Montague, the county seat of Montague County, was established in 1858 and named for Daniel Montague, a pioneer land surveyor and state senator. A post office opened in 1860 and by 1880 the community provided the only flour and grist mills for county farmers. Between 1880 and 1900 the tracks of the Fort Worth and Denver Railway were built through Bowie to the south of Montague, and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad reached Nocona to the north. In 1886 W. A. Morris and C. C. White attempted to save the county seat from isolation by construction of an independent rail line named the Weatherford and Great Northwestern, connecting Bowie with Montague. Approximately eight miles of tracks were laid before funds ran out. The population was 300 in 1915 and 284 in 1947. Afterward the population leveled off and, beginning in the 1970s, the community started to grow again. In 1990 the population was 400.
Montague skyline picture taken from the west side:
Same direction, closer to downtown:
Old building on the town square:
Downtown business district:
The courthouse:
By the bars on the upstairs windows, I assume this is a jail annex to the courthouse:
Sign over door of local handyman:
Church building south of downtown:
New highrise development south of downtown:
All pictures 10/19/2006
