San Angelo History

San Angelo began to be a town thanks to the Concho River and Fort Concho.
The U.S. Army chose the location near the Concho River to locate a fort to protect those who were coming into the area to establish ranches and farms from the Indians who resented intrusion into their lands.

Slowly a settlement grew up across the river from the fort to cater to the needs and wants of those stationed at the fort. This rag-tag settlement had many saloons and bawdy houses to appeal to soldiers. Its wildness began to settle down with the arrival of merchants and bankers and the settlement began to take on the demeanor of a town.

Developers came in to create streets and lots. Simultaneously the town of Ben Ficklin, named for its founder, was growing up on a nearby branch of the Concho River. A heated rivalry developed between what had come to be known as Santa Angela and Ben Ficklin. The contest as to which locality would become the county seat of Tom Green County was very heated. Ben Ficklin won out. The success was short lived. In August 1882, a rampaging, deadly flood came down the Concho River bringing death and destruction to Ben Ficklin. By default Santa Angela became the county seat.

Fort Concho continued to grow and add to Santa Angela’s growth and importance.

Santa Angela’s name underwent some changes, too. It came to be known as San Angela and finally, thanks to a Post Office decision, San Angelo.

Fort Concho was closed in 1889. San Angelo was a strong enough community to continue to grow, to establish schools, churches and city government. Merchants prospered. Farmers and ranchers produced crops to sell. The Santa Fe Railroad arrived in 1888. San Angelo connected to the outside world. The Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railroad also came through San Angelo, in 1909

San Angelo has experienced booms and busts. Its golden age was the 1920s when the most architectural growth ever, happened. The dust bowl and the depression of the 30s slowed growth and promise.

Two Air Corps bases were located at San Angelo during World War II, Goodfellow Field trained pilots and San Angelo Army Air Field bombardiers trained.

Since World War II San Angelo has experienced slow but steady growth. Agricultural businesses continue to be very important to its economy.

San Angelo has an active tourist industry which features restored Fort Concho, a restored Concho Ave., other historic buildings which include the second court house and the city hall which houses an outstanding art deco auditorium and interesting Victorian homes and elegant homes from oil boom days.