History Lesson:
Ector, Texas, located in central Fannin County on U.S. Highway 82 and the Texas and Pacific Railway, began in the late 19th century as a farming community near Caney Creek. Originally called Victor's Station, it was renamed to honor pioneer settler Ector Owens after postal authorities noted a name conflict.
Early Development and Growth
- Establishment: Settlement began in the late 19th century, with postal service established in 1886.
- Railroad Impact: The arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railway in 1892 made Ector a key shipping point for agricultural goods.
- Population & Business: The town grew from a small settlement to having 218 residents and a bank by 1904. By 1926, the population reached 451, with 25 businesses serving the area.
- Infrastructure: A Methodist church was established in 1882, followed by a Baptist church in 1894. The Ector Lodge 687, a local Masonic group, moved to the town in 1889.
Later Years and Modern Era
- Economic Shift: While the population peaked around 650 by 1988, the number of local businesses declined significantly as residents began commuting to nearby cities like Sherman (20 miles west) and Denison (22 miles northwest) for work.
- Modern Community: In 2017, a large development project known as Trident Lakes was planned near Ector. Trident Lakes was a proposed 700-acre, $320-$400 million luxury "doomsday" community, designed as a high-security, self-sustaining resort for the wealthy. The project promised 400-850 underground, fortified condos, a DNA vault, lagoons, and a golf course. However, the development hit severe legal issues, with the developer facing money-laundering charges and filing for bankruptcy in 2018.
- Recent Demographics: The town remains a rural residential community with a population of 600.
Cache Information:
This is a two stage multi-cache. At stage one is a State of Texas Historical Marker commemorating Ector Lodge No. 687. Read this marker to find the answer to the question below. The correct answer will give you the coordinates to the final. The final is in a nearby cemetery.
What word is split between two lines of text on the marker?
Throughout-- N 33 36.625 W 96 16.927
Pioneers-- N 33 36.609 W 96 16.917
Maintained-- N 33 36.617 W 96 16.940
Petitioned-- N 33 36.615 W 96 16.930