Merkel, TX
Music connected to Merkel
About Merkel
- • Singer-songwriter Mac Davis, known for "Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me," was born in Merkel.
- • Merkel is home to the annual "Calico Cat" antique tractor show.
- • The Texas and Pacific Railway's expansion established Merkel as a shipping hub.
- • A local legend claims a hidden stash of outlaw loot is buried near Merkel.
- • The drought of the 1950s devastated Merkel's farming community.
- • Named for landowner Abraham Merkel, it was established in 1881.
- • Its population hovers around 2,500, smaller than many nearby Texas towns.
- • At 2,057 feet, it offers expansive views of the rolling West Texas plains.
- • Agriculture and ranching remain important to Merkel's economy.
- • A feeling of small-town peace settles over you in Merkel.
- • The Dallas Cowboys, about 200 miles east, have won five Super Bowls.
- • Merkel High School's football team has a long history of competitive seasons.
- • The town lies within the Clear Fork Brazos River watershed.
- • Interstate 20 passes directly through the city, connecting it to major cities.