NORTON, TEXAS. Norton, on Farm Road 383 in west central Runnels County, was named for George W. Norton, who owned the townsite land. The post office opened in 1894 with Marion A. Wilkerson as postmaster. The first houses were built in 1901, and in 1902 the post office was moved. A school began operation in 1901, as did the first store, built by Robert Turner. Businesses included a gin and a bank which operated from 1923 to 1930. In 1912 a cyclone killed one resident and damaged buildings, and in 1929 a fire caused extensive property damage. Norton has remained a small town serving the surrounding rural area. Until the 1930s its population did not exceed fifty. In 1940 the town had a population of 120 and five businesses. The population was seventy-six in 1980 through 2000.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Charlsie Poe, Runnels Is My County (San Antonio: Naylor, 1970). Kathleen E. and Clifton R. St. Clair, eds., Little Towns of Texas (Jacksonville, Texas: Jayroe Graphic Arts, 1982).