Page Contents for Freer, Texas

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Historical Events

Chamber of Commerce.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Texas state capital is Austin.
The population of Freer is approximately 2,938 (2009), 2818 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 1,334 (2000), 980 (2010).
The amount of land area in Freer is 10.434 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Freer is 4.0 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0.095 sq kilometers.
The distance from Freer to Washington DC is 1497 miles.
The distance to the Texas state capital is 175 miles. (as the crow flies)
Freer is positioned 27.88 degrees north of the equator and 98.61 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Freer elevation is 518 feet above sea level.
Freer per capita income is $ 14,625 (2008).
Freer median income is $ 31,115 (2008).
The Freer median home price is $ 46,440 (2008).

Location

in southern Texas about 59 miles from Laredo and about 75 miles from Corpus Christi. It is at the intersection of US Hwy 59 and State hwys 16, 44 and 339. Other nearby communities include Benavides, San Diego, Loma Linda East, Realitos, Owl Ranch-Amargosa, Coyote Acres, Alice Acres and Tilden.
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History & History Related Items

First known as Las Hermanitas, which means the Sisters, for the two hills south of town. Next, the town was known as Government Wells for a water well the US Cavalry dug in 1876 north of the present city site. Rancher, Norman G. Collins, came here and purchased thousands of acres of land for his sheep, he named his ranch, Rancho Americano. William Hubberd, from Germany, settled in Government Wells when he came to manage the sheep ranch. He also bought land here in 1876. Paul and Joe White were also among the early settlers of the area. They settled in the Rosita Creek valley near present-day Freer and made their living digging water wells. Many other early families established themselves in the area included the Hahls, Momenys, Rileys, Powers, Nortons and Daniel J. Freer. A school was built in 1917. When Daniel Freer came to visit his friends, the Rileys, he liked what he saw and purchased some land near the Rileys. J.T. Johnson and Freer petitioned for a post office in 1925. They submitted three names for the PO - Riley, Wendt and Freer. The post office chose Freer because the other two were already being used in Texas.

Life went along in Freer as in many small Texas towns, but in 1928, a momentous event took place. One of the nation's largest oil reserves was struck just outside town on the W.P. Norton property. The discovery led to huge growth for the area. Freer was called the "last of the tough frontier oil towns," by Life Magazine. The actual townsite was laid out by Charles Freer after he bought the site from A.H. Compton on 20 December 1980. The Depression of the 1930s and other discoveries of oil in eastern Texas caused the oil boom to deflate. Fortunately, in 1932, another well came in setting off an even bigger oil boom than the first one. After this second discovery, phenomenal growth took place in Freer. In 1933, a disastrous fire burned most of the town, but the citizens only displayed their resilience by rebuilding. Huge growth also brought with it some problems with the rougher side of life. At one time, there was no jail available so the local constable would chain drunks to the nearest telephone pole overnight. Streets were not paved here until 1938 and other problems existed with no sewage system, bank or potable water. Because of the problems, many stayed clear of Freer. But the residents were determined to better their town and they did, with improvements to the parts of town that needed it and also to all other aspects of Freer. It has become a stable, good place to live. Many large petroleum companies settled in with plants here helping the economy even further.

Here is a history page for Freer.
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Attractions

Freer is home to the World's largest Rattlesnake. It can be found in front of the Chamber of Commerce building in Freer. The Rattlesnake Roundup is held in April each year with a Miss Freer competition, a parade and, of course, the snake hunting contest. For more information, please contact the chamber of commerce.

See photos of Freer.
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Freer City Government

Freer City Hall
412 S Main St
Freer, TX 78357
Phone: 361-394-6612

Freer Historical Events

1965
First Freer Rattlesnake Roundup
This event first began in 1965 as the Freer Oil-O-Rama. As it still does, the local chamber of commerce sponsors this event. The first event had displays of oil field equipment, a dance, a Miss Oil-O-Rama contest and more. By 1968, the Freer Jaycees began to co-sponsor the event which was now becoming known as the Rattlesnake Roundup. They moved from the gym to the Rotary Park and then to the Freer Cactus Corral. Other venues have been used over the years. In 1985, the Chamber once again took sole sponsorship of the vent. The Roundup is also a time for local non-profit groups to earn money by selling food and items for their projects. In 1993, the legislature designated Freer as home to the "Official Rattlesnake Roundup of Texas."

Freer Chamber

Chamber Of Commerce
154 E Highway 44
P.O. Box 717
Freer, TX 78357
Phone: 361-394-6891

Freer Organizations

Chamber Of Commerce
154 E Highway 44
P.O. Box 717
Freer, TX 78357
Phone: 361-394-6891

Freer Schools

Freer Independent School District
905 S Norton
Freer, TX 78357
Phone: 361-394-6025

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Freer High School
905 S Norton
Freer, TX 78357
Phone: 361-394-6717

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Freer Junior High School
615 S Norton Ave
Freer, TX 78357
Phone: 361-394-7102

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Norman Thomas Elementary School
1404 S Norton Ave
Freer, TX 78357
Phone: 361-394-6800 Freer

Miscellany

The population of Freer was:
1940 - 2,346
1950 - 2,280
1955 - 2,280
1960 - 2,734
1970 - 2,804
1980 - 3,213
1988 - 3,735
1990 - 3,271
2000 - 3,241
2009 - 2,938

Median age:
2000 - 30.5 years

Population Density:
2000 - 804.3 persons per square mile

Number of Housing Units:
1990 - 1,308
2000 - 1,334

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Median household income:
2000 - $ 25,078
2008 - $ 31,115

Per capita Income:
2000 - $ 11,457
2008 - $ 14,625

Median house value:
2000 - $ 28,600
2008 - $ 46,440

Freer is located in the Central Time Zone and does participate in daylight savings time during a portion of the year.