BELKNAP
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BELKNAP |
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NAME: Belknap COUNTY: Young ROADS: 2WD GRID: 1 CLIMATE: Warm winter, hot summer BEST TIME TO VISIT:Winter, spring, fall |
COMMENTS:
On SR 251 REMAINS: The cemetery. |
| The military post of Fort Belknap was established in1851 and was first commanded by General William E. Belknap. The town grew up about half a mile east of the fort. In 1858, Belknap had about 150 residents, a few stores, a saloon and a post office. The fort was one of a series built in the early 1850s along a line from the Rio Grande to the Red River to protect the frontier from hostile Indians. Fort Belknap opened in 1867 for five months and due to poor water closed in 1867 and the troops were moved west to Fort Griffin. The closing of the fort was the beginning of the end for the town. In 1880, only about forty-four residents still resided in Belknap. Its interesting cemetery and a few rural residences now mark the townsite. The fort was rebuilt many years ago and contains a museum of its life as well as that of the town. Belknap and Fort Belknap are found on Texas highway 251 in Young County. SUBMITTED BY: Henry Chenoweth |
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