McNeil, Texas
Encyclopedia
McNeil is an unincorporated community
in Travis County
, Texas
, United States
. Its elevation is 830 feet (253 m). Although McNeil is unincorporated, it has a post office
, with the ZIP code
of 78651.
McNeil arose at the junction of two rail lines (I&GN
and A&N
), being named for a regional manager on the A&N. The community's post office was established in December 1888. McNeil High School
was built in 1991.
The "McNeil" name is currently used mostly for the Austin White Lime Company facility and railroad junction. The surrounding areas have Austin, Texas mailing addresses. Austin White Lime operates a limestone quarry and a plant for the production of lime products.
The current rail lines are owned by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(Cap Metro) and the Union Pacific Railroad
(UP). The Cap Metro lines are the former A&N rail lines. Cap Metro currently runs commuter rail and freight rail operations through McNeil. Freight operations on Cap Metro are operated under contract by Austin Western Railroad. Commuter rail operations use an overpass built in 2007 over the UP tracks. Freight operations use a diamond crossing with UP. Freight is interchanged between UP and Austin Western. BNSF serves Austin Western via trackage rights
over UP.
Note: McNeil also refers to a small settlement located in Caldwell County, Texas
, approximately 5 miles (8 km) northeast of the town of Luling
. Settled mostly by immigrants after the American Civil War
, McNeil was once a thriving farm community with its own school. Harvey King was known as the unofficial "Mayor of McNeil". As of 2010, a few original places of interest remain including McNeil Baptist Church founded in 1888 and McNeil Cemetery which occupies land first donated to Soda Springs Methodist Church by Margaret Smith Hinds circa 1867. Benton I. McCarley, who was killed in World War I
, is buried in the cemetery and the American Legion Post in Luling is named in his honor.
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 Travis County
Travis County, Texas
As of 2009, the U.S. census estimates there were 1,026,158 people, 320,766 households, and 183,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 821 people per square mile . There were 335,881 housing units at an average density of 340 per square mile...
, 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...
. Its elevation is 830 feet (253 m). Although McNeil is unincorporated, it has a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, with the ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
of 78651.
McNeil arose at the junction of two rail lines (I&GN
International-Great Northern Railroad
The International – Great Northern Railroad was a railroad that operated in the U.S. state of Texas. It was created on September 30, 1873, when International Railroad and Houston and Great Northern Railroad merged....
and A&N
Austin and Northwestern Railroad
The Austin and Northwestern Railroad began construction on a rail line west of Austin, Texas, USA, toward Llano on April 20, 1881. The railroad was originally built as a narrow gauge line with plans to connect to the Texas and Pacific Railway at Abilene...
), being named for a regional manager on the A&N. The community's post office was established in December 1888. McNeil High School
McNeil High School
McNeil High School is a public secondary school in Austin, Texas, USA, serving freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The school is part of the Round Rock Independent School District , with admission primarily based on the locations of students' homes in the district. Two middle schools feed...
was built in 1991.
The "McNeil" name is currently used mostly for the Austin White Lime Company facility and railroad junction. The surrounding areas have Austin, Texas mailing addresses. Austin White Lime operates a limestone quarry and a plant for the production of lime products.
The current rail lines are owned by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or Capital Metro, is a public transportation provider located in Austin, Texas. It operates bus, paratransit services and a commuter rail/light rail system known as Capital MetroRail for Austin and several suburbs in Travis and Williamson counties...
(Cap Metro) and the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
(UP). The Cap Metro lines are the former A&N rail lines. Cap Metro currently runs commuter rail and freight rail operations through McNeil. Freight operations on Cap Metro are operated under contract by Austin Western Railroad. Commuter rail operations use an overpass built in 2007 over the UP tracks. Freight operations use a diamond crossing with UP. Freight is interchanged between UP and Austin Western. BNSF serves Austin Western via trackage rights
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
over UP.
Note: McNeil also refers to a small settlement located in Caldwell County, Texas
Caldwell County, Texas
Caldwell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area. In 2000, the population was 32,194. Its county seat is Lockhart...
, approximately 5 miles (8 km) northeast of the town of Luling
Luling, Texas
Luling is a city in Caldwell County, Texas, United States, along the San Marcos River. The population was 5,080 at the 2000 census. There is some debate as to how Luling got its name. Some say it was named for a Chinese railroad worker, others for a judge named Luling, or that it was the maiden...
. Settled mostly by immigrants after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, McNeil was once a thriving farm community with its own school. Harvey King was known as the unofficial "Mayor of McNeil". As of 2010, a few original places of interest remain including McNeil Baptist Church founded in 1888 and McNeil Cemetery which occupies land first donated to Soda Springs Methodist Church by Margaret Smith Hinds circa 1867. Benton I. McCarley, who was killed in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, is buried in the cemetery and the American Legion Post in Luling is named in his honor.
External links
- Profile of McNeil from the Handbook of Texas OnlineHandbook of TexasThe Handbook of Texas is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association .-History:...