State Highway 72

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SH 72 travels across the agricultural areas of South Texas, connecting several small towns. Beginning in Cuero, a former wild west outpost but now a farming community, SH 72 travels southeast through Yorktown and Runge before arriving in Kenedy, the largest city on the route. SH 72 continues southeast over farm fields to cross IH 37 and meet US 281 in Three Rivers.

Leaving Three Rivers to the west, IH 37 passes Choke Canyon Reservoir and the town of Calliham before reaching the town of Tilden. West of Tilden, SH 72 ends at SH 97 near Fowlerton.

SH 72 was designated in 1939 on the present-day route, continuing to Cotulla. West of Three Rivers, the dirt road to Fowlerton was removed from the state highway system in 1942, while the road between Fowlerton and Cotulla was transferred to SH 97. In 1961, FM 63 was added to the route, re-adding the mileage between Three Rivers and Fowlerton. The road is two lanes for its entire length.

East

FM 1358 travels southeast to Karon, then west to IH 37.

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Distance sign to the towns of Pawnee and Kenedy.

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FM 2049 begins at US 281 near Suniland and travels southeast to reach SH 72 here.

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Approaching Pawnee, travelers find FM 673, which travels southeast to meet US 59 in Beeville.

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After FM 673, a typical shield assembly for SH 72 appears. SH 72 is a designated Hurricane Evacuation route.

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This is a view of the two-lane highway as it winds through northwest Bee County.

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Pawnee is a small town, reportedly named after a board nailed to a tree that said Pawnee, which itself was a reference to the Pawnee Indian tribe.

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FM 798 travels east from US 181 at Tulsita.

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FM 882 travels via Nell to FM 626 near El Oso.

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Entering Karnes County, travelers find FM 626. FM 626 begins at FM 99 and travels via Lenz, El Oso, and Zunkerville to SH 72.

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FM 2985 begins at FM 798 near Caesar, traveling via Monteola to SH 72.

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SH 72 crosses pasturelands, dotted by Live Oaks, on the way to Kenedy.

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Approaching Kenedy, FM 1145 connects US 181 and SH 72.

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FM 2102 connects Kenedy and FM 626 near Lenz, continuing west after Lenz to FM 99.

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Kenedy is the second-largest town along SH 72, a railroad junction named after the original anglo owner of the land. In the early 1900s, Kenedy was known for its gunfights that led to the nickname Six-Shooter Junction. Today, the town holds a Bluebonnet festival in April. SH 72 approaches SH 239 and US 181 here.

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US 181 was once the primary road between San Antonio and Corpus Christi, but has since been superceded by IH 37. The truck bypass is signed to avoid the central business district.

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There are actually two segments of Business US Highway 181. BU 181-F runs north from this intersection (5th and Main streets) to US 181.

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This sign assembly shows the triple overlap through Kenedy of Business US 181, SH 72 and SH 239.

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BU 181-G (notice the change in designator) travels south along 2nd street, at the next intersection, to meet US 181 on the south side of Kenedy.

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Departing Kenedy, SH 72 and SH 239 continue their short overlap.

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SH 239 departs from SH 72 here, to travel southeast to Goliad, eventually ending in Austwell.

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East of Kenedy, the land returns to its scrubby nature.

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Runge is a small, staunchly Polish town, reflecting the ethnic character of immigrants to Texas.

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Inside Runge, SH 72 meets FM 81, which begins at Charco and travels to Hobson.

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Approaching Nordheim, FM 239 serves local farms. Nordheim is a small German community established in 1895 as a railroad siding.

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Leaving Nordheim, this view shows the characteristic flat terrain between Nordheim and Yorktown. SH 72 enters Dewitt County in this picture.

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FM 952 serves local farms, traveling approximately 6.5 miles.

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FM 2980 begins north of SH 72 and travels to Smith Creek. Many of the FM roads in this area do not connect to other roads, but serve local traffic.

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Approaching Yorktown, travelers find SH 119. SH 119 begins at Stockdale and travels toward Goliad.

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FM 237 connects SH 72 and FM 236 near Mission Valley.

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Yorktown was established on land owned by Captain John York, along a route he built between Indianola and San Antonio. This road, the Old Indianola Trail, was used by German Immigrants to settle South Texas. Yorktown is one of the oldest towns in South Texas, dating back to 1854, and has a large meadow-like commons area in the middle of town, rather than a Texas-style town plaza.

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