McLean is in the pampas - literally, because this administrative district is actually called pampas. In 1901, Alfred Rowe (who later died on the Titanic) donated land near the railroad to build a city on it. Named after the Texas railway officer William P. McLean, it developed rapidly. As early as 1904, it had several general stores, a bank, its own newspaper, and a windmill that powered water from the fountain on Main Street. Route 66 arrived in 1927, and with it many travelers and tourists, until 1984 when this important source of income was taken when the Interstate was completed. For a long time, the owners of the 16 gas stations, 6 motels and numerous cafes fought the Interstate after seeing how other places around the Interstate were doing, but to no avail. This made McLean the last place in Texas to experience this fate. It is not only since that time that time seems to have stood still in McLean like in no other active place. The historical value was recognized early on and much is being done to preserve the sights.