TexasEscapes.com HOME Welcome to Texas Escapes
A magazine written by Texas
Custom Search
New   |   Texas Towns   |   Ghost Towns   |   Counties   |   Trips   |   Features   |   Columns   |   Architecture   |   Images   |   Archives   |   Site Map

Hill County TX
Hill County

Texas Towns
A - Z
Hillsboro Hotels

More Hotels

COVINGTON, TEXAS

A One Man Town

Hill County
, Central Texas North

32°10'37"N 97°15'26"W (32.176850, -97.257104)
Hwy 171 & FM 67
14 miles NW of Hillsboro the county seat
15 miles SE of Cleburne
10 miles E of Blum
Population: 271 Est. (2016)
269 (2010) 282 (2000) 238 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › Hillsboro Hotels

Downtown Covington Texas
Downtown Covington
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson,
April 2006
History in a Pecan Shell

James J. Gathings was a Mississippian who arrived in Texas in 1852 and bought thousands of acres of land in the region. Using slaves, Gathings ran successful farm and ranching operations, setting aside 100 acres for what would become the town of Covington. He platted the town and offered free lots to temperate families as long as they agreed to build a home and a school. The town was named after his wife's maiden name.

In 1855 Gathings became postmaster of Covington and together with his brother Philip, they founded Gathings College in the early 1860s. By 1870 Gathings's population was nearing 500 and the school continued in operation until 1885.

The town was in economic peril when it was bypassed by the Katy Railroad in 1904 but saved when the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railroad built through. Covington prospered for the next 30 years and the town's prosperity was only ended by the onset of the Great Depression. The Trinity and Brazos Valley discontinued the stop at Covington and war time growth of Waco and Fort Worth drained off population as highways improved. From a population of 450 in 1945 it fell to less than 300 by the late 1980s.
CovingtonTexas post office
The post office
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson,
April 2006

More Texas Post Offices
Hill County TX 1920 Map
1920s Hill County map showing Covington
NW of Hillsboro, SE of Cleburne
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Take a road trip

Covington, Texas Nearby Towns:
Hillsboro the county seat
Cleburne
Blum
See Hill County | Johnson County

Central Texas North

Book Hotel Here:
Hillsboro 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 recent or vintage photos, please contact us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Texas Towns A - Z Texas Regions:
Gulf Texas Gulf Coast East East Texas North Central Texas North Central Woutn Central Texas South Panhandle Texas Panhandle
South South Texas Hill Texas Hill Country West West Texas Ghost Texas Ghost Towns counties Texas Counties

Texas Escapes Online Magazine »   Archive Issues » Home »
TEXAS TOWNS & COUNTIES TEXAS LANDMARKS & IMAGES TEXAS HISTORY & CULTURE TEXAS OUTDOORS MORE
Texas Counties
Texas Towns A-Z
Texas Ghost Towns

TEXAS REGIONS:
Central Texas North
Central Texas South
Texas Gulf Coast
Texas Panhandle
Texas Hill Country
East Texas
South Texas
West Texas

Courthouses
Jails
Churches
Schoolhouses
Bridges
Theaters
Depots
Rooms with a Past
Monuments
Statues

Gas Stations
Post Offices
Museums
Water Towers
Grain Elevators
Lodges
Stores
Banks

Vintage Photos
Historic Trees
Cemeteries
Old Neon
Ghost Signs
Signs
Murals
Gargoyles
Pitted Dates
Cornerstones
Then & Now

Columns: History/Opinion
Texas History
Small Town Sagas
Black History
WWII
Texas Centennial
Ghosts
People
Animals
Food
Music
Art

Books
Texas Railroads

Texas Trips
Texas Drives
Texas State Parks
Texas Rivers
Texas Lakes
Texas Forts
Texas Trails
Texas Maps
USA
MEXICO
HOTELS

Site Map
About Us
Privacy Statement
Disclaimer
Contributors
Staff
Contact Us

 
Website Content Copyright Texas Escapes LLC. All Rights Reserved