The Denton County Historical Commission has a new website for the 100-plus history markers found throughout the county.
The site, which went live Thursday, is where people can search for markers, plan visits or find out how to sponsor a marker themselves.
“This website, in a way, was a spinoff of the brochure we published back in 2010,” said Beth Stribling, marker chairwoman with the Denton County Historical Commission.
The website was a joint project of the commission’s marker committee and Denton County’s geographic information system division. Rachel Crowe, manager of the division, coordinated staff and worked in conjunction with Stribling and the committee.
Stribling said the 2010 brochure listed all the markers at that time. But Stribling said the commission wanted a way to add new markers and to include historical narratives and photos, which the printed brochure lacked. The website now serves as a digital brochure.
The website was designed by Joseph Luong, the county’s Web designer. It incorporates some of the same work from the brochure designed by Lucy Haverkamp of L.S. Haverkamp Design of Gainesville and uses the marker committee’s format to provide information about the county’s history and to serve as a guide to markers in specific areas of the county.
Markers are grouped in 14 different areas, placed in five different sections of the county. The five sections begin in the center of the county — Denton, with the largest number of historical markers — followed by the northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest sections.
“It has taken us several years to get built, collect information and get up to date,” Stribling said.
“It’s a big list of a lot of things with lots and lots of information. It’s just an opportunity to give people a chance to get out and explore and find these markers and write about the history of Denton County.”
BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is blewis@dentonrc.com.
