Metcalf Gap
Encyclopedia
Metcalf Gap is a pass
through the Palo Pinto Mountains
in western Palo Pinto County, Texas
. The bluffs
of the mountains form an escarpment
running southwest to northeast, intersected by the Gap, and rise some 250-300 feet (75-90 m) above the pastures to the southeast. The pass itself lies at an elevation of about 1200 feet (365.8 m). US 180 and SH 16, which are concurrent at this point, run east-west through the pass; immediately to the east of the pass, SH 16 splits off toward Strawn
and runs southwest parallel to the line of hills.
For about 100 years from 1856 through the 1950s, there was a small community serving the ranchers in the area that shared its name with the pass; as recently as 1940 the town included a store, a school, and a population of forty. Both the town and the pass were named for J.J. Metcalf, an early rancher and surveyor
, who surveyed, among other things, the townsite of county seat
Golconda, now known as Palo Pinto. Today, only isolated ranch houses stand on the pastures outside Metcalf Gap.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
through the Palo Pinto Mountains
Palo Pinto Mountains
The term Palo Pinto Mountains properly refers to a specific cuesta-like range of hills in western Palo Pinto County, Texas. The name Palo Pinto roughly translates to "painted stick" in reference to the juniper trees of the area...
in western Palo Pinto County, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The bluffs
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
of the mountains form an escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
running southwest to northeast, intersected by the Gap, and rise some 250-300 feet (75-90 m) above the pastures to the southeast. The pass itself lies at an elevation of about 1200 feet (365.8 m). US 180 and SH 16, which are concurrent at this point, run east-west through the pass; immediately to the east of the pass, SH 16 splits off toward Strawn
Strawn, Texas
Strawn is a city in Palo Pinto County, Texas, United States. The population was 739 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Strawn is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
and runs southwest parallel to the line of hills.
For about 100 years from 1856 through the 1950s, there was a small community serving the ranchers in the area that shared its name with the pass; as recently as 1940 the town included a store, a school, and a population of forty. Both the town and the pass were named for J.J. Metcalf, an early rancher and surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
, who surveyed, among other things, the townsite of county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
Golconda, now known as Palo Pinto. Today, only isolated ranch houses stand on the pastures outside Metcalf Gap.