Francitas, Texas
Encyclopedia
Francitas is an unincorporated community
in Jackson County, Texas
, United States
. According to the Handbook of Texas
, the community had an estimated population of 760 in 2000.
and 30 miles east of Victoria
.
in 1914. The population peaked at around 300 in 1940 with a total of three businesses operating in the community. During the latter half of the twentieth century, Francitas experienced fluctuations in its population. From approximately 100 in the 1950s, Francitas was home to 200 residents in the early 1960ss. That number had declined to 30 by 1990 before increasing to 143 in 2000.
Although it is unincorporated, Francitas has a post office, with the ZIP code of 77961.
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Jackson County, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. According to the Handbook of Texas
Handbook of Texas
The Handbook of Texas is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association .-History:...
, the community had an estimated population of 760 in 2000.
Geography
Francitas is located at 28°51′35"N 96°20′19"W (28.8597082, -96.3385798). It is situated along FM 616 in southeastern Jackson County, approximately 28 miles south of El CampoEl Campo, Texas
El Campo is a city in Wharton County, Texas, United States. The population was 10,945 at the 2000 census, making it the largest city in Wharton County.-Geography:...
and 30 miles east of Victoria
Victoria, Texas
Victoria is a city in and the seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 60,603 at the 2000 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 at the 2000 census,...
.
History
A small colony of French families settled in the area during the late 1890s and soon thereafter, railroad employees named the community Francitas. The Valley Fruit Farm and Garden Company promoted the community by publicly selling lots in 1909. A year later, acreage purchased from local rancher Lafayette Ward was surveyed into additional lots for settlement. The Francitas post office was established in 1911, with C.O. Hardy serving as its first postmaster. It became a stop on the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico RailwaySt. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway
The St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico Railway was a 200-mile railroad that operated from Brownsville, Texas to Gulf Coast Junction in Houston. It passed through small southeast Texas communities such as Robstown, Corpus Christi, Bay City, and Harlingen as well as the Rio Grande Valley.-History:Uriah...
in 1914. The population peaked at around 300 in 1940 with a total of three businesses operating in the community. During the latter half of the twentieth century, Francitas experienced fluctuations in its population. From approximately 100 in the 1950s, Francitas was home to 200 residents in the early 1960ss. That number had declined to 30 by 1990 before increasing to 143 in 2000.
Although it is unincorporated, Francitas has a post office, with the ZIP code of 77961.
Education
Public education in the community of Francitas is provided by the Industrial Independent School DistrictIndustrial Independent School District
Industrial Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Vanderbilt, Texas, United States.The district currently serves an area of three hundred square miles in southern Jackson County and a portion of Victoria County...
.