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History in
a Pecan Shell
The present name
is a corruption from Robert P. Flynt, a local landowner. In 1882 the
community became a stop on the Kansas and Gulf Short Line Railroad.
The misspelling of Mr. Flynt’s name is attributed to the town’s first
postmaster who filled out the post office application incorrectly.
The following year Robert P. Flynt himself became postmaster (although
the name of the town remained Flint).
The 1890 Census showed a population of just 25 residents, and just
one general store to three cotton gins. Flint did have a physician,
however – a rarity in a town so small.
By 1902 the area had an estimated 100 families – all of them farming
vegetables. Together they shipped 85 carloads of vegetables – mostly
tomatoes but also peaches, cabbage and watermelons.
Despite its size, Flint also shipped nearly 1,000 bales of cotton.
By 1914 the population had increased to 450 and the region’s farmers
outdid all previous records. The prosperity of the 1920s allowed Flint
to rebuild its frame school with a 2-story brick building. Classes
extended to the 10th grade. Residents could shop at six different
general stores, see the doctor and read Flint’s own newspaper (the
Weekly Reader) in his waiting room.
The town’s population declined to just 200 by the mid 1920s – perhaps
influenced by the drop in cotton prices.
Flint was hit hard by the Great Depression. After WWII,
the population had decreased to just 150. The Flint ISD merged with
Tyler’s
ISD in 1952. The school later became the town’s community.
Flint has retained its post office and may have under-reported its
1990 census figures of 150 people, since 700 were reported on the
2000 Census. |
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Flint United
Methodist Church
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2007 |
Flint old and
new Baptist Church
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2007 |
| 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. |
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