Harleton, Texas
Encyclopedia
Harleton is an unincorporated town
located at the intersection of Farm Roads 1968 and 450 and State Highway 154, fifteen miles northwest of Marshall
in northwestern Harrison County
, Texas
, United States
.
and Methodist churches, a steam sawmill, a steam gin
and gristmill
, two general stores, and a newspaper named the Journal.
In 1892 the community changed its name to Harleton, for J. W. Harle, a sawmill operator who built a tram railroad from Marshall to move timber from his mill. By 1900 Harleton had 238 inhabitants. In 1904 the Harleton school district included one school and one teacher serving forty-eight black pupils and two schools and four teachers serving 199 white pupils. By 1914 the community had telephone service and a bank.
Harleton had an estimated population of 360 in the 1920s and 1930s. The railroad was abandoned in 1937, but Harleton was still a growing community in 1941, when its population was estimated at 500 and it had fourteen businesses. The population fell to 275 by 1945, and the number of businesses dropped to seven by 1947.
In 1946 a gas field was opened nearby and led to a partial revival of the town's economy. Harleton had 300 inhabitants and fourteen businesses in 1949. From 1972 to 1990 the population was estimated at 260; Harleton had five businesses, a school, and two churches in 1988. It is now estimated that Harleton has over 1,000 inhabitants.
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...
located at the intersection of Farm Roads 1968 and 450 and State Highway 154, fifteen miles northwest of Marshall
Marshall, Texas
Marshall is a city in Harrison County in the northeastern corner of Texas. Marshall is a major cultural and educational center in East Texas and the tri-state area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Marshall was about 23,523...
in northwestern Harrison County
Harrison County, Texas
Harrison County is a county of the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 62,110. It is named for Jonas Harrison, a lawyer and Texas revolutionary. It is located in the Ark-La-Tex region...
, 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...
.
History
A community called Fontana was established on the site about 1890, and the Paris, Marshall and Sabine Railroad was built through the area the following year. By 1892 Fontana had, according to the Texas State Gazetteer, an estimated population of 175 inhabitants, BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
and Methodist churches, a steam sawmill, a steam gin
Cotton gin
A cotton gin is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, a job formerly performed painstakingly by hand...
and gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
, two general stores, and a newspaper named the Journal.
In 1892 the community changed its name to Harleton, for J. W. Harle, a sawmill operator who built a tram railroad from Marshall to move timber from his mill. By 1900 Harleton had 238 inhabitants. In 1904 the Harleton school district included one school and one teacher serving forty-eight black pupils and two schools and four teachers serving 199 white pupils. By 1914 the community had telephone service and a bank.
Harleton had an estimated population of 360 in the 1920s and 1930s. The railroad was abandoned in 1937, but Harleton was still a growing community in 1941, when its population was estimated at 500 and it had fourteen businesses. The population fell to 275 by 1945, and the number of businesses dropped to seven by 1947.
In 1946 a gas field was opened nearby and led to a partial revival of the town's economy. Harleton had 300 inhabitants and fourteen businesses in 1949. From 1972 to 1990 the population was estimated at 260; Harleton had five businesses, a school, and two churches in 1988. It is now estimated that Harleton has over 1,000 inhabitants.
Education
Harleton is served by the Harleton Independent School DistrictHarleton Independent School District
Harleton Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Harleton, Texas .In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.-Schools:*Harleton High School...