DeKALB, TEXAS

Bowie County, East Texas

33°30'29"N 94°36'59"W (33.508016, -94.616264)
Highway 82
12 Miles NW of New Boston
26 Miles E of Clarkesville
36 Miles W of Texarkana
Population: 1,656 Est. (2016)
1,699 (2010) 1,769 (2000) 1,976 (1990)

DeKalb, Texas Area Hotels › New Boston Hotels

Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, February 2008
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History in a Pecan Shell

Settlement began around 1835 and according to one legend, the town was named by none other than Alamo defender Davy Crockett. It was supposedly Crockett’s suggestion that the (then-nameless) town be named for the American Revolution’s General Baron de Kalb.

DeKalb College was founded in 1839 and prospective residents were screened by the landowners who donated the school land.

DeKalb was the first seat of Bowie County by 1841 although growth was slow until it became a stop on the Texas and Pacific Railroad in 1876. It wasn’t until 1890 that the town had a population of 500. This figure doubled to over 1,000 by 1930.

It remained primarily an agricultural economy – bolstered by the Red River Army Depot. The 1980 population of 2,200 declined slightly for the 1990 census to 1,976 and by 2000 it was 1,769.

DeKalb Landmarks ›

Crybaby Creek

In Bowie County, they say if you drive to a bridge outside DeKalb, you can hear the cries of an infant. The story goes that a mother driving a car plunged into the creek and the baby drowned in the near-freezing waters.
(From Roaming Around East Texas by Bob Bowman)

DeKalb, Texas Landmarks

Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, February 2008
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Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, February 2008

Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, February 2008
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DeKalb Downtown

Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, February 2008

Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, February 2008

Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, February 2008

Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, February 2008
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Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, February 2008
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Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, February 2008

DeKalb, Texas State Theatre red stage door

Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, February 2008
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Photos courtesy Stephen Michaels, February 2008
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Dan Blocker's grave in the Woodsmen Cemetery,
near downtown DeKalb.
Photo courtesy of John DeBusk

DeKalb - The 1800th Texas Town featured in Texas Escapes.
First published February 28, 2008

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