Umair Gaines
The Rural Electrification Administration (REA) was established in May 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, with the aim of bringing electricity to rural areas across the United States. At the time, only about 2 percent of farms in Texas had electricity, and rural electrification was considered a controversial and unprofitable investment. Despite this, the REA began electrifying rural Texas in 1936, with the first power line energised near Bartlett, Texas. By 1965, only 2 percent of Texas farms were without electricity, and Sam Rayburn, a key advocate for rural electrification in the state, proudly stated that ninety percent of farm homes in the U.S. were electrified by 1959.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the Rural Electrification Act | 1936 |
| Date of the Executive Order creating the Rural Electrification Administration | May 1935 |
| Percentage of farms in Texas with electricity before the REA | 2% |
| Percentage of farms nationally with electricity before the REA | 10% |
| Year in which 90% of farm homes in the U.S. were electrified | 1959 |
| Year in which the Denison Dam and Lake Texoma projects took place | 1959 |
| Year in which the REA first brought electricity to the rural Panhandle in Deaf Smith County | 11937 |
| Year in which the Cherokee County Electric Cooperative was started | 1938 |
| Year in which the Coleman County Electric Cooperative was established | 1937 |
| Year in which the Comanche Electric Cooperative was created | 1938 |
| Year in which the Concho Valley Electric Cooperative was established | 1940 |
| Year in which the CoServ Electric company began serving North Texas | 1937 |
| Year in which the Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative was established | 1937 |
| Year in which the Fannin County Electric Cooperative was established | 1937 |
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What You'll Learn
Sam Rayburn's role in rural electrification
The process to electrify rural Texas began in May 1935 when President Roosevelt issued an executive order creating the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) under the Public Works Administration. However, by January 1936, the Roosevelt administration had become unhappy with the progress on rural electrification. The REA's focus was then changed from work relief to a government lending program for member-owned electric cooperatives.
Sam Rayburn, a farmer and congressman from Texas, played a significant role in this process. He pushed for rural electrification, knowing the impact it would have on farmers and common people in America. As a powerful sponsor, Rayburn helped fend off utility company opposition. He worked with Senator George Norris of Nebraska to develop the concept behind the Rural Electrification Act, which allowed farmers to form electric cooperatives that would erect electric poles and lines.
Facing opposition from House members and the utility lobby, Rayburn compromised by allowing some loans to private enterprises. He skillfully convinced Norris to agree to this compromise, which allowed loans to private utilities with a preference for publicly-owned utilities. This became known as the Norris-Rayburn Act, or the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. Rayburn continued to work with cooperative boards and REA administrators over the years to help Texans obtain electric power.
By 1959, Rayburn proudly stated that 90% of farm homes in the U.S. were electrified, compared to just 3% in the early 1930s. When he died in 1961, rural electric cooperatives praised him as their "strongest champion." Rayburn's work on the Rural Electrification Act brought light and modern conveniences to rural Texas, transforming lives and powering homes.
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The Rural Electrification Administration
The first REA-funded power line in Texas was energised in 1936, near Bartlett, Texas, bringing electricity to the rural Panhandle in Deaf Smith County. This was a significant moment in the state's history, marking the beginning of modern times for rural areas. The REA had an incalculable impact on life in rural Texas, and by 1965, only 2% of Texas farms were without electricity, a remarkable turnaround.
The REA faced some controversy over whether private utilities should have access to the loans. Initially, Senator Norris, who introduced the bill in the Senate, was adamant that they should not. However, Rayburn, facing opposition from House members and the utility lobby, compromised and allowed some loans to private enterprises, with a preference for publicly-owned utilities. This compromise led to the passage of the Norris-Rayburn Act, also known as the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
Sam Rayburn, a farmer and national leader, played a crucial role in pushing for rural electrification in Texas. He understood the potential impact of electric power on the lives of farmers and common people. Rayburn worked closely with cooperative boards and REA administrators over several years to help Texans obtain electric power. By 1959, he proudly stated that 90% of farm homes in the U.S. were electrified, a significant increase from the 3% in the early 1930s. Rayburn's legacy is remembered fondly by rural electric cooperatives, who lauded him as their "good friend and strongest champion".
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The Norris-Rayburn Act
The journey towards rural electrification in Texas began in the early 1900s, when cities across the country started to gain access to electricity. However, rural areas were often deemed unprofitable by investor-owned utilities, leaving them without access to power. This began to change in 1935, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an Executive Order creating the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) under the Public Works Administration. The REA was initially intended as a depression relief agency, providing jobs for the unemployed. However, by 1936, the Roosevelt administration decided to shift its focus to lending for member-owned electric cooperatives.
Senator Norris introduced a bill in the Senate to facilitate this change, with the support of Congressman Rayburn. The bill passed the Senate with a provision prohibiting loans to private enterprises. However, facing opposition in the House, Rayburn compromised and allowed some loans to private utilities, while still prioritising publicly-owned utilities. This compromise led to the passage of the Norris-Rayburn Act, which became the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.
The impact of the Act was significant, with the REA providing loans to electric cooperatives and transforming life in rural Texas. In 1937, the REA brought electric power to Deaf Smith County in the Panhandle, one of the first regions to benefit from the Act. By 1965, Texas had gone from having only 2% of farms with electricity to just 2% without, a remarkable turnaround. The work of Sam Rayburn, who dedicated much of his career to bringing electricity to rural areas, was instrumental in this transformation. By the time of his death in 1961, 90% of farm homes in the U.S. had electricity, a testament to the impact of the Norris-Rayburn Act.
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Electric cooperatives
The Rural Electrification Administration (REA) was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in May 1935. At the time, only about 2% of farms in Texas (and 10% nationally) had electricity, and rural America remained in the dark, deemed an unprofitable investment by investor-owned utilities and municipal utilities.
The REA promised to loan money to build electric power distribution to rural areas, and in 1936, a 58-mile power line near Bartlett, Texas, was energised—according to some sources, this was the first in the nation under the REA. By 1937, the REA had brought electric power to the rural Panhandle in Deaf Smith County.
The drive to electrify farms and ranches in Texas was led by Sam Rayburn, who pushed for rural electrification for farmers and common people. Rayburn worked with cooperative boards and REA administrators over several years to help Texans obtain electric power.
Today, Texas Electric Cooperatives (TEC) represents the interests of 76 electric cooperatives with more than 3 million members throughout the state. TEC provides products and services to sustain cooperative businesses and offers professional education and safety training for cooperative employees. Electric cooperatives continue to play an essential role in powering homes and driving social transformation in rural Texas.
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The impact of electricity on rural Texas
The Rural Electrification Administration (REA) was established in May 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt through an executive order. The REA's initial goal was to serve as a large-scale depression relief agency, but it eventually became a lending agency, providing loans for rural electrification projects. This shift in focus occurred due to dissatisfaction with the progress of rural electrification, and the program was transformed into a government lending initiative for member-owned electric cooperatives.
The REA had a significant impact on rural Texas, with the first power line energized in 1936 near Bartlett, Texas. By 1937, the REA had brought electricity to Deaf Smith County in the rural Panhandle, marking a notable step forward. The introduction of electricity to rural areas brought about a social transformation, modernizing these regions and empowering them to move forward.
Several electric power projects were initiated in Texas, thanks to the efforts of individuals like Sam Rayburn, who played a pivotal role in the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. By the time of his death in 1961, Rayburn could proudly claim that 90% of farm homes in the U.S. were electrified, a remarkable leap from the mere 3% in the early 1930s. Rayburn's legacy is a testament to the transformative power of electricity in rural Texas.
The process of electrifying rural Texas was not without its challenges and controversies. There was initial resistance from those who viewed it as an unaffordable luxury. Additionally, there was a dispute over whether private utilities should have access to the loans provided by the REA. Despite these hurdles, ordinary people united to achieve the remarkable feat of bringing electricity to their communities. The impact of these electrification efforts extended beyond the practical benefits of electricity, it also fostered a sense of community and collective achievement.
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Frequently asked questions
The Rural Electrification Administration (REA) first brought electricity to rural Texas in 1936, with a 58-mile power line near Bartlett, Texas.
Only about 2% of farms in Texas had electricity before the REA, compared to about 10% nationally.
Sam Rayburn, a farmer and national leader from Texas, pushed for rural electrification. He worked with cooperative boards and REA administrators to help Texans obtain electric power.
