RUGBY, TEXAS

Red River County, East Texas

US Highway -271 at the intersection of FM-440

SW of Clarksville the county seat
21 Miles SE of Paris
3 Miles SE of Deport
About 12 Miles S of Detroit
3 Miles NW of Bogata
About 11 Miles N of Hagansport
Population: 24 est. (late 1960s through the 2000)

Rugby, Texas Area Hotels › Paris Hotels

Store
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, September 2010

History in a Pecan Shell

Settled prior to the Civil War, Rugby has no explanation for its sporting name. Growth was too small to measure at first, but by the time of the 1870 census the town had a store and a single cotton gin. The first church wasn’t built until the early 1890s and the community had no post office until 1900 (it closed seven years later, reopened in 1914 and closed for good in 1929).

At its peak, Rugby had three gins, a doctor and two stores, but the population never reached 100. The figure of 75 was used from the mid-1920s through the late 1960s when it fell to an estimated 24.

Entering Rugby City Limits
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, September 2010

Farming in Rugby
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, September 2010

A Horse in Rugby
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, September 2010

1907 Red River County Postal Map showing Rugby
(near Lamar County line)
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Take a road trip

Rugby, Texas Nearby Towns:
Clarksville the county seat
Paris
Mount Pleasant
Texarkana
See Red River County | East Texas

Book Hotel Here:
Paris Hotels | More Hotels

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.