Doole, Texas
Encyclopedia
Doole is an unincorporated community
in McCulloch County
, Texas
, United States
. According to the Handbook of Texas
, the community had an estimated population of 74 in 1990.
The rodeo
perfomer and promoter Dan Collins Taylor
was born in Doole in 1923 and died there in 2010. For nearly a half-century he was a chute director at the Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne
, Wyoming
.
503 and 765 in northwestern McCulloch County, approximately 12 miles north of U.S. Highway 87
and 28 miles northwest of Brady
. The nearest large city is San Angelo
, 55 miles west of Doole.
in 1908. Around 1911, residents decided to establish a post office and asked Brady's postmaster – David Doole, Jr. - for advice. The postal service in Washington, D.C.
rejected the name Gansel. In appreciation for Mr. Doole's assistance, local residents decided to name the community after him. By 1914, Doole had an estimated population of 25. In 1936, East Gansel School closed and students were transferred to Doole. That year, another community – Stacy – began sending students to Doole as well. Doole was home 250 people by the 1940s. At this time, students attended elementary school in Doole through the sixth grade, while secondary students were bussed to Melvin
. The community began to decline after World War II
, mainly because of the consolidation of small family farms. A drought in the 1950s caused many farmers to leave the area in search of greater job opportunities. During the mid-1960a, Doole's population had fallen to 40. That figure had risen to around 74 in 1970 and remained at that level throughout the rest of the twentieth century.
Although Doole is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 76836.
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in McCulloch County
McCulloch County, Texas
McCulloch County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. The geographical center of Texas lies within the county. In 2000, its population was 8,205. Its county seat is Brady. McCulloch is named for Benjamin McCulloch, a famous Texas Ranger and Confederate...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. According to the Handbook of Texas
Handbook of Texas
The Handbook of Texas is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association .-History:...
, the community had an estimated population of 74 in 1990.
The rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
perfomer and promoter Dan Collins Taylor
Dan Taylor (rodeo)
Dan Collins Taylor was an American cowboy and rodeo performer and promoter.-Rodeo career:Taylor was born to third-generation ranchers Babb Taylor and Kathleen Taylor in rural Doole near Brady in McCulloch County in central Texas...
was born in Doole in 1923 and died there in 2010. For nearly a half-century he was a chute director at the Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
.
Geography
Doole is located at 31°23′45"N 99°35′56"W (31.3957169, -99.5989535). It is situated at the junction of Farm RoadsFarm to Market Road
In the United States, a farm-to-market road or ranch-to-market road is a state road or county road which serves to connect rural or agricultural areas to market towns...
503 and 765 in northwestern McCulloch County, approximately 12 miles north of U.S. Highway 87
U.S. Route 87
U.S. Highway 87 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1,998 miles from northern Montana to southern Texas. Most of the portion from Billings, Montana, to Raton, New Mexico, is co-signed along Interstates 90 and 25...
and 28 miles northwest of Brady
Brady, Texas
Brady is a city in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. Brady refers to itself as "The Heart of Texas", as it is the closest city to the geographical center of the state. The population was 5,523 at the 2000 census...
. The nearest large city is San Angelo
San Angelo, Texas
San Angelo is a city in the state of Texas. Located in West Central Texas it is the county seat of Tom Green County. As of 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total population of 93,200...
, 55 miles west of Doole.
History
A ranching community called Gansel, after a prominent local family, was the area's first settlement. It developed around Crossroads School, which had moved to the area from Fort ConchoFort Concho
Fort Concho is a National Historic Landmark owned and operated since 1935 by the city of San Angelo, the seat of Tom Green County in West Texas...
in 1908. Around 1911, residents decided to establish a post office and asked Brady's postmaster – David Doole, Jr. - for advice. The postal service in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
rejected the name Gansel. In appreciation for Mr. Doole's assistance, local residents decided to name the community after him. By 1914, Doole had an estimated population of 25. In 1936, East Gansel School closed and students were transferred to Doole. That year, another community – Stacy – began sending students to Doole as well. Doole was home 250 people by the 1940s. At this time, students attended elementary school in Doole through the sixth grade, while secondary students were bussed to Melvin
Melvin, Texas
Melvin is a town in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. The population was 155 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Melvin is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
. The community began to decline after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, mainly because of the consolidation of small family farms. A drought in the 1950s caused many farmers to leave the area in search of greater job opportunities. During the mid-1960a, Doole's population had fallen to 40. That figure had risen to around 74 in 1970 and remained at that level throughout the rest of the twentieth century.
Although Doole is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 76836.
Education
Public education in the community of Doole is provided by the Brady Independent School DistrictBrady Independent School District
Brady Independent School District is a public school district based in Brady, Texas .In addition to Brady, the district also serves the town of Melvin...
.