EDNA, TEXAS

Jackson County Seat, Texas Gulf Coast

28°58'36"N 96°38'48"W (28.976550, -96.646568)
US Hwy 59, State Hwy 111,
FM 1822 & FM 822
97 miles SW of Houston
40 miles SW of Wharton
26 miles NE of Victoria
43 miles N of Port Lavaca
Population: 5,825 (2017)
5,499 (2010) 5,899 (2000) 5,343 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › Edna Hotels

Edna, Texas Topics:

History

Landmarks / Attractions & photo gallery ›

Vintage Photos

Jackson County Courthouse next page ›

Jackson County with vintage maps next page ›

Edna street scene
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, March 2009

History in a Pecan Shell

Edna was named after a daughter of Count Joseph Telfener - an Italian entrepreneur who was building a railroad from Rosenburg to Victoria. Other family members had towns named after them as well. While the railroad had the ambitious name of The New York, Texas and Mexican Railroad, it didn't originate in New York, nor did it reach Mexico. Known as "The Macaroni Line" for the Italian workmen who were brought from Italy for construction, the rails eventually went as far as Victoria.

A timeline of significant events
1881: Railroad construction begins
1882: Town of Edna was established - first train arrives.
1883: Texana, the former county seat which was bypassed by the railroad loses election in favor of Edna
1884: New courthouse was contracted
1886: Post office opened - population of Texana moves to Edna - population reaches 1,000
1900: Texana hit hard by Galveston storm becomes a ghost town
1906: Fire engulfs downtown Edna
1929: Population is 2,500

Edna, Texas Landmarks / Attractions

1906 Jackson County courthouse, Edna, Texas

1939 Photo courtesy TXDoT

Jackson County Courthouse ›

Jackson County Jail ›

Edna Theatre
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, March 2009

Edna Theatre
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, March 2009
More Texas Theatres | Texas Old Neon

Baptist Mission Church
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2009
More Texas Churches

Edna mural
Photo courtesy Elicia Cook, 2004
More Texas Murals

Edna Drying Grain Elevator
TE photo, 2001

TE photo, 2001

Air Conditioned Grand Motel
TE photo, 2001

Edna
TE photo, 2001
More Texas Signs | Texas Old Neon

Edna, Texas Vintage Photos

Edna Depot, early 1900s
Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com
More Texas Depots | Texas Railroads

Lavaca River Bridge near Edna
Courtesy The Will Beauchamp Collection

Navidad River Bridge near Edna
Courtesy The Will Beauchamp Collection

Navidad River Bridge near Edna

Forgotten Texas Bridges - Series ›

Texas Bridges ›

Edna Cotton Gin Yard
Courtesy The Will Beauchamp Collection
More Texas Cotton Scenes Series | Texas Cotton Gins Series

Texas Vintage Photos ›

Jackson County 1920s Map
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and recent or vintage/historic photos, please contact us.