Another early name, "Robber's Roost", is said to owe its beginnings to the sometimes nefarious nature of a few residents and a lack of law enforcement.

[7] A statue of an albino buffalo on the grounds of the Scurry County Courthouse in Snyder pays homage to the town's beginnings as a buffalo-trading post.

A population of 600 was reported in 1892, with a school, two churches, a grist mill, steam gin, two banks, and two weekly newspapers being part of the community.

The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway tracks reached Snyder in 1911, spurring further growth.

An industrial base was established in the 1960s and early 1970s, diversifying the town's economy and making it less susceptible to cycles of boom and bust.

The Scurry County Coliseum in Snyder, operated by Western Texas College since 2008, is a large arena which hosts area events.

Established by local oilman and rancher Clarence T. McLaughlin, the museum houses over 80 bronze works and 200 paintings.

Snyder is located on Deep Creek, a minor tributary of the Colorado River of Texas.

[13] The nearby Scurry Area Canyon Reef Operators oilfield is among the largest and most productive in the United States.

[citation needed] The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Snyder Distribution Center.

In addition to traditional academic courses, Western Texas College offers several career/technical programs, including communication design, early childhood education, electrical distribution systems, information technology, business management, petroleum technology, radio broadcasting, solar energy technology, turfgrass and landscape management, vocational nursing, and welding.