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

Ellis County TX
Ellis County


Texas Towns
A - Z

Waxahachie Hotels

More Hotels

OVILLA, TEXAS

Ellis County, Central Texas North

32° 31' 54" N, 96° 53' 29" W (32.531667, -96.891389)

Ovilla Road N of FM 1387
About 15 Miles N of Waxahachie the county seat
About 9 Miles NE of Midlothian
About 23 Miles S of Downtown Dallas
Population: 4,146 Est. (2018)
3,492 (2010) 3,405 (2000) 2,027 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › Waxahachie Hotels


History in a Pecan Shell

Ovilla has the distinction of being the oldest settlement in Ellis County. It began life in the 1840s with brush arbor meetings. The brush arbor evolved into a church (The Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church), in the early 1850s and the church doubled as the community’s first school.

The settlement that grew around the church and school was prosperous as a farming village, but no one thought to name it until Mrs. M. M. Molloy, (wife of Rev. D. G. Molloy) came up with the present name – said to be based on the Spanish word Villa.

By 1900 Ovilla had all the essential businesses including a pharmacy and post office although the post office closed in 1906. The community suffered fires in 1918 and 1926, essentially wiping out the commercial district. Already bypassed by the railroads, Ovilla was later left out of highway improvements, reducing its chances of growth. As Dallas grew closer and the city of Desoto threatened to annex the unincorporated community, Ovilla incorporated to prevent being absorbed in 1963.

From a population of just over 300 in the 1960s, it had reached nearly 1,100 by the 1980 census. The 1990 census counted over 2,000 residents and in 2000 there were 3,405.



Ovilla, TX Ellis  County post office info
Ovilla, TX Ellis  County 1885 Postmark
Cover cancelled with 1885 Ovilla postmark
Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection

Take a road trip

Central Texas North

Ovilla, Texas Nearby Towns:
Waxahachie the county seat
Midlothian
Dallas
See Ellis County

Book Hotel Here:
Waxahachie 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