The Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos River crosses the southern part of Stonewall County and then turns back into its eastern part. Several local histories are connected to this river: Brandenburg, later known as Old Glory, was established on the Double Mountain Fork; Rath City was founded near the river. So a trip through the county leads not only to its landscape, but also to the different chapters of its history.
Rivers and Landscape
Stonewall County encompasses 926 square miles of the Texas Rolling Plains. Its topography ranges from rolling plains to mountainous terrain. The soils support mesquite savannas, bunchgrasses, short grasses, and mesquite growth. One distinctive landform is Double Mountain: the formation consists of two hills that rise about 600 feet above the surrounding terrain. Together, these features give an impression of the variety of landscapes found within the county.
The river courses also help with orientation. The Double Mountain Fork extends for 165 miles before joining the Salt Fork of the Brazos River near the Old Glory oilfield, northeast of Aspermont. Near the southern border of Stonewall County, it turns north; after curving through western Haskell County, it reaches the Salt Fork. The Salt Fork crosses the northern half of Stonewall County. The descriptions of the two rivers make clear how their geographic courses differ: the Salt Fork runs through the north, while the Double Mountain Fork touches the southern part of the county and turns back east.
Tonk Creek rises five miles southwest of Aspermont in south-central Stonewall County and is the main outlet of Aspermont Lake. The lake lies south of the county seat. Tonk Creek contributes to the rugged terrain, marked by canyons and ravines; its name comes from the Tonkawa Indigenous people. Kiowa Peak is also part of the region’s history: for Indigenous populations and, later, early explorers, it was an important landmark.
Local History on the Double Mountain Fork
Old Glory developed from Brandenburg, a community founded by German settler families on the Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos River. On August 9, 1918, its name was changed from Brandenburg to Old Glory. The change of place name marks a specific moment in the community’s history and connects its former name with the one known today.
Rath City was founded in 1876 near the Double Mountain Fork as a supply station for buffalo hunters. During the buffalo trade era, the settlement included a pen, a buffalo-hide storage area, a saloon, and a restaurant. Rath City no longer exists. Its history represents an earlier phase of settlement, when supplies and trade shaped a settlement’s character.
Rayner was the first county seat of Stonewall County and is no longer an active town. Community life in Old Glory also had its own center: the school served as both an educational institution and a civic center. Another historic landmark is the Oriana Bridge. Built in 1917, it is located on the Salt Fork of the Brazos River on County Road 207 in Peacock, Stonewall County.
Events and Getting Around
Aspermont hosts two recurring events at different times of the year. The Stonewall County Fair is held every June; the Aspermont Township Homecoming takes place in October. If you would like to include either event in your travel plans, confirm the current dates locally.
The main roads also provide clear orientation for understanding the county’s geography: U.S. Highway 83 runs north to south through the middle of Stonewall County, while U.S. Highway 380 crosses the county from east to west. Together with the river courses and the places mentioned, these directions give a helpful picture of the region’s location, without combining the different historic sites into a single route.
Discover more destinations: Aspermont, Henderson County, Childress County, Denton, Trinity, San Patricio County, Llano, Carson County.
For the broader travel overview: Texas.
