Texas State Highway 163
Encyclopedia
State Highway 163 or SH 163 is a 203-mile (327 km.) state highway
in the western part of Texas
.
near the Rio Grande River, the southern border of the state. The road passes east of the Seminole Canyon State Historical Park and along Devils River
to the ghost town
of Juno. The highway continues north to Ozona
at Interstate 10 and to Barnhart
, where it junctions with U.S. Highway 67, and on to Sterling City
. The highway is co-routed with U.S. Highway 87 at Sterling City, but then diverges after a few miles to continue northward to Colorado City
and a final junction with Interstate 20 Business Loop (former U.S. Highway 80).
, Crockett, Irion, Tom Green, Sterling
, and Mitchell. Most of the terrain covered by the highway is sparsely populated ranch
country.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the western part of 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...
.
Route description
SH 163 runs almost directly north from its originating junction with U.S. Highway 90 at ComstockComstock, Texas
Comstock is an unincorporated community in Val Verde County, Texas, United States.Comstock is about 24 miles northwest of Del Rio on U.S. 90. It is the town nearest to Seminole Canyon, which has been a site of human habitation for 9,000 years...
near the Rio Grande River, the southern border of the state. The road passes east of the Seminole Canyon State Historical Park and along Devils River
Devils River (Texas)
The Devils River is a pristine, whitewater river in southwestern Texas, USA. It begins in northwest Sutton County, at , where six watercourses come together, Dry Devils River, Granger Draw, House Draw, Jackson, Flat Rock Draw, and Rough Canyon...
to the ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
of Juno. The highway continues north to Ozona
Ozona, Texas
Ozona is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Crockett County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,436 at the 2000 census...
at Interstate 10 and to Barnhart
Barnhart, Texas
Barnhart is an unincorporated community in Irion County, Texas, United States. It was founded by Willam A. Barnhart in 1910, when the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway was constructed through the area. A post office opened in Barnhart in 1912, and a school operated in the community from 1912...
, where it junctions with U.S. Highway 67, and on to Sterling City
Sterling City, Texas
Sterling City is a city in and the county seat of Sterling County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,081 at the 2000 census, but had dropped to 982 by 2009....
. The highway is co-routed with U.S. Highway 87 at Sterling City, but then diverges after a few miles to continue northward to Colorado City
Colorado City, Texas
Colorado City is a city in and the county seat of Mitchell County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,281 at the 2000 census....
and a final junction with Interstate 20 Business Loop (former U.S. Highway 80).
History
The original formation of the highway in 1939 included only the section from Comstock to Barnhart. In 1957 State Highway 101 and Ranch to Market Road 379 were cancelled and combined into the additional sections of SH 163 from Barnhart to Colorado City. Counties traversed by the highway include Val VerdeVal Verde County, Texas
Val Verde County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2008, estimated population was 55,000. Its county seat is Del Rio. In 1936, Val Verde County received Recorded Texas Historic Landmark number 5625 to commemorate its founding.Val Verde, which means "green...
, Crockett, Irion, Tom Green, Sterling
Sterling County, Texas
Sterling County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 1,393. Its county seat is Sterling City. The county is named for W. S. Sterling, an early settler in the area. Sterling County is one of 30 prohibition, or entirely dry, counties in...
, and Mitchell. Most of the terrain covered by the highway is sparsely populated ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
country.
Major intersections
| County | Location | Mile | Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Val Verde Val Verde County, Texas Val Verde County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2008, estimated population was 55,000. Its county seat is Del Rio. In 1936, Val Verde County received Recorded Texas Historic Landmark number 5625 to commemorate its founding.Val Verde, which means "green... |
Comstock Comstock, Texas Comstock is an unincorporated community in Val Verde County, Texas, United States.Comstock is about 24 miles northwest of Del Rio on U.S. 90. It is the town nearest to Seminole Canyon, which has been a site of human habitation for 9,000 years... |
0.0 | Southern terminus | |
| Crockett | Ozona Ozona, Texas Ozona is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Crockett County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,436 at the 2000 census... |
|||
| Irion | Barnhart Barnhart, Texas Barnhart is an unincorporated community in Irion County, Texas, United States. It was founded by Willam A. Barnhart in 1910, when the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway was constructed through the area. A post office opened in Barnhart in 1912, and a school operated in the community from 1912... |
|||
| Sterling Sterling County, Texas Sterling County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 1,393. Its county seat is Sterling City. The county is named for W. S. Sterling, an early settler in the area. Sterling County is one of 30 prohibition, or entirely dry, counties in... |
Sterling City Sterling City, Texas Sterling City is a city in and the county seat of Sterling County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,081 at the 2000 census, but had dropped to 982 by 2009.... |
|||
| Mitchell | Colorado City Colorado City, Texas Colorado City is a city in and the county seat of Mitchell County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,281 at the 2000 census.... |
Northern terminus |
External links
- Highway designation file for SH 163 at the Texas Department of TransportationTexas Department of TransportationThe Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
- [ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/trv/maps/totm-mxd.pdf Texas official travel map] at the Texas Department of TransportationTexas Department of TransportationThe Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
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