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Matagorda County TX
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MARKHAM, TEXAS


Matagorda County, Texas Gulf Coast

28°57'47"N 96°4'4"W (28.962944, -96.067712)

FM 1468 and FM 2431
6 Miles NW of Bay City the county seat
32 Miles S of Wharton
90 miles SW of downtown Houston
22 miles NE of Palacios Bay
ZIP code 77456
Area code 979
Population: 1,138 (2000) 1,206 (1990)

Markham, Texas Area Hotels ›Bay City Hotels

Markham TX - Old Bank Building
Old Bank Building in Markham
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, September 2012
See Texas Banks

History in a Pecan Shell

First named Cortes, Texas, the community has a post office under that name briefly (1901-03). In 1903 the post office was renamed to honor an engineer for the Southern Pacific railroad.

By 1914 Markham had a respectable population of 500 residents and was a stop on the Texas and New Orleans railroad. By the mid 1920s, the population shed 100 residence, bringing it down to 400.

Markham formed its own independent school district by the mid 1930s and had about a dozen businesses in operation. During WWII the population had grown to 700 which dropped to 300 for the 1950 census.

1965 reported growth to 750 but by 1970 it had dropped again to just over 600.

The 1990 census had increased to 1,206 and by 2000 it was ten businesses. The population was 1,138 for the year 2000.

Markham TX - Oil Rig
Oil Well Pumping Rig
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, September 2012

Oil Well Pumping Rig

A plaque on the rig had the following information:
"J.S. Abercrombie Mineral Company
Oil Well Pumping Rig

In 1920, near Clemville, Texas, J.S. Abercrombie Mineral Company put this pumping rig into operation on a new oil well at a location west of Little Tres-Palacios Creek and south of the present El Dorado Road. In 1927 the well went dry, and the pumping rig was not used again.

In 1980 J.G. "Pappy" Stone donated this example of an early oil well pumping rig to A.W. "Al" Hurta, Matagorda County Commissioner precinct No. 4. The same year it was moved to this location and restored as a reminder of the county's oil production in the early years of this* century."

*"The twentieth century, of course." - Terry Jeanson, September 2012

Markham TX - First Baptist Church
Markham First Baptist Church
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, September 2012
See Texas Churches


Matagorda County TX 1920s Map
1920s map showing Markam in north central Matagorda County W of Bay City
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Take a road trip

Texas Gulf Coast

Markham, Texas Nearby Towns:
Bay City the county seat
Blessing
Matagorda
Wharton
El Campo
Danevang

See Matagorda County | Wharton County

Book Hotel Here:
Bay City Hotels | More Hotels

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