Details for Matador Ranch

Historical Marker — Atlas Number 5345003249

Data

Marker Number 3249
Atlas Number 5345003249
Marker Title Matador Ranch
Index Entry Matador Ranch
Address SH 70
City Matador
County Motley
UTM Zone 14
UTM Easting 331162
UTM Northing 3763492
Subject Codes ranches/ranching
Marker Year 1986
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark No
Marker Location From Matador, south about 0.5 mi. on SH 70, roadside park near ranch headquarters
Private Property No
Marker Condition Damaged
Marker Size 27" x 42"
Marker Text The Matador Cattle Company began as an open range ranch in 1879 when Henry H. Campbell, A. M. Britton, and three others bought range rights in this area. In 1882, the ranch was purchased by Scottish investors, who formed the Matador Land & Cattle Company, Ltd. The ranch utilized one and one half million acres of owned and leased range in Motley, Floyd, Dickens and Cottle counties. In 1902, the ranch acquired the 210,000 acre Alamocitas Ranch in Oldham County. Additional pastures were leased in the Dakotas, Montana and Canada. At its height the ranch owned 90,000 cattle and title to 879,000 acres of Texas land. In 1913, the Quanah, Acme and Pacific Railroad was built through the ranch in Motley County and the town of Roaring Springs was established. General managers of the ranch were Britton (1879-90), Murdo MacKenzie (1890-1911, 1923-1937), John MacBain (1912-1922), and John MacKenzie (1937-1951). The general manager's office was located first in Fort Worth and later in Trinidad and Denver, Colorado. Corporate offices were maintained in Scotland from 1882 until the ranch's liquidation in 1951. The ranch headquarters was purchased by Koch Industries, Inc. and became The Matador Cattle Company. Texas Sesquicentennial, 1836-1986