How Come It's Called That? : Place Names in the Big Bend Country

by Virginia Madison, Hallie Stillwell

book

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1997

Reviews

[Jordan Martinelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone very familiar with “Big Bend Country,” I found this book fascinating, informative and full of tongue-in-cheek lore…all of which are embodied by the Trans-Pecos region and its peoples. If you travel this way, pick up a copy at Alpine’s Front Street Books and further your knowledge of the local geography and culture. I highly recommend it to anyone with a love of the area, fans of Hallie Stillwell or the National Park Service.

*Friendly tip: Use the Index in the rear of the book for quick access to key names, terms or locations. Makes for a fun travel guide!

[Kath · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is really a local book, as most of the places were named for inhabitants of the area. Exceptions include places whose namesakes were cartographers, surveyors and folks of that exploratory ilk, as well as a few spots named for events that occurred in spots. While exhaustively detailed and thorough, it's a pretty dry telling and I found it difficult to maintain interest.

[Janie Sedlak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting stories about areas in and around the Big Bend area.

[Viv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. Fond phase of my Big Bend "fandom" /obsession. A bit dry, but the book does deliver on what it asks! It literally goes through why trails/places are named the way they are.

[Moby Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read for anyone who has visited Big Bend. More than just about the names of places but also a glimpse into the colorful places and characters who settled this land.

[Dino Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

This explains a lot about Big Bend and the surrounding area in the Alpine and Marfa region.

A study of place names in the Big Bend Country of Texas incorporates all documentary material available, including historical linguistic and anthorponynic. Since the area is historically important in that Indians Spaniards and Anglo Americans have moved, usually violently, back and forth over the picturesque land, there are is all probability names under layers of names. The emphasis, nonetheless, is placed on English names.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this history of the Big Bend region until circa 1957 was dry in places, it's still a good resource for the many place names of the area. I even recognized several names of ranchers and other folks who still live in the area.