WHAT MAKES TEXAS "TEXAS"?
FM Roads
by Linda Thornton
I
n the early 20th century, Texas found itself at a crossroads. With more than 127 million acres dedicated to agriculture, and 97 percent of its farms being multi-generational family operations, the state led the nation in terms of the number of farms and ranches. Recognizing farmers were the backbone of Texas's economy and cultural heritage, state leaders were faced with a critical challenge: How could Texas expand opportunities for its farmers in a way that would enable them to remain on the land they cherished?
THE FM ROAD IS BORN In an effort to create a system of better-quality roads that would connect rural and agricultural areas to towns, cities, distribution centers, and railroad hubs, the Texas Highway Department established the Farm to Market Road system statewide. Defined as a state highway or a country road, the first FM road built in 1936 was just 5.8 miles of pavement. The program received instant acclaim and prompted the need to increase it to more of the vast, isolated areas of the state. By 1949, the leg38
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islature had passed an annual appropriation of $15 million ($200 million in 2024 dollars) from the State General Fund for the construction of farm to market roads.
FARM TO MARKET v RANCH ROADS In 1932, to appease ranchers who wanted to recognize that not every area of the state was farmed, the Highway Department added the Ranch Road (RR) designation to the FM Road System. Agricultural roads east of U.S. 281 are generally farm to market roads. Those west of U.S. 281 are ranch to market roads. Although the signs read “Farm Road” and “Ranch Road,” the actual designation is FM - ”farm to market” and RM - “ranch to market.” Owned and maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the -to Market system accounts for more than half of the mileage of TxDOT’s road system. In total, 3,550 routes are designated within the FM system, of which 3,370 are FM and 180 are RM and, today, the term is mostly associated with Texas. According to TxDOT, Texas is the
only state to have farm to market roads, though Louisiana, Missouri and Iowa have similar supplemental routes. FM roads are maintained and paved at highway standards, with one lane traveling in either direction though some have transitioned into what are considered freeways with speed limits up to 75 mph. Others have maintained their rural charm and many a Texan will tell you there is no mistaking a country FM road, with its narrower, more winding route that distinguishes it from other highways.
TO FM OR NOT TO FM? When TxDOT realized some FM roads transitioned into urban road counterparts with the same route number, it seemed reasonable that Texas might have outgrown the use of its historic terminology and FM roads should be renamed. Texans staunchly argued “farm to market” was a better fit for the state’s identity and the costs associated with signage were not justified. TxDOT acquiesced to the growing grassroots campaign and decided against re-