Within a few years the present site of Alpine was a favorite camping spot of freighters on the Chihuahua Trail. There was abundant water, grass, and firewood at Burgess Springs, now Kokernot Springs. The final segment of the transcontinental Southern Pacific Railroad began in two directions in July 1881. One segment was built eastward from El Paso and reached Alpine in 1882. Another segment was built westward from San Antonio. Alpine came into existence in its present location in 1882 because of the abundant supply of high-quality water available from Burgess Springs, essential for the operation of steam locomotives. Then a town quickly sprang up around the railroad with cafes, rooming houses, saloons, grocery stores, and merchandise establishments on both sides of the railroad tracks.

In March, 1887 the Texas Legislature approved a petition of Presidio County to create Brewster County with Murphyville as county seat. An election in January of 1888 changed the name to Alpine, an incorporated city. The primary economic enterprise from the late 1800's until recently has been ranching. Here a 10,000 acre ranch is considered small. The largest ranches often exceed 200,000 acres.