The road was originally designated in 1942 along the portion of the present route north of SH 21. The road was briefly extended through Snook to SH 36 at Lyons before being rerouted over its current route through Independence to SH 105.
History
The portion of FM 50 south of Independence was originally designated SH 211 on August 1, 1934.[2] SH 211 was extended north to Clay on January 26, 1935,[3] but on July 15, 1935, this extension was cancelled.[4] On January 6, 1939, SH 211 was decommissioned.[5] SH 211 was reinstated on January 22, 1940.[6]
FM 50 was first designated on April 29, 1942, between US 79 and SH 21 and then extended on May 20, 1942, to the intersection of the present FM 60 known before then as SH 230 and then continued to the southwest along the current FM 60 through Snook and Center Line to SH 36 at Lyons.[1] SH 230 was then decommissioned[7] being replaced by an extended FM 50 to Lyons and the newly designated FM 60 to College Station.[8]
On August 24, 1943, another section of FM 50 from FM 60 east of Snook to SH 211 in Independence was added. On October 6, 1943, the stretch of road from east of Snook to Lyons was added as an extension of FM 60, and FM 50 was extended south from Independence incorporating most of SH 211 to the former SH 90, now SH 105, near Brenham. The remainder of SH 211 was redesignated as Spur 197, now FM 390 and FM Spur 390.[1]
FM 50 begins at SH 105 3.0 miles (4.8 km) northeast of Brenham in Washington County.[1] The road proceeds to the north passing Brenham Municipal Airport and intersecting FM 2621 near Prairie Hill before crossing FM 390 at Independence. The road continues northward passing through Jerry's Quarters and crossing Yegua Creek where the road enters Burleson County. North of the creek, the road crosses the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway at Clay.[9]
Further north, FM 50 intersects FM 1361 at Wilcox. After crossing Old River, the road changes course to the northwest crossing FM 60 north of Snook and FM 166 near Foster Store. Further northwest, the road passes through Grant before merging with SH 21. The combined route to the northeast crosses the Brazos River entering Brazos County with FM 50 separating from SH 21 on the other side. The route then goes to the north largely following the Union Pacific Railroad through Law, Sims, an intersection with FM 1687 at Mudville, and Mooring.[10]
North of Mooring, FM 50 crosses into Robertson County and crosses merging Union Pacific tracks at Mumford. The road then follows along the railroad to the northwest crossing the tracks immediately before the road terminates at the combined route of US 79 and US 190 southeast of Hearne.[11]
SH 105 near Brenham
SH 21
US 79 / US 190 near Hearne
