The state of Texas has a rich history filled with interesting events, milestones, and accomplishments. On , several significant events took place in Texas history.
December 4th in 1882, the Matador Land and Cattle Company, based in Dundee, Scotland, purchased the Matador ranch in Motley County, Texas. This acquisition marked the beginning of the ranch’s growth, eventually expanding to 861,000 acres across multiple Texas counties. The company also leased land in Montana and South Dakota, further establishing its presence in the American West.
Fast forward to 1928, when Carl G. Cromwell’s oil well University 1-B struck oil in Reagan County, reaching a depth of 8,525 feet. This well held the record as the deepest in the world until 1931, highlighting the significance of the Texas oil industry.
In 1959, Texas played a role in space exploration as a monkey named Sam was launched into space from a capsule developed by engineers at San Antonio’s Brooks Air Force Base. This event marked an important milestone in the history of space travel and Texas’s contributions to the field.
Moving to more recent history, in 2010, the USS Fort Worth was launched, adding to the state’s legacy of military and naval achievements.
In the world of sports, in 2012, Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers was awarded the Greatness in Baseball Yearly Award for the MLB Hitting Performance of the Year. This accolade was in recognition of his exceptional performance, hitting four home runs in a single game against the Baltimore Orioles on May 8th, 2012.