Stiles is a ghost town in Reagan County, Texas, United States, about north of Big Lake.Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "Stiles, Texas," https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hns86 (accessed June 3, 2007) As the only town in the area when Reagan County was established in 1903, Stiles was made the county seat. Bypassed by the railroad and eclipsed when oil was discovered near Big Lake, Stiles was replaced with Big Lake as the county seat in 1925.
Stiles Courthouse The ruins of the old 1911 Reagan County Courthouse are still visible just off Texas State Highway 137, between Big Lake and Texas State Highway 158 on Stiles Courthouse Loop. The courthouse was constructed with local stone by William Martin.
In 1998, the structure burned several times, damaging the courthouse. Ralph Denton was charged with arson for several fires in Reagan County.
Stiles Cemetery The Stiles Cemetery is located off SH 137 across the Centralia Draw, southwest of the courthouse.
Established in about 1903 on land owned by early settlers G. W. and Lizzie Stiles, the cemetery provides much frontier history. It holds graves of cowboys who died in accidents on the cattle range; one Spanish–American War veteran; victims of shootings, of rattlesnake bites, of epidemic dysentery. Most were pioneers of steady habits and quiet lives. Already in use for many years, the 3-acre plot was deeded to the county in 1920 by J. D. Wagner, an adventuring man who lived for years alternately in Texas and in South America.historical marker
Centralia Draw Stiles lies within an ancient stream channel called Centralia Draw that rises northeast of Rankin in eastern Upton County () and runs east for across Upton, Reagan, and Irion counties to the Middle Concho River.Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "Centralia Draw," https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rbccp (accessed February 21, 2009). Today, Centralia Draw remains dry most of the year except during occasional brief periods of heavy rainfall and runoff.Sibley Nature Center, "Memories of elderly ranchers of Stiles," http://www.sibleynaturecenter.org/essays/moseying/history/030312_stilesranchers.html (published March 12, 2003, accessed February 24, 2009) Evidence suggests that in the past a more active spring-fed stream once flowed through Centralia Draw cutting the broad valley we see today.Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "Reagan County," https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcr03 (accessed February 21, 2009).
See also List of ghost towns in Texas Llano Estacado Concho River Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway
References
External links Photos of West Texas and the Llano Estacado Stiles - Texas Ghost Towns Texas Escapes - Stiles, Texas