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MINEOLA, TEXAS
Wood
County, East Texas
32°39'10.4"N 95°28'49.1"W (32.652881, -95.480296)
At the intersection of Hwy 69, 80 & 37
80 miles E of Dallas
on Hwy 80
10 miles S of Quitman
the county seat
27 miles NW of Tyler
25 miles NE of Canton
ZIP Code 75773
Area code 903
Population: 4,823 (2020)
4,515 (2010) 4550 (2000) 4,321 (1990)
Book Hotel Here › Mineola
Hotels |
The restored
depot in Mineola
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2007 |
Historical
Marker:
Mineola
Since its establishment
in 1873, the community of Mineola has been tied historically to the
railroad and transportation industries. The Texas & Pacific Railroad
planned to connect Longview
and Dallas by rail, and
began building west in 1872. Meanwhile, the Houston & Great Northern
Railroad built northward from Troup.
Several communities developed near anticipated depot sites, though
they declined when the two railroads joined. The site was named Mineola;
various stories recount the naming of the new settlement.
Additional rail lines soon connected to Mineola, which experienced
impressive growth. The rail brought new residents, including a number
of immigrant families, and made Mineola a shipping center for agricultural
Wood County. The
growth sparked the establishment of various institutions, including
a newspaper, the Mineola Monitor; churches, beginning with St. Paul’s
Baptist Church in 1871; a city cemetery, founded in 1873; a school
system started in 1875 and becoming public in 1881; and First National
Bank, which organized in 1898. An 1888 fire destroyed 18 buildings
downtown, but the community quickly recovered.
In the early 20th century, transportation continued to affect Mineola,
as the federal government built U.S. Highway 80 through the town.
In 1929, the Texas 7 Pacific terminal in Longview relocated to Mineola;
many families resettled here, sparking population and commercial growth.
The railroads continued to be vital to the community until they declined
in the 1950s.
In 1996, Amtrak revived passenger service to Mineola, restoring the
town’s bond with rail. Today, Mineola continues to be a leading community
in Wood County
and east Texas.
(2008) |
Mineola, Texas
Attractions, Landmarks & Events
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| If
you haven't heard of Mineola, you will. Things are not only getting
done, but getting done right. Major renovations of residences and
hotels, are letting visitors see what life was like in this Northeast
Texas Railroad town. |
Antiquing is a major draw, with over 20 antique
shops. An active library, a 38 acre Civic Center complex (with
224 RV spaces), and a Museum of Railroad Memorabilia are additional
attractions.
Events are evenly spaced throughout the year, with Spring and Fall
being host to scenic nature drives. Check out the Dogwood & Azalea
Trails in Spring, the Railroad Heritage Festival the 3rd
weekend in October, and the Christmas Winter Wonderland in
December.
Geographically it's central to any place in N.E. Texas, so include
it in your itinerary and we're sure you'll return for a closer investigation.
Book Hotel Here › Mineola
Hotels |
Select
Theatre
The
last remaining movie house in Wood County. Weekend movies and performances
by The Lake Country Playhouse insure that the 70 year old business
stays an active part of the community.
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St. Peter's
Catholic Church in Mineola
Postcard
courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Texas Churches
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Mineola City
Hall, 1940s
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
"Hello
from MINEOLA, TEXAS"
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
"Greetings
from MINEOLA, TEXAS"
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
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Nearby
Destinations
Mineola, known as "Gateway to the Lake Country", is within 2 to
15 miles of Lake Holbrook, Lake Hawkins with campground
and RV facilities, and Lake Fork Reservoir. Mineola Country
Club has one of the best 9-hole golf courses in Texas.
Take Hwy 80 West 14 miles to Grand
Saline, then take FM17 SW 11 miles to Canton
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| 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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