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History in a Pecan
Shell
Named for the Mexía family, whose ownership dates to 1833,
things were pretty quiet in these parts until the railroad arrived. Mexia was
platted in 1870 by the Houston and Texas Central Townsite Company, a sister company
of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. Lots went on sale in 1871 when the
tracks between Hearne
and Groesbeck were still under contstruction.
A post office was granted in 1872, and Mexia was incorporated the following year.
By 1880 Mexia had a sizeable population of 1,800 with four schools and
three churches. By 1885 the population was up to 2,000 residents. The Trinity
and Brazos Valley Railway built through between 1904 and 1906 - connecting Hillsboro
and Houston, and making making Mexia
a railroad crossroads.
In 1912 a large natural gas deposit was discovered
by the Mexia Gas and Oil Company. Oil was discovered in 1920, creating an instant
boomtown that rivaled the boom in Ranger.
From just 3,482 people the population exploded to an estimated 35,000 in 1922,
causing martial law to be (briefly) declared. |
After the initial
boom, the population decreased to a more manageable 10,000 by the mid-20s, but
the onset of the Great Depression forced people to leave Mexia to find greener
pastures. The population stabilized around 6,500 in the early 1930s, but the number
of businesses reported fell by one third. A German Prisoner of War Camp was built
in Mexia in 1942. (See WWII)
The population was given as 6,618 in the early 1950s, not far from today's figure
of just under 7,000.
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People
Alfonso
Steele - Last Texas survivor of the battle of San Jacinto |
Mexia
Texas ForumSubject:
Thank You to Mexia
Dear TE, Many Many years ago, I lived in Mexia, and
have very fond memories of how good and community-minded the people were. I now
live in a big town in New Jersey, and it is much different here. I am not a native,
but my daughter is a Mexia native. When I became ill one year, all the churches
First United Methodist, and the Presbyterian Church, and First Baptist Church
all got together and made suppers for me till I got better. These things never
go forgotten. One day I will take my daughter back to Mexia and show her the house
she spent her first three years. Thank you. - Judi Blau, New Jersey, November
29, 2006
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