Prairie Lea, Texas
Encyclopedia
Prairie Lea is an unincorporated community
in Caldwell County
, Texas
, United States
. According to the Handbook of Texas
, the community had an estimated population of 255 in 2000. It is part of the Austin
–Round Rock
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
and ten miles southwest of Lockhart
. The nearest major city if Austin
, located 44 miles to the north.
. Sam Houston
named the town for his future wife Margaret Moffette Lea
.
Edmund Bellinger, a veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto
and Battle of Plum Creek
, became Prairie Lea's first settler in 1839. Other early settlers were largely slave-holding families.
Growth followed the establishment of a sawmill, gristmill, and gin by Thomas Mooney on the nearby San Marcos River
.
During the Civil War
, men from Prairie Lea served with John Bell Hood
's Texas Brigade
and took part in the ill-fated Sibley Campaign
in New Mexico Territory
An 1877 fire destroyed the community's business district.
By 1884, Prairie Lea had a population of 100 with several businesses, two churches, and a school.
The number of residents had grown to 350 in 1914.
Development of the nearby Luling
oilfield during the 1920s caused an increase in Prairie Lea's population.
A five-room school building was constructed in 1925 and by the 1940s, students from the nearby communities of Fentress
and Stairtown
were attending Prairie Lea schools.
During the latter half of the twentieth century, the population slowly declined. By 1990, Prairie Lea was home to 100 residents. That number had risen to 255 in 2000 with eight businesses operating in the community.
. The district has one campus, Prairie Lea School, that serves students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve.
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 Caldwell County
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...
, 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 255 in 2000. It is part of the Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
–Round Rock
Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Greater Austin
Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos is a five-county metropolitan area in the US state of Texas, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget. The metropolitan area straddles on the eastern edge of the and is situated in Central Texas....
.
Geography
Prairie Lea is located at 29°43′57"N 97°45′13"W. It is situated along State Highway 80 in southwestern Caldwell County, approximately six miles northwest of LulingLuling, 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...
and ten miles southwest of Lockhart
Lockhart, Texas
-External links:* *...
. The nearest major city if Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, located 44 miles to the north.
History
The community, Caldwell County's oldest, was built on the 1820 land grant of Joe Martin of GonzalesGonzales, Texas
Gonzales is a city in Gonzales County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,202 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gonzales County.-Geography:Gonzales is located at...
. Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
named the town for his future wife Margaret Moffette Lea
Margaret Moffette Lea
Margaret Moffette Lea was the daughter of Alabama planters Temple Lea and Nancy Moffette. In 1840 she became the third wife of the politician Sam Houston, then representative to the Texas legislature and between terms as the President of the Republic of Texas...
.
Edmund Bellinger, a veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
and Battle of Plum Creek
Battle of Plum Creek
The Battle of Plum Creek was a clash between militia and Rangers of the Republic of Texas and a huge Comanche war party under Chief Buffalo Hump, which took place near Lockhart, Texas, on August 12, 1840, following the Great Raid of 1840 as the Comanche war party returned to West...
, became Prairie Lea's first settler in 1839. Other early settlers were largely slave-holding families.
Growth followed the establishment of a sawmill, gristmill, and gin by Thomas Mooney on the nearby San Marcos River
San Marcos River
The San Marcos River rises from the San Marcos Springs, the location of Aquarena Springs, in San Marcos, Texas. The springs are home to several threatened or endangered species, including the Texas Blind Salamander, Fountain Darter, and Texas Wild Rice...
.
During the 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...
, men from Prairie Lea served with John Bell Hood
John Bell Hood
John Bell Hood was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Hood had a reputation for bravery and aggressiveness that sometimes bordered on recklessness...
's Texas Brigade
Texas Brigade
The Texas Brigade, also often referred to as Hood's Brigade, was an infantry brigade in the Confederate States Army that distinguished itself for its fierce tenacity and fighting capability during the American Civil War.-Organization:...
and took part in the ill-fated Sibley Campaign
New Mexico Campaign
The New Mexico Campaign was a military operation of the American Civil War from February to April 1862 in which Confederate Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley invaded the northern New Mexico Territory in an attempt to gain control of the Southwest, including the gold fields of Colorado and the...
in New Mexico Territory
New Mexico Territory
thumb|right|240px|Proposed boundaries for State of New Mexico, 1850The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of...
An 1877 fire destroyed the community's business district.
By 1884, Prairie Lea had a population of 100 with several businesses, two churches, and a school.
The number of residents had grown to 350 in 1914.
Development of the nearby 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...
oilfield during the 1920s caused an increase in Prairie Lea's population.
A five-room school building was constructed in 1925 and by the 1940s, students from the nearby communities of Fentress
Fentress, Texas
Fentress is an unincorporated community in Caldwell County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 291 in 2000. It is part of the Austin–Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and Stairtown
Stairtown, Texas
Stairtown is an unincorporated community in Caldwell County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 35 in 2000. It is part of the Austin–Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
were attending Prairie Lea schools.
During the latter half of the twentieth century, the population slowly declined. By 1990, Prairie Lea was home to 100 residents. That number had risen to 255 in 2000 with eight businesses operating in the community.
Education
Public education in the community of Prairie Lea is provided by the Prairie Lea Independent School DistrictPrairie Lea Independent School District
The Prairie Lea Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Prairie Lea, Texas, United States.In addition to Prairie Lea, the district also serves the communities of Fentress and Stairtown as well as rural areas in southwestern Caldwell County and a small...
. The district has one campus, Prairie Lea School, that serves students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve.