...and "Farm to Market Roads."

     The term Farm to Market Road, often annotated as "FM" on street signs these days, indicates roadways that are part of the state’s system of secondary and connecting routes, built and maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation. Texas established this system in 1949 to improve access to rural areas.

    Cars also brought an entirely new need for enterprising citizens to satisfy. With breakdowns, flats and fill-ups a necessary concern for travelers, towns could ensure folks stopped and spent some money with them by offering services like the ones provided at the old fill-up stations.