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History in
a Pecan Shell
The community dates
from the mid 1880s when a local quarry supplied rock to the Texas-Midland
railroad. Railroad owner Edward Green named the town after the mythological
giant who held the world on his shoulders.
A post office was granted in 1884 when the town had a population of
20 people supplied by a single store. Atlas was on the mail coach
/ stage line that ran to the county seats of Cooper
and Paris. By 1914 the population
had increased to 50 and Atlas had phone service. The population in
1929 was reported as 76. The number of people through the Great Depression
isn’t available, however Atlas had two functioning stores as well
as a school and church.
The post office closed in 1943 and after the
war, the population peaked at 120. The postwar exodus from rural
to urban areas hit Atlas hard. By 1949 it had been reduced to just
50 residents.
By 1957 the school had merged with Roxton
schools and the town had no businesses. The population fell to a low
of 40 for the 1970 census and 20 by the middle of that decade where
it has remained through 2000. |
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Photographer's
Note:
Just two pictures, but I think I got the whole town. - Barclay
Gibson |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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