History
A Flood Wiped Out the Original County Seat in 1882
Tom Green County's first county seat was Ben Ficklin — until a catastrophic 1882 flood destroyed the town and killed 65 people.
When Tom Green County was organized in 1875, voters chose Ben Ficklin as the county seat instead of San Angelo. Ben Ficklin sat on the South Concho River. In August 1882, torrential rains caused the river to flood catastrophically. The flood destroyed the town and killed 65 people.
After the disaster, San Angelo became the permanent county seat. This history is a reminder that low-water crossings and flood zones remain real risks in the area today. The Concho River can rise quickly during heavy rain events.
Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas — Tom Green County