McKinney Cotton Compress Plant
Why it's listed
This cotton compress plant in the 300 block of Throckmorton Street, McKinney, was built in 1914 after the company abandoned its older facility in the 400 block of East Hunt Street, where it had operated by 1892. The complex is a large group of adjoined frame warehouses sheathed in corrugated metal, with gable roofs and some industrial clerestories, used to store cotton bales. A steam-powered Webb 80 compress sits in a three-story tower; it replaced a Webb 90 that burned in 1975 and came originally from a Houston compress. Other contributing elements include a cast-iron water tower, a frame office and classroom, two sheds and a warehouse from about 1935. Several modern warehouses were added, designed to resemble the older buildings. The property was listed for its commercial significance, because its continuous operation since 1914 shows how cotton production and processing shaped the growth of McKinney.
Significance in brief: The reviewer accepted the plant as commercially significant under Criterion A for its association with the locally important cotton industry. Its continuous operation since 1914 illustrates the role cotton production and processing played in the growth and development of McKinney. The resubmission explained that later alterations are compatible with the property's historic character.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 87001739, listed June 27, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 300 blk. Throckmorton, McKinney |
|---|---|
| County | Collin County |
| Listed | June 27, 1988 |
| Reference number | 87001739 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition fair and altered with new equipment and three modern buildings; still used as a cotton compress at the time of the 1985 survey. |
| Acreage | 9.7 |
| Coordinates | 33.20047, -96.60650 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87001739.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000106
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.