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FRANCITAS, TEXAS

Jackson County, Texas Gulf Coast

28°51'35"N 96°20'19"W (28.8597082, -96.3385798)

FM 616
28 Miles S of El Campo
30 Miles E of Victoria
36 Miles SE of Edna the county seat
ZIP code 77961
Population: 125 est. (2010) 143 (2000)

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Francitas Texas Depot old photo
Francitas Texas Depot
Photo courtesy W.R. Joines and Carol Gibbs
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History in a Pecan Shell

The community was named by railroad employees, according to the Handbook of Texas, after a number of French families established a community here in the 1890s. Town lots went on sale in 1909 and the town seemed to have a bright future. Lafayette Ward (the namesake of nearby La Ward, Texas) bought additional acreage the following year and in 1911 a post office was granted under the name Francitas. It became a stop on the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway in 1914 and had all the essential businesses, including a weekly newspaper, and a telephone connection.

Although early population figures aren't available, the town's high-water mark seems to have been 1940 when 300 people called Francitas home. Over the years the population has risen and fallen, reaching a low of 30 in the late 1980s. It has since rebounded to 143 for the 2000 Census.

Francitas Texas Joines Brothers General Merchandis Store old photo
Joines Brothers General Merchandise
Photo courtesy Albina Joines and Carol Gibbs
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Francitas Texas - Francitas  Park, Jackson County old phto
In Francitas Park, Feb. 5, 1911
Old Photo courtesy Dan Whatley Collection
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Francitas Texas,  Jackson County , 1913 post mark
Francitas, Texas 1913 postmark
Courtesy Dan Whatley Collection


Jackson County TX 1920 Map
Jackson County 1920s map showing Francitas near Matagorda County line
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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Texas Gulf Coast

Francitas, Texas Nearby Towns:
El Campo
Victoria
See Jackson County | Matagorda County | Wharton County

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