stonewall County Fair is listed for every June, and the Aspermont Township Homecoming for October. If you would like to plan your trip around them, check the current event dates in advance; no information about the respective programs is provided here.

For orientation on the map, U.S. Highway 83 runs north to south through the center of Stonewall County. U.S. Highway 380 crosses the county from east to west. The information about the rivers and roads refers to different spatial points of reference: the waterways describe the landscape, while the highways help with orientation within the county. This can help you plan your trip around the historical topics or event dates that interest you.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Aspermont, Swisher County, Terry County, Floyd County, San Augustine County, Haskell County, Kleberg, Lampasas County.

For the main travel overview: Texas.