BALLINGER TEXAS INFORMATION PAGE
Ballinger, a small West Texas town, was originally called Gresham and then Hutchings (in honor of Santa Fe stockholders Walter Gresham and John H. Hutchings qqv); it was officially named in honor of William Pitt Ballinger, qv a Galveston attorney and stockholder of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe.
COUNTY: ballinger Runnels    STATE: Texas

Ballinger was created in 1886. Lying nestled along the Colorado River in the very heart of Texas with over 4,000 friendly people, beautifully restored historical homes and buildings, antique stores, active civic organizations, thriving downtown district, industrial plants and with an average daily temperature of 78 degrees, she proudly serves the surrounding Agri-Plex and Runnels County as county seat, with fertile farm and ranch lands producing primarily cotton, grain, sheep, cattle, and oil.

Ballinger is at the junction of U.S. highways 67 and 83 and State Highway 158, thirty-six miles northeast of San Angelo in south central Runnels County. The Colorado River and Elm Creek converge there, and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway runs through the town. Ballinger was established when the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway built westward out of Brownwood in 1886. Runnels City, the original county seat, campaigned for selection as the new railroad terminal but could not compete with the superior water supply offered at the future site of Ballinger, five miles to the south.

TOWN and TOURISM
Ballinger is the main shipping and distribution center for Runnels County. The major sources of employment are light manufacturing, mining, and retail trade. The number of businesses in the town reached a high of 290 in 1940, dropped to 146 immediately after World War II, and climbed back to a postwar high of 210 in 1950. In 1990 the town had ninety businesses. The health care needs of the town are met by two general hospitals with a combined capacity of fifty-five beds. In addition, Ballinger Memorial Hospital supports a vocational nursing school that provides both training and jobs. Ballinger is home to numerous churches, the largest of which are Southern Baptist, Catholic, and United Methodist. The community also maintains paid fire and police departments and supports radio station KRUN-AM, KRUN-FM. Each spring the town is host to two special events, the Rattlesnake Roundup (March) and the Texas State Festival of Ethnic Cultures Arts and Crafts Fair (April). In the fall Ballinger presents the Pinto Bean Cookoff (October) and the Miss Ballinger Pageant and Parade (December).

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