History in a
Pecan Shell
One of the oldest towns in the county, it was named after
Santa Cruz de Concepción. Initially the town was part of a Spanish land grant
to Francisco Cordente. It's recent history began with the granting of a post office
in 1873. Evelen years later the town was thriving with an estimated population
of 600. Don Julian Palacios, a local sheep rancher was elected Justice of the
Peace for the area and the town reportedly had a (a much more realistic) population
of 100 by the early 1890s.
The
Concepcion school reported 64 pupils enrolled for the 1906-07 school year. An
attempt to split Duval into two counties was instigated by local political boss
Archer Parr. Parr and his supporters wanted Benavides
to be the new county seat, but although an election was held, the legislation
authorizing a new county was found to be in violation of the state constitution.
By 1914 the
population was reported to be 150. Estimates varied greatly from a low of 75 to
a high-water mark of 500 in 1927. The agreeded-upon figure of 75 was used from
the mid 1930s through the mid 1960s. The Concepcion school eventually merged with
Benavides schools. The town was
described as having "a few scattered dwellings, a church, and one business" in
1968. The population of 25 has been in use from the early 70s to the present.
Conception
still appears on the state map and the detailed TxDoT map of Duval county shows
seven cemeteries within a few miles of the town.
Related
Topics :
Texas | Online
Magazine | Texas
Towns | South
Texas | Ghost
Towns | Photos
|
Area
Hotels - Book Here & Save
Alice
Hotels
Kingsville
Hotels
More Hotels
| 