Roby had no jail until 1892, when one was constructed out of stone. Roby is the birthplace of Rob Goode, football player.
- CountyFisher County
- Population591 (2020 U.S. Census)
Roby, Texas gifts and souvenirs: 17 designs made from Roby's own map, landmarks and history, from $16 to $95. Printed to order and shipped free in the USA.
| Popular | Price |
|---|---|
| Roby Hometown Ornament | $23 |
| Roby Varsity Crewneck | from $57 |
| Roby Est. Tee | from $33 |
| Roby Town Line Mug | from $26 |
| Roby Market Tote | $37 |
Ceramic keepsake, gold ribbon
The town's story in dates, from its own records, for home or classroom
Heavy-blend fleece, street map printed on the back
Soft Bella+Canvas jersey
Kids' Bella+Canvas jersey, youth sizes
Bella+Canvas toddler jersey
Bella+Canvas baby bodysuit
Glossy ceramic, dishwasher safe
Weatherproof, for the front walk
24″×16″, printed coir-look fibers, rubber back
12″×12″ printed wood, ready to hang
Soft-touch, zip cover
Sturdy all-over-print tote
Glossy top, cork back
Soft fleece, 50″×60″
20 oz, double-wall stainless
The town's earliest Sanborn fire-insurance map, drawn building by building and hand-coloured, from the Library of Congress
Roby had no jail until 1892, when one was constructed out of stone. Roby is the birthplace of Rob Goode, football player.
In 1885, shortly after Fisher County was organized, a dispute arose between business partners from Mississippi and a town called Fisher. Both wanted their land to host the courthouse. The partners were M.L. and D.C. Roby, and the town of Fisher is now called North Roby.
In 1886, construction was begun on the new courthouse and a school and post office opened. The community had 13 houses by that summer. In 1890, the population was estimated to be 300 people and the town had a hotel, two general stores, Baptist and Methodist churches, a restaurant, and a weekly newspaper, the Fisher County Call.
Roby had no jail until 1892, when one was constructed out of stone. A new jail was built in 1926 out of brick, and remained in use until 2016. In 2016, a new jail was built and the brick jailhouse was declared a historic landmark.
It has had three different courthouses during its existence, unlike many Texas county seats, which have preserved and restored original courthouses. The most recent courthouse was built in the early 1970s.
In 1898, the first bank was chartered and the Roby school district was formed. The area covered by the school district grew slowly over the years as it absorbed rural schools in the vicinity, including those of Longworth and McCaulley.
By 1900, the population had grown to 712 residents. By 1914, it had Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Nazarene churches. Telephone service was also established in 1914.
Roby received its first railroad in 1907 (the Texas Central), and in 1915, the Roby and Northern laid 4.4 miles of track to connect Roby proper with North Roby. The line was scrapped during World War II and its rails went to the war effort.
Roby incorporated in 1915, and its population grew to 801 in 1930 and 904 in 1940. The population peaked in 1950 with 1,040 people calling Roby and North Roby home, and 60 businesses. The city was plagued by insufficient water throughout its life and finally in 1953 during a long period of drought, water from Oak Creek Lake at Blackwell was piped in. By 1970, the population had fallen below 800 with 22 businesses in operation. It further declined to 616 in 1990 before rebounding to 673 in 2000, and as of the 2010 Census, the population had fallen to 643.
Adapted (trimmed) from the Wikipedia article Roby, Texas, revision 1381827438 by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
We share a part of every Roby sale with local partners, and we'd love to print from your collection. Old photographs, maps and postcards make the best keepsakes.
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Roby's population was 591 in the 2020 U.S. Census, down from 643 in 2010.