The Echo community, located about ten miles northeast of Coleman on the Burkett highway, first developed around a store that was built in the 1870’s.  In the early 1880’s, Capt. William Dibrell purchased land from the Miles and Golson ranches and renamed it Echo Ranch for the echo that resounded off a cliff on nearby Jim Ned Creek.  Back in the days of activity at old Camp Colorado, the main highway to Baird came through the present townsite.  In 1936, only traces of the road could still be found.

The last of the Indian raids in Coleman County occurred in 1877.  During a dance at Kin Elkins, down the creek, a band of Comanches made a foray into what was later known as Ranch Creek Pasture of the Dibrell Ranch, killing several members of a settler’s family and making off with the stock after burning the cabin.  Hay Creek, a tributary of the Jim Ned, which drains the community of Echo, got its name from the fact that soldiers stationed at Camp Colorado would come those six miles to cut native grass for hay for their horses.  They also picked out coal from a shallow vein to operate the blacksmith forge.  Some of the early settlers of this area were the Parsons, Edmundsons, and Dibrells.

Echo’s first store, called “Jonesville”, was built in 1906 about one-half mile north of Echo and was owned by Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Jones.  The store was later moved to Echo, about 1910, and a post office was installed which operated from 1910 to 1914.  Oscar Buck acquired the store, then John Pearce, then Rushing Wells.  In 1936, the store was owned and managed by H. D. Smith in partnership with Wells.  A service station was operated in connection with the store at that time.  Dr. M. G. Walker moved from Burkett to his farm north of Echo about 1907, and served the area until he retired in the late 1930’s.  A. R. Frenzell operated a gin, beginning in 1910.

Oil was found in 1926 in the Swinnup pool, and in 1928 by the Magnolia Company on the Morris-Miller lease.  During this “oil-boom,” Echo had two general stores, Arthur Frenzell’s cotton gin (the brick stack of which still stands today, 1984), a gasoline plant, gas station, blacksmith shop, drug store, and short-order cafe.  A large number of families moved in during the oil boom.  They worked at the gas plant, at drilling, and participated in church, school, and community activities.

At the Dibrell “Big Barn” at his ranch headquarters near Echo, a dancing school was held in 1911, with Professor Saxton teaching.  The event was climaxed with a big dance which began with a Grand March, then Waltzes, Two-Steps, Schottische, and Fascination.  Myriads of coal oil, or kerosene, lanterns were used for lighting the huge hay loft, and guests were seated on bales of hay.  People were invited from far and near and a large crowd attended the gala event.

In 1936, 21 persons received Red Cross first aid cards from a class conducted by G. E. Dalton, sponsored by the American Red Cross.  A standard first aid station was maintained at Wells Store, in charge of H. D. Smith and Roy Smith, and was the first such station in West Texas, out of 300 in the state.

Mrs. J. A. B. Miller gave the community a residence off one of her farms in the area for a community center.  Ladies of the community and surrounding area use it for a quilting center.  Both the church and center are used for musicals (Echo Jamboree).  Outdoor activities, such as fish fries, dinners-on-the-ground, County Home Demonstration encampments, county 4-H boys encampments, watermelon feasts, and Sunday School and church picnics were held at Edmundson Park.  In 1971, the first annual Rae-Echo-Cross Roads Homecoming was held, which over 600 people attended.

In 1940, Echo had a population of 75.  In 1980, the Texas Almanac showed only 16 people living in the Echo area.  The community center and church are the only buildings being used today (1983).