DEVINE, TEXAS

Medina County, Texas Hill Country

Interstate 35, Highway 81, Highway 173
32 miles SW of San Antonio
Population: 4,389 (2010) 4,140 (2000) 3,928 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › San Antonio Hotels

Devine
TE Photo, July 2007

History in a Pecan Shell

Established with the arrival of the International-Great Northern railroad in 1881, it was named for railroad lawyer (and San Antonio Judge) Thomas Jefferson Devine. The town was incorporated in 1904 with a population of just over 500. Devine got a boost over other South Texas communities when it became irrigated from waters of Medina Lake in 1915.

Rain-dependant cotton producing land became a verdant landscape of corn and vegetable crops. The irrigation also doubled the population of the town to around 1,000 residents and it managed to maintain that level through the Great Depression. Its proximity to San Antonio has been a source of growth for the town and by the late 1980s it had grown to over 4,000. The 1990 census counted 3,928 residents which rebounded to 4,140 for the 2000 census.

Adams Gin Co. - One of the three big gins of Devine
Postcard courtesy Will Beauchamp Collection
More on Cotton & Cotton Gins

Devine Area Attractions

Bigfoot Wallace Museum - Open by appointment.
Inquire in Big Foot, 6 miles SE via Hwy 173 and FM 472

Stroud Blacksmith Shop - 103 Herring St.
Blacksmith shop in continuous operation since 1903

Burnt Boot Creek
by Mike Cox ("Texas Tales" Column)
"He pulled his pickup off the interstate for State Highway 132, which leads to Devine. That's when we saw the green Texas Department of Transportation sign...: Burnt Boot Creek..."

TE Photo, July 2007

Devine brickwork
TE Photo, July 2007

Devine Ghost Sign
TE Photo, July 2007

TE Photo, July 2007

TE Photo, July 2007
More Texas Ghost Signs

A Devine fire truck
TE photo, 2002

L - Devine water tower
TE photo, 2002
R - Unusual construction in downtown Devine
TE photo, March 2005

Devine Nearby Destinations

San Antonio, Castroville and Hondo on US 90 to the North.

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.