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History in
a Pecan Shell
Once known as Dixie,
Texas, Barksdale was originally settled in the late 1840s and
was named for Lewis Barksdale, landowner. The name Dixie was borrowed
from an existing army camp in the 1860s. More settlers arrived in
the 1860s, although Lewis Barksdale himself didn’t arrive until 1869.
In the 1880s there were enough letter-writers in Dixie to request
a post office, but they found the name Dixie already in use. The application
was resubmitted under the name Barksdale, which was granted in 1882.
Although the population was a mere 20 people in 1884, the town had
three stores – one a grocery and two of the general variety. A school
was opened in a private home but in 1887 it had its own building which
was also used as a church on Sundays.
By 1900, the community had grown to 100 residents served by businesses
including a gin and gristmill. A bank opened and the town was wired
for phone service.
Barksdale managed to get through the Great Depression without too
much population shrinkage and throughout the 1940s it held steady
at around 200 residents.
But the 1850 census counted just 150 – probably due to postwar mobility.
The prosperous 50s added a church in 1950 and a new high school was
constructed in 1957 in anticipation of the crop of baby-boom childen.
In the early 1970s, it had declined to just 71 residents and two struggling
businesses. But Barksdale was not to be counted out. Several subdivision
were built in the late 1980s and the population had rebounded to a
new high of over 600 people. It grew to nearly 1,100 for the 2000
census. |
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Dixie Settlement
Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2011 |
Historical
Marker (On Hwy 55) Text:
Dixie Settlement
(Forerunner of Barksdale)
Named for Camp
Dixie, a Texas Ranger post near Military Road to Fort Inge (42 miles
southeast). First civilian settler was Jerusha Sanchez, midwife for
Nueces Canyon area, widowed by Indians in the 1870s. Next came Elizabeth
Hill, whose eldest son Jim was a military scout. Lewis Barksdale,
a veteran of Republic
of Texas wars, opened a ranch on his 1876 land grant. The J. R.
(Bob) Sweeten family established a store that became the focus for
the expanding community. When a post office was created in 1882 and
named for Lewis Barksdale, the name Dixie disappeared from use.
(1974) |
Nix
Mill Historical Marker
(1885-1926)
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2011 |
Three
historical markers on State Highway 55
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2011 |
Edwards
County 1940s map showing Barksdale
(near Real County
line)
From Texas state map #4335
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, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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