Cuero Gin
Why it's listed
Cuero Gin occupies a lot at 501 W. Main, in a commercial and industrial area just west of Cuero's central business district. Built about 1915, it replaced the older Farmers Milling and Gin plant that had occupied the site. The complex includes a small one-story frame office with asbestos siding at the northwest corner of the lot, a two-story warehouse with a pyramidal hip roof and small tower behind it, and a frame gin building sheathed in corrugated metal, which houses the press and gin. Cotton was extremely important to the local economy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and Cuero was one of the few Texas cities with a textile mill. This gin is the only extant cotton gin in the city and the only preserved physical reminder of the local cotton market. It remains in limited use, which makes it the oldest cotton-related business still operating in Cuero. Its condition is described as good.
Significance in brief: It is the only extant cotton gin in Cuero and remains in limited use. Cotton was central to the local economy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the gin is the only preserved physical reminder of the local cotton market. Its continued operation makes it the oldest cotton-related business in Cuero.
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 88001970, listed October 31, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 501 W. Main, Cuero |
|---|---|
| County | DeWitt County |
| Listed | October 31, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001970 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present condition is listed as good; the gin remains in limited industrial use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.09187, -97.29585 (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 88001970.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001850
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.