|
LATEXO, TEXAS
Houston County,
East Texas
31° 23' 21" N, 95° 28' 29" W (31.389167, -95.474722)
U.S. 287 and State Hwy 19
5 miles N of Crockett the county seat
7 miles S of Grapeland
ZIP code 75849
Area code 936
Population: 314 Est. (2019)
322 (2010) 272 (2000) 289 (1990)
Book Hotel Here › Crockett
Hotels |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Settlement dates back to the early 1870s when it was
first known as Stark's Switch, for a siding that connected
to a sawmill. The community grew around the International and Great
Northern Railroad tracks and seemed comfortable with the name until
1900 when the Louisiana Texas Orchard Company (LA TEX O) bought 3,000
acres near the community.
A new town was laid out and a post office appeared in 1907 under the
new name. By 1914 the population was a healthy 200 townsfolk served
by two stores and two doctors.
Fruit and cotton became the town’s
lifeblood and, of course, lumber from the sawmill.
The population had doubled by the start of the Great Depression and
the town managed to get through the 30s intact. But the post war years
weren’t kind to Latexo and the 1950 census showed only 100 residents
remained.
The town stagnated through the 1960s and early 1970s, staying just
below the 100 resident count. Growth began in the mid 1970s and the
1990 census showed a count of over 300 people served by four businesses.
During the 1980s the community added a new city hall, school and fire
station. The 2010 census counted 322 people. |
 |
| 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. |
|
|
HOME
