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RIESEL, TEXAS
McLennan
County, North
Central Texas
31°28'20"N 96°55'55"W (31.472226, -96.932076)
State Highway 6 and FM 1860
About 14 Miles SE of Waco the
cunty seat
Population: 1,033 Est. (2018)
1,007 (2010) 973 (2000) 839 (1990)
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Hotel Here › Waco
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History in
a Pecan Shell
During
railroad expansion in the area (early 1880s) the Houston and Texas
Central Railroad built a section house here and called it Roddy.
German settlers started arriving about that time and the town’s namesake
(W. H. Riesel) built a cotton gin here in 1890. The post office (also
opened in 1890) first went by the name Prospect, Texas, but
was changed in 1891.
By the mid 1890s the community had most essential services including
a hotel, two grocery stores, and two dry goods stores. Future growth
was facilitated by the opening of not one, but two lumberyards.
By 1900 the community had grown to a population of 268. Banks opened
in 1906 and 1910.
The 1930 census reported a population of 420 served by 20 businesses.
It fell slightly to 403 by 1950 and growth has been slow, reaching
just under 1,000 for the 2000 census. |
The
closed Mt. Moriah Church
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, September 2004 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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