Nocona, Texas

The city is named for Peta Nocona, the Comanche chief. The area was first known to white settlers as the last stop in Texas before crossing the Red River on the Chisolm Trail. It was founded in 1887 along a particular bend in the Gainesville, Henrietta and Western Railway line, which soon became part of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, connecting Gainesville and Henrietta, and later Wichita Falls. Nocona assumed the role of economic and industrial center of northern Montague County, and many older towns in the area, bypassed by the railroad, and its businesses shuttered. Its citizens moved to Nocona. The city has steadily maintained a population around 3000 since the 1940s, though industries responsible for its growth have come and gone. The "North Field", an oil field between Nocona and the Red River, contributed to Nocona's economy for much of the 20th century and continues to do so on a small scale. The MKT line, which was responsible for Nocona's founding, was abandoned in 1969 and the tracks removed in 1971. Nocona also has a proud history of leather works and has been home to Justin Industries, Nocona Boot Company, and the Nocona Belt Company. Nocona Boot Company and Justin Industries have since moved; however, the Montague Boot Company has been established in downtown Nocona, making boots for the Larry Mahan line at Cavender's Boot City. Also integral to the Nocona economy is the Nocona Athletic Goods Company (product names are spelled "Nokona"), which manufactures baseball gloves, bats, catcher's equipment, and other sports accessories. The Athletic Goods' facilities burned in July 2006, and production has been moved to a temporary facility. Significant efforts are currently underway to revitalize the Clay Street downtown area. See an example of refurbishing a downtown landmark from start to finish at the F&M Bank Face Lift Project.

Nocona has a lake, about 10 miles north of the city, appropriately named Lake Nocona, or Farmer's Creek Reservoir. It is a recreational lake popular with people from across north-central Texas. On Lake Nocona sits Nocona Hills, an attractive gated lakeside "city" with many homes, a hotel, golf course, landing strip, and other amenities. Nocona is also home to an 18-hole golf course, airstrip (FAA identifier F48), hospital, and one of the finest city parks in Texas.

Nocona is located at 33°47′18″N 97°43′35″W.[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), all of it land.

As of the census[3] of 2000, 3,198 people, 1,286 households, and 825 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,134.5 people per square mile (437.9/km²). The 1,456 housing units averaged 516.5/sq mi (199.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.59% White, 0.25% African American, 0.84% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.31% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 12.48% of the population.

Of the 1,286 households, 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were no t families. About 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city, the population was distributed as 26.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,893, and for a family was $35,000. Males had a median income of $24,868 versus $16,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,080. About 10.6% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.3% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.

The City of Nocona is served by the Nocona Independent School District. Nocona High School's mascot is the Indians and the Braves.

• Joseph Sterling Bridwell, the Wichita Falls rancher, oilman, and philanthropist, drilled his first oil well near Nocona in 1921.[7]
• David Graham Gardner: Owner of the Nocona Telephone Company, established in 1904 over a hardware store with two operators to handle day-calls, and an all-night operator. In the 1920s, the company added the first "line trucks." The company was sold in 1964 by his two children, David G. "Bubba" Gardner, Jr., and Sue Gardner Parsons. D.G. Gardner was born in Acton, Texas, on Sept 30, 1874, and his wife, Mable Holland Gardner, was born in Arkansas on July 18, 1887. D.G.'s father, Graham Gardner, lived in Granbury, Texas during the Civil War, and fought with Hood's Brigade. The Gardners were longtime friends of the Justin family.
• "Jackrabbit" Jack Crain was the 1939, 1941 All Southwest Conference and two-time All-American halfback, Texas legend, and the man who saved Texas Longhorns football team in 1939. Mr. Crain also served four terms as a Texas state representative for district 61. Nocona's high school football stadium is named for him. An account of the game that changed Texas football is at Mack Brown's Texas Football. See Jack Crain's playbook and details about his life at Nocona Community Web.
• Herman Joseph Justin: Founder of the Justin Industries. H. J. Justin was born in Indiana in 1859 and moved to Gainesville, Texas, in 1877. He opened his boot business at Spanish Fort along the Chisholm Trail in 1879 with a $35 loan from the local barber. His boots became known for quality craftsmanship and durability among cowboys. In 1887, he moved the business to Nocona to be near the new railroad. He died in 1918. In 1925, his sons moved Justin Industries to Fort Worth.
• Enid Justin: Founder of the Nocona Boot Company and daughter of H.J. "Daddy Joe" Justin, founder of Justin Boots. Ms. Justin was a longtime supporter of youth programs in Nocona such as the boys' and girls' Little League and the city park. A detailed account of her life and business is here: http://iii.library.unt.edu/search~S12?/Xenid+justin&searchscope=12&SORT=D/Xenid+justin&searchscope=12&SORT=D&SUBKEY=enid+justin/1%2C9%2C9%2CB/frameset&FF=Xenid+justin&searchscope=12&SORT=D&2%2C2%2C
• Joe Hancock: Perhaps one of Nocona's most famous products is not a person at all, but an American Quarter Horse legend. Joe Hancock foaled circa 1925, was raised by John Jackson Hancock, and was trained by Elbert Bird Ogle in Claypool, OK. One of his many claims to fame is having never been beaten in a quarter-mile race. After his racing career, he lived out his days at the 6666/Triangle ranch until he died in 1943. He was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Association's Hall of Fame in 1992.
• Nocona's Midway Farms (owned by Earl Nunneley, Jerry Nunneley, Christopher Nunneley, Roger Nunneley, Mark Nunneley, Carol Jean Fitts, Karen Young, Barbara Nunneley, Beth Mazziotta, and Jeffrey Nunneley) owned/raced two world record Appaloosa horses who won the World Wide Appaloosa Futurity in back to back years at Albuquerque, NM: Zepana Bull and Dervish Maid.
• Ruth Roach (1896-1986), championship bronc rider and rodeo performer, retired to a ranch near Nocona.
• Charles C. "Charlie" Robertson: A 1915 Nocona High School graduate, Mr. Robertson went on to play major league baseball with the Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Browns, and Boston Braves. While with the White Sox, Robertson pitched one of only 23 perfect games ever recorded in American major league baseball on April 30, 1922.
• Robert E. (Bob) Storey was selected as a Distinguished Graduate by Nocona High School (Nocona Independent School District). His father-inlaw, Cadmus McCall, was the founder of the Nocona Leather Goods, now the Nocona Athletic Goods Company. Bob Storey started making the first ball gloves at the factory in 1934. Nocona Athletic Goods is the only American glove manufacturer left in the US. Storey was selected to the National Sporting Goods Hall of Fame in 1983 for his innovations to the baseball mitt and his design changes to the standard college football's shape. View the NSGA Hall of Fame listing on Storey.
• Cadmus McCall (1876–1953) played a major role in two of the most important economic entities in Nocona. First, as president of the Farmers and Merchants National Bank, he helped to finance much of the actual construction of the town, as well as providing the necessary capital for the development of the North Field oil boom. Second, McCall also built the Nocona Leather Goods in 1926. This business has and continues to be one of the main employers in Nocona. See Cadmus McCall referenced on a historic monument at the Nocona Community Network.

• U.S. Highway 82 East - West: Georgia to New Mexico
• FM 103 North - South: Nocona to Spanish Fort
• FM 1759 East - West: Nocona to northwestern Montague County
• FM 1956 East - West: Nocona to Capps Corner

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Nocona has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[8]

• Horton Classic Car Museum
• Nocona Chamber of Commerce
• Nocona Economic Development Corporation
• Nocona Independent School District
• Fishing Lake Nocona
• History of the Chisholm Trail
• Lost Places of Nocona
• Nocona: A View of the 50s
• NHS Distinguished Alumni
• F&M Bank Face Lift Project
• Nocona Cemetery

• Hope 29:11, Inc. Foodbank Outreach