The same year that ROMERO and GOODNIGHT entered the Panhandle, the citizens of Texas voted to accept a new state constitution, replacing the one forced on them at the close of the Civil War. Included in the reshuffling and reorganization was a act dividing the unorganized territories in western Texas and the Panhandle into counties.
Tascosa village grew up around ROMERO's home when other New Mexico sheepmen followed ROMERO to this ancient crossing on the Canadian. A blacksmith shop, a store and saloon were the first businesses. Soon cowboys and cattlemen were trading, drinking and carousing in the village. see Boothill Cemetery List and Photos
In 1880 when the census takers made their rounds of the Panhandle, there were 285 persons in the unorganized area. Mobeetie,Tascosa and Clarendon were the first three villages in the Panhandle. Dodge City, Kansas, at the end of the rails, was the supply center. The Tascosa to Dodge City Trail ran 242 Miles, crossing MOORE COUNTY from southwest to northeast. It was 35 miles from Tascosa to the Little Blue station in MOORE COUNTY.
see story in "100 Moore Years" by Martha Crabb.