Flag Springs Community

Flag Springs is located three miles northeast of Graham on the Fort Worth - Fort Belknap road, 10 miles east of Fort Belknap on private property.

The spring location is surrounded by a large pool of water which pours into smaller pools around the location. Early campsites are still visible possibly made by the early Ranger camps and Indians that frequented the area. Young County records show Flag Springs was the location where Lt. William R. Peveler was taken after the Indian raid killing Young County Sheriff Harvey Staten Cox on the Salt Creek Prairie on September 13, 1864.

Young County records show on Monday, April 10, 1865, Chief Justice Martin V. Bowers ordered the county records be moved from Belknap to herefor security and safety as the county's organziation fell apart. There is no historical evidence the records were ever kept at Flag Springs. Young County would become attached to Jack County and the records were then moved to the county seat of Jack County, Mesquiteville, which is now known Jacksboro.

The Graham Leader records show in August 1878, a horse racing track was created near the spring location. It became one of the most famous betting tracks in the southwest during its time period. One of the more famous jockeys was Pete Randolph. Pete would later be elected Sheriff of Wichita County, Texas. The last race on that track was held in 1905.

With the building of Norris lake, the spring was dynamited to increase water flow during the oil boom of the 1920s. Flag Springs is the earliest settlement in Young County and had a stable, houses, dugouts and a general store.

The springs are still flowing but nothing remains of this community which is on private property.

submitted by: Dorman Holub