|
|
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.
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save
Mexia
Hotels
More Hotels
|
People
Alfonso
Steele - Last Texas survivor of the battle of San Jacinto |
Mexia Texas
Forum
Subject: 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 |
|
|
