|
Cover canceled
with Orient, TX 1958 postmark
"1858 - 1958 Butterfield Overland Mail Centennial"
Courtesy Dan
Whatley Collection |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Derived from the
name of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway, this "town" ended
up being the smallest of the three. Besides, "Orient" is a rather
broad term, isn't it? The town bucked the custom of having a store
first and then applying for a post office. The post office opened
it's doors in 1909 and five years later the store arrived. Our favorite
source states that there were two teachers in 1930 but doesn't mention
any students. (Maybe the teachers played cards in the empty schoolhouse.)
No one remembers the day the census enumerator arrived in 1925, but
he/ she reported finding 20 people present. By 1934, the population
was just ten and residents claim that the others "left in search of
work."
The town would've disappeared totally if not for oil and gas discoveries
but there was no boom. The post office closed in the 1960s as well
as one of the town's two businesses. The population swelled to 40
"Orientals" in the early 1950s and remained there for the 2000 census.
We eagerly await results from the 2020 census. |
 |
| 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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