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Harrison County TX
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UNCERTAIN, TEXAS

Harrison County, East Texas

32° 42' 36" N, 94° 7' 19" W (32.71, -94.121944)
FM 2198
21 miles NE of Marshall the county seat
5 miles NE of Karnack
E of Jefferson
On the shores of Caddo Lake
Population: 94 Est. (2016)
94 (2010) 150 (2000) 194 (1990)

Uncertain Area Hotels › Marshall Hotels

Uncertain TX - Town Sign
Uncertain Town Sign
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2009

History in a Pecan Shell

With a name like Uncertain - it's appropriate that even the origin of the name is unclear. Two stories are offered in the Handbook of Texas and one is as good as the other. One is the "uncertainty" of the residents as to whether they belonged to the U. S. or the Republic of Texas since the boundary is formed by the lake. The other story is said to come from riverboat crews who never certain if their boats were firmly anchored. This story has credit since the town was once known as "Uncertain Landing." A third story claims that the difficulty of mapping the region left surveyors "uncertain."

[See Naming of Uncertain]

The community has always had strong economic ties to the outdoor activities. As early as 1900 a "rod and gun" club was in operation - known as the Uncertain Club. The logging of cypress trees and the fishing kept Uncertain's economy afloat through the 40s and tourism has been the mainstay ever since.

In 1961 the town incorporated to allow the sale of alcohol. Most Uncertainites operated tourist-related businesses. In 1988 the estimated population was 189 which has declined to the figure above.
Uncertain TX - Caddo Lake Steamboat
Photo courtesy Graceful Ghost Steamboat Co.

Uncertain, Texas Attractions:

Most of the Caddo Lake shore resorts are within Uncertain city limits.

  • Caddo Lake Swamps/Wildlife & Uncertain
    Photographer's Note:
    On Uncertain - "There have been quite a number of movies made here, most of them by Walt Disney. Note that this area is known world wide. At noon today I went to the Shady Glade Café in Uncertain and had a sandwich. There were three photographers from England. They were getting ready to take a boat tour of the area. The manger at the Café had a register that visitors sign. He said people have come from Japan, Russia, many countries in Europe. Shady Glade is a unique place as it is a marina, a small motel and other items. This is where the Paddle-Wheel boat operates out of." - Gerald Massey, August 11, 2011

  • Caddo Lake by Bob Bowman
    "... If anyone ever asks me to pick the lake I like most, Caddo Lake would be high on my list, largely because its mystical nature is captivating... Caddo Lake is actually a state park with 2.5 miles of hiking trails that wind around a handful of small communities, including Uncertain...” more

  • The Lake That Wasn't and Was and Wasn't and Is by C. F. Eckhardt
    The story of Caddo Lake


  • Uncertain, Texas, Caddo Lake and Cypress Trees by Nolan Maxie
    A personal look at the region

  • Book Uncetain area hotels : Marshall Hotels
  • Caddo Lake TX - Cypress
    Photo courtesy Maryanne Gobble, November 2010

    Caddo Lake, Swamps, Wildlife & Uncertain

    "The lake is rich in wildlife. The lake’s alligators are shy, but if you look closely you’ll find them swimming lazily between the cypress trees, sometimes with birds riding on their backs. You’ll also find opossums, all kind of snakes and scorpions, egrets, blue herons, beavers, deer, raccoons, bobcats and coyotes. And in the trees, barred owls seem to call out with a low-pitched sound that sounds like, “Who cooks for you?" The cypress trees are home to a Spanish moss..."
    - From Caddo Lake by Bob Bowman
    Uncertain Texas - Great Egret at rest
    Great Egret at rest
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2010
    Uncertain Texas - Uncertain Texas -  Great Egret taking off
    Great Egret taking off
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas -  Great Egret  in flight
    Great Egret in flight
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas Swamps - Lotus
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2010
    Uncertain Texas Swamps -  Lotus
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2010
    Uncertain Texas - Wood Stock in flight  among  Spanish Moss
    Wood Stock in flight
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas - Wood Stock in flight among Cypress & Spanish Moss
    Wood Stock in flight among Cypress & Spanish Moss
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas Wildlife
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas Wildlife
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas - Cypress, Spanish Moss and Wildlife
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas - Great Blue Heron at rest & Spanish Moss
    Great Blue Heron at rest
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2010
    Uncertain Texas - Cypress, Spanish Moss and Wildlife
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas - Cormorant  fishing
    Cormorant fishing
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas - Little Blue Heron
    Little Blue Heron ar rest
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2010

    Uncertain Texas - Wildlife
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas - Wildlife
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas - Great Egret in flight among Cypress & Spanish Moss
    Great Egret in flight
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas Swamps - Cypress with Spanish Moss
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas Swamps - Cypress
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas Swamps -
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2010
    Uncertain Texas Wildlife
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, April 2010
    Uncertain Texas - Tourist Information
    Uncertain - Caddo Lake Tourist Information
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2009
    TX - Uncertain Caddo Lake Welcome Sign
    Welcome to Uncertain & Caddo Lake
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2009
    Uncertain TX - Christmas Water Parade
    Getting ready for the "Annual Floating Christmas Parade"
    First Sunday in December

    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, 2010
    Uncertain Texas - Boat
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2009
    Uncertain Texas Swamps - Cypress with Spanish Moss
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2010
    Uncertain TX - Campbell Tomato Soup
    Warholism in East Texas
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, August 2011
    Uncertain TX - General Store
    Uncertain General Store
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2009
    Uncertain TX - Fly'N Fish, Beer Smith's Caddo Lake Airport
    Fly'N Fish, Beer Smith's Caddo Lake Airport in Uncertain
    Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2009

    TX Uncertain Rural Station 1967 Postmark  info
    TX -  Uncertain Rural Station 1967 Postmark
    Cover canceled with Uncertain Rural Station 1967 postmark
    Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection
    Cover with Uncertain, TX Postmark

    Uncertain never had a full-fledged post office of its own, but for a very short while (1962-1969) it operated what's called a rural station (and then a rural branch) - pretty much like a station in larger cities today but operated under the auspices of a nearby major post office, in this case the "metropolis" of Karnack. I'd bet dollars to donuts that it operated out of the little store that's pictured in your article. - John J. Germann, January 12, 2020

    Uncertain, Texas Related Articles
  • Take an Uncertain Road Trip by Jase Graves

  • Naming of Uncertain History cartoon by Roger T. Moore

  • Uncertain, Texas Forum:
  • Naming of Uncertain, Texas

    "The naming of Uncertain is a bit of dark history cleverly concealed in the depths of the political morass know as the Texas Legislature. Uncertain received it's name around 1963 +/- by the legislature declaring liquor sales legal based on local option. Several local people promptly founded the town, and erected, and opened two liquor stores. During the process of this there was a bill introduced that would overturn the local option law. Had that bill passed the only reason for the town would have been removed, and the town would not have survived. Thus the survival of Uncertain, was...............uncertain.

    I was there,

    Bob Holloway,
    Graduating Class 1965
    Jefferson, TX

    PS: We, all underage, bought a case of beer in Uncertain. Upon leaving the town we were pursued by the Harrison County Sheriff's dept. While driving at a high rate of speed we threw the case of beer out of the window. Said case of beer landed directly in a large flock of chickens feeding beside the road. The deputies pulled us over, and found nothing. Shortly after that another deputy arrived, and spotted the dead chickens as he was driving up. His comment was, "You boys should be going to jail for murder, but none of the chickens are willing to talk."

    We spent a mosquito infested hour picking up dead chickens. We placed the bodies in the trunk of Jerry's car, and departed for Jefferson. This was in Sept. Do you have any idea how fast dead chickens decompose in a Texas summer evening? Jerry's car was never the same after that." - January 10, 2020

  • Take a road trip

    Uncertain, Texas Nearby Towns:
    Marshall the county seat
    Jefferson
    Karnack
    See Harrison County | East Texas

    Book Hotel Here:
    Marshall Hotels | Jefferson 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.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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