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

Collin County TX
Collin County

Texas Towns
A - Z
Hotels

MURPHY, TEXAS

Collin County, Central Texas North

33° 1' 51" N, 96° 36' 47" W (33.030833, -96.613056)
FM 544
5 Miles E of Plano
SW of McKinney the county seat
22 miles NE of downtown Dallas
Population: 17,708 (2010) 3,099 (2000)

Murphy Area Hotels › McKinney Hotels
Murphy TX - First Baptist Church
First Baptist Church
See Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Mike Price, January 2008
More Texas Churches

History in a Pecan Shell

First settlement began with the Peters Colony land grants in the 1840s. The original name of Old Decator, came from the hometown of the landowner and developer C. A. McMillian.

With the arrival of the St. Louis and Southwestern Railroad in the late 1880s, the town’s name was changed to honor Wm. Murphy who donated a railroad right-of-way.

A post office was granted in 1891 and Murphy settled in as a railroad shipping point.

By the mid 1950s the population has shrunk to around 150 and the post office was closed. The population hit rock-bottom in the early 1960s with a mere 135 residents.

By 1986 the population had grown to 1,500 and has doubled for the 2000 Census.

Murphy, Texas Landmarks

Photographer's Note:

The church and the school comprise a large chunk of what is left of old Murphy. Just about everything else, not that there was a lot to start with, is gone. - Mike Price, January 05, 2008
Murphy TX - Murphy Public School WPA Project
Murphy Public School, a WPA Project
Photo courtesy Mike Price, January 2008
Murphy TX - Murphy School
Photo courtesy Mike Price, January 2008.
More Texas Schoolhouses
Murphy TX - Murphy Public School cornerstone
Murphy Public School cornerstone.
More Texas Cornerstones

Photo courtesy Mike Price, January 2008
Murphy TX - Murphy School WPA Project plaque
WPA Project 1938-1940 plaque
Photo courtesy Mike Price, January 2008
Murphy TX - First Baptist Church Historical Marker
First Baptist Church Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Mike Price, January 2008

First Baptist Church of Murphy Historical Marker

In 1900, twelve years after the founding of Murphy, local resident Mrs. May Cockrell directed the formation of this congregation. Aware of the need for a Baptist church in the community, she hosted the organizational meeting in her home. Present were many of her friends, including the Rev. G.W. McCalla a Baptist preacher from Plano, and Bob Coleman of the Plano Star-Courier. The same year Mrs. Louisa Brown donated land at this site for construction of the sanctuary. Since 1900 the congregation has made many significant contributions to the community.

Take a road trip

Murphy, Texas Nearby Towns:
McKinney the county seat
Plano
Dallas
See Collin County | Central Texas North

Book Hotel Here:
McKinney 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 vintage/historic 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