BRANCHVILLE, TEXAS

Milam County, Central Texas South

30° 53' 3.01" N, 96° 45' 49" W (30.88417, -96.76361)
FM 485
13 miles E of Cameron
Population: 200 (1990)

Branchville, Texas Area Hotels › Cameron Hotels

The 1869 Old Providence Baptist Church
"One of the oldest black historic churches."
- Tracy Burries-Hall, 2009 photo
More Texas Churches | Texas Black History

History in a Pecan Shell

While one might assume the town was named for being on a watercourse, it may have actually been named after a "branch" store. Merchant W. B. Easterwood had a store in operation in Port Sullivan, when he expanded - opening a branch here. The name became official when the post office opened in 1878. (It closed in 1908.)

From a modest population of 20 in 1884, it blossomed into 85 by 1896.

In 1903 Branchville had three schools. Thirty white students were taught by a single teacher in one building and two one-teacher schools taught a total of 133 black students. In the 1940s, Branchville had a population of 100 and its schools integrated in the 50s and consolidated with Cameron schools in the 1970s.

Branchville Sign
Photo courtesy Tracy Burries-Hall, November 2010

Antique store in Branchville
Photo courtesy Erik Whetstone, 8-15-04

An old store in Branchville
Photo courtesy Erik Whetstone, 8-15-04

Old ice box
Photo courtesy Erik Whetstone, 8-15-04

1907 Milam County postal map showing Branchville
E of Cameron, near Robertson County line
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Take a road trip

Branchville, Texas Nearby Towns:
Cameron the county seat
Rockdale
See Milam County | Central Texas South

Book Hotel Here:
Cameron Hotels | More Hotels

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