Post, Texas: From Visionary Colony to Oil-Driven Small Town

Anyone familiar with Lubbock and even most of West Texas has driven through the City of Post at least once. The dead giveaway when approaching the city is the strong smell of crude oil as the rigs work non-stop along the road. Yummm.

Welcome to Post, Texas

Located just 40 minutes southeast of Lubbock serving as the crossroads of US 84 and 380, the City of Post was founded back in 1907 after the previous landowner sold it.

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Who did the ranch owner sell it to? Well, just a small breakfast cereal connoisseur by the name of C.W. Post, who went on to have one of the most iconic and recognizable names in the cereal market.

Post wasn’t always the name, however. It used to be called “Post City” until 1914. Get this, alcohol and brothels were banned when the city was first established, relying mostly on the cotton gins and textile plants for revenue.

Slowly, the city grew to include a school, a bank, and even their very own newspaper—The Post City Post, (clever… I guess).

Post Tries to Play God

Another odd fact from Post’s history is that, around 1912, the city attempted rainmaking experiments. They did this by detonating timed explosives in the atmosphere to induce rainfall.

Surprisingly, this didn’t actually work. Who woulda known?

In 1916, with a combined total pledge of over $100,000 (nearly $3 million in today’s economy), the city tried to become the site of a West Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College, which also failed.

Post Oil Industry

Thanks to the city’s oil industry which is still very much active to this day, the population boomed in the early 1960s of a whopping 4,800 in 1964. Unfortunately, Post’s population has not exploded since then.

As of 2024, the population sits at roughly 2,600.

10 ‘Old Sayings’ That Still Help Predict Texas WeatherTexans love a good wives-tale, and I know for a fact many of us have heard many about weather predicting. But when it comes down to it, are any of them based in fact? Turns out, some are: CanvaA Red Sky If you see red skies at sunset, it implies a dry, calm, high-pressure zone — or a clear day. But if you see red skies at sunlight, it means a low-pressure, stormy zone could be coming. CanvaIn Your BonesMany people claim to feel ‘under the weather’ during certain weather events — but is this really a thing? Turns out it could be. As barometric pressure falls with a coming storm, you could feel more pain. CanvaCrickets You’ll often hear crickets chirping, but if you pay attention you may notice that their chirping correlates with the air temperature, so you can use them to detect temperatures. If it’s warm, thy chirp faster, and vice versa. CanvaCowsIf you see a cow lying down, it could have to do with the weather. But growing up on a farm, I do have to say I saw a lot of cows laying with no change in weather…
BUT, apparently, cows will sometimes lay to contain body heat, so it could be a sign of colder weather or a storm. CanvaLunar Halo Scientifically speaking, I had some trouble understanding how a halo around the moon could correlate to rain. So just know that if you see a moon with a halo, rain could be coming. CanvaA Clear Moon A clear night — and even day — can mean cold is coming. This has to do with dry, continental high-pressure zones. So if you see a cloudless night, especially around winter months, beware because frost could be coming. CanvaMarchMarch is when we typically move from winter to spring. So it is to be expected that March could start brutal (lion) and end calm and warmer (lamb). CanvaPine Cones I’ve seen a lot of pine cones in my day, but I never knew some people used them to… tell the weather?
There are a couple of ways people say you can use pine cones to predict weather, but according to How Stuff Works, only one is true. That is watching when they open and close. In dry weather, the cone will open, but for wet weather, they are more likely to remain closed. CanvaMackerel and Mare’s TailsJust know if you see either of these clouds, a storm could be on the way. CanvaCounting Lightening/ThunderAs a kid, I was told to count lightning and thunder to tell how far away a storm was. Since light is faster than sound, if you count the seconds between a lightening strike and thunder (in that order) you can get the brought distance of a storm. Each second equates to approximately 1 mile. Texas Inmates Stitch Love and Redemption Behind BarsInside the William P. Hobby Unit, inmates are learning new skills and giving back by sewing handmade quilts for children in Texas foster care. Gallery Credit: Lori Crofford TDCJ – Hobby/Marlin Complex via FacebookInmates at Hobby Unit Sew Quilts of LoveTDCJ – Hobby/Marlin Complex via FacebookInmates at Hobby Unit Sew Quilts of LoveTDCJ – Hobby/Marlin Complex via FacebookInmates at Hobby Unit Sew Quilts of LoveTDCJ – Hobby/Marlin Complex via FacebookInmates at Hobby Unit Sew Quilts of LoveTDCJ – Hobby/Marlin Complex via FacebookInmates at Hobby Unit Sew Quilts of LoveTDCJ – Hobby/Marlin Complex via FacebookInmates at Hobby Unit Sew Quilts of LoveTDCJ – Hobby/Marlin Complex via FacebookInmates at Hobby Unit Sew Quilts of LoveTDCJ – Hobby/Marlin Complex via FacebookInmates at Hobby Unit Sew Quilts of LoveTDCJ – Hobby/Marlin Complex via FacebookInmates at Hobby Unit Sew Quilts of LoveTDCJ – Hobby/Marlin Complex via FacebookInmates at Hobby Unit Sew Quilts of LoveTDCJ – Hobby/Marlin Complex via FacebookInmates at Hobby Unit Sew Quilts of Love15 Famous Graves in TexasFor many fans, visiting these graves is about paying respects. It’s a unique way to feel a real, tangible connection to the legends of our culture. Getty ImagesBen HoganBen Hogan was a professional golf player who won a total of 63 PGA sponsored tournaments. The golfing legend is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fort Worth. Getty ImagesTom LandryTom Landry was the legendary coach of the Dallas Cowboys, known for his trademark fedora. He led the team for 29 seasons, winning two Super Bowls, and is buried at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin. Getty ImagesBuddy HollyBuddy Holly was a pioneering rock and roll musician from Lubbock in the mid-1950s. After his death in a 1959 plane crash, he was buried in his hometown at the City of Lubbock Cemetery. Getty ImagesSherman HemsleySherman Alexander Hemsley was a famous actor best known for his role as George Jefferson on “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons.” The US Air Force veteran is laid to rest at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso. Getty ImagesPat SummerallPat Summerall was a professional football player who became an iconic sports broadcaster for four decades. Following his long career, he was buried at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas. Getty Images”Dimebag” Darrell AbbottDarrell “Dimebag” Abbott was the Texas-born lead guitarist for the heavy metal group Pantera. He was shot and killed while performing on stage and is buried at Moore Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Arlington. Getty ImagesGeorge H.W. BushGeorge H.W. Bush served as the 41st President of the United States and was a decorated WWII veteran. He is buried on the grounds of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station. Getty ImagesStevie Ray VaughanStevie Ray Vaughan was an influential rock and blues musician and a Texas native. His life was cut short in a helicopter crash at age 35, and he is buried at Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas. Getty ImagesMickey MantleMickey Mantle was a Hall of Fame Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Considered one of the greatest switch-hitters ever, he is buried at Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park in Dallas. Getty ImagesDavid KoreshDavid Koresh was the leader of the Branch Davidian cult involved in the tragic 1993 Waco siege. He is buried at Tyler Memorial Park and Cemetery in Tyler. (Photo is American actor Tim Daly as Branch Davidian leader David Koresh) Getty ImagesAnn B. DavisAnn B. Davis was a famous actress most known for playing Alice on the television show “The Brady Bunch.” The two-time Emmy Award winner is buried at Saint Helena’s Columbarium and Memorial Gardens in Boerne. Credit: CanvaBonnie Elizabeth ParkerBonnie Elizabeth Parker was a notorious outlaw and one half of the duo “Bonnie and Clyde.” After being killed by law enforcement, she was buried at Crown Hill Memorial Park in Dallas. Getty ImagesDavy Crockett Davy Crockett was a famous American frontiersman, US Congressman, and folk figure. He was killed at the Battle of the Alamo and is buried at the San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio. Getty ImagesClyde BarrowClyde Barrow was the other half of the infamous “Bonnie and Clyde” criminal duo. He was also killed by law enforcement and is buried at Western Heights Cemetery in Dallas. Getty ImagesSelena Quintanilla-PérezSelena Quintanilla-Pérez was a rising Tejano music star who had already won a Grammy Award. She was killed at 23 years old and is buried at Seaside Memorial Park in Corpus Christi.