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Ellis County TX
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ITALY, TEXAS


Ellis County, Central Texas North

32°10'58"N 96°53'06"W (32.182705, -96.884967)

I-35E
Hwy 77 and Hwy 34
FM 667
44 miles S of Dallas
15 miles S of Waxahachie the county seat
20 miles SW of Ennis
15 miles NE of Hillsboro
ZIP code 76651
Area code(s) 214, 469, 972
Population: 1,923 (2019)
1,863 (2010) 1,993 (2000) 1,699 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › Waxahachie Hotels

Downtown Italy Texas, water tower
Downtown Italy
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, April 2008

The name:
Italy bears no cultural ties to the "Old Country"and if there are citizens of Italian heritage - it's merely coincidental. The name was contributed by the postmaster of 1880 who imagined the climate of Texas comparable to that of Italy.


History in a Pecan shell


A timeline of significant events in Italy, Texas:
1860: Scattered settlement begins
1879: the brothers Aycock built the first house and use it as a combination of house, store and post office. The town was split over what the name should be - some wanting Egypt and others Italy. Gabriel J. Penn, the Waxahachie postmaster settled the matter for them by filling in the blank on the application with the name Italy. The postal authorities gladly accepted Italy (there was already an Egypt in Wharton County).
1890: The population reaches 500 Italians (not really Italians, but what else are you going to call them?)
1891: A big year for Italy. The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad arrived (actually in December 1890), the first newspaper was published, and the town was officially incorporated.
1900: population is 1,061
1901: The International-Great Northern Railroad reaches Italy
1913: The Electric Interurban between Waco and Dallas comes through Italy (Electricity for the city was provided by Waco)
1920s: Italy had five gins, a compress, and a cottonseed oil mill.
1925: The population reaches 1,500 and the Italy Independent School District was established.
1930: Italy starts the Great Depression with a population of 1,230 people and 45 businesses.
1960: Italy's population remains nearly the same with only 1,183 people and half the businesses.


Italy Today

Italy is the home of the S. M. Dunlap Memorial Library.

Because of its slow growth from the 30s, Italy is a town that should be visited on an Ellis County trip. It remains very representative of a North Texas cotton town of the 1930s.



Italy, Texas Landmarks / Images

Photos courtesy Stephen Michaels, April 2008


Italy Texas former bank building now city hall
Where they used to keep the Lira
More Texas Bank Buildings


Italy Texas former bank building
More Texas Bank Buildings


Italy, Texas fire station & City Hall
Italy Fire Department & City Hall, circa 1926


Corley Bell Tower, Italy Texas
The Corley Bell Tower


Corley Bell Tower plaque,  Italy Texas
The Corley Bell Tower plaque


Italy Building Co., Italy Texas
Italy Building Co.


Italy Texas Coca Cola ghost sign
Ghost sign
More Ghost Signs | Coca Cola


Italy Texas old gas station
Closed gas station


Donut, Italy Texas old gas station
"Donuts"
More Texas Gas Stations


Italy Texas scene
Old farm equipments


Italy Texas leaning house
"Leaning House of Italy"


Italy Texas brick building
Above photos courtesy Stephen Michaels, April 2008


Italy, Texas high school
Italy High School
1909 postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Texas Schoolhouses


Italy Texas - St. L. & S.W. Depot, Italy

St. L. & S.W. Depot, Italy, Texas
1910 postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/



Italy TX - Katy MKT Depot 1946

Katy MKT Depot, Italy
1946 postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Texas Depots



TX Ellis County 1920s Map
1920s map showing Italy (SW Ellis County) and the railroads
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office



Italy, Texas Chronicles

Back Home in It-lee, Texas, USA by Jeanne Moseley

"... His career in radio broadcasting took him to Dallas, Louisville, Providence, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and then back to Los Angeles, where he became well known as a premier broadcaster. As a young boy on Italy's Ward Street, his favorite pastime was listening to Gene Autry's radio show ..."



Italy, Texas Forum

I was born in Milford Texas and was familiar with Italy. I used to go to the movie in Italy on the interurban (because we had no movie). My brother (Dick Murray) ran a radio repair shop in Earl Shives drug store. if anyone remembers me - please write. - Flora Murray (Henderson), Milford, Ellis, Texas. Email: flo_h_2001@yahoo.com



Take a road trip

Central Texas North

Italy, Texas Nearby Towns:
Waxahachie the county seat
Dallas
Ennis
Hillsboro
Corsicana
See Ellis County

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