| March 15, 1881 | Abilene is born, with completion of the Texas-Pacific Railroad. |
| May 31, 1881 | Fort Griffin, headquarters for buffalo skinners in Shackelford County, is abandoned. |
| July 11, 1881 | William Buckley is born at Washington-on-the-Brazos. His son James becomes a senator from New York, and his son William Jr. is famous as a writer, magazine editor and television talk show host. |
| December 15, 1881 | America's second transcontinental railroad links up at Sierra Blanca in Hudspeth County. |