Sweet Home, Lavaca County, Texas
Encyclopedia
Sweet Home is an unincorporated community
in Lavaca County, Texas
, United States
. According to the Handbook of Texas
, the community had an estimated population of 360 in 2000.
318 and 531 in Lavaca County, approximately one mile east of U.S. Highway 77A
. Cities within a 15 miles (24.1 km) radius of Sweet Home include Hallettsville
(to the northeast), Shiner
(to the northwest), and Yoakum
(to the southwest).
native Solomon West purchased 2214 acres (9 km²) of land along Mustang Creek in Lavaca County. A year later, his family made the long journey to Texas. Upon their arrival, Solomon's daughter Mary exhaustingly exclaimed, "Pa, this would be a sweet home," and the name Sweet Home took root. In 1860, George West
established a store, hotel, and stables at the site. During the Civil War
, Sweet Home served as a winter camp for freight and cotton wagon trains carrying supplies from Alleyton
(in Colorado County) to Brownsville
– the only Confederate
port that remained open throughout most of the war. Czechs
and Germans began arriving in the community during the 1870s. The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad laid tracks from Hallettsville
to Yoakum
in 1887, approximately five miles south of Sweet Home. Most of the residents and businesses relocated to a new location along the rail line. A few Czechs opted to stay at the original site. In 1890, the community had six stores. The first public school in Sweet Home was established in 1891. It was housed in the local Masonic Lodge hall. A two-story frame school house was constructed on the corner of Hallettsville and West streets in 1919. It was replaced by a newer facility in the 1930s. The railroad that had served Sweet Home for years and contributed to its growth, closed its agency in 1937. The population was estimated at 350 in 1948. There were also twelve stores and a recreational hall in the community at this time. On September 20, 1967, a tornado spawned by Hurricane Beulah
destroyed Sweet Home's post office and damaged homes, businesses, and the Queen of Peace church. By the mid-1980s, around 360 people lived in the community. That figure remained steady through 2000. Sweet Home presently has two churches, a volunteer fire department, several businesses, and a new school.
Although Sweet Home is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 77987..
. The district has one campus, Sweet Home Elementary, which serves students in grades pre-kindergarten through eight. Students in grades nine through twelve are eligible attend either Yoakum High School (Yoakum ISD
) or Hallettsville High School (Hallettsville ISD
), with most opting for Yoakum.
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 Lavaca 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 360 in 2000.
Geography
Sweet Home is located at 29°20′43"N 97°04′18"W (29.3452449, -97.0716517). It is situated at the junction of Farm RoadsFarm to Market Road
In the United States, a farm-to-market road or ranch-to-market road is a state road or county road which serves to connect rural or agricultural areas to market towns...
318 and 531 in Lavaca County, approximately one mile east of U.S. Highway 77A
U.S. Route 77 Alternate (Texas)
U.S. Highway 77 Alternate is a north–south auxiliary route of U.S. Highway 77, located entirely within the state of Texas. The route was commissioned in 1953, when US 77 was rerouted in southeast Texas.-Route description:...
. Cities within a 15 miles (24.1 km) radius of Sweet Home include Hallettsville
Hallettsville, Texas
Hallettsville is a city in Lavaca County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,345 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lavaca County. The town is home to the Texas Championship Domino Hall of Fame and also hosts a dominoes tournament every year in January...
(to the northeast), Shiner
Shiner, Texas
Shiner is a city in Lavaca County, Texas, United States. The town was named after Henry B. Shiner who donated for railroad right of way. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 2,070....
(to the northwest), and Yoakum
Yoakum, Texas
Yoakum is a city in DeWitt and Lavaca Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 5,731 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Yoakum is located at ....
(to the southwest).
History
In June 1853, AlabamaAlabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
native Solomon West purchased 2214 acres (9 km²) of land along Mustang Creek in Lavaca County. A year later, his family made the long journey to Texas. Upon their arrival, Solomon's daughter Mary exhaustingly exclaimed, "Pa, this would be a sweet home," and the name Sweet Home took root. In 1860, George West
George West
George West was a U.S. Representative from New York. Born in Bradninch, England, West attended the common schools. West immigrated to the United States in February 1849 and settled at Ballston Spa, New York...
established a store, hotel, and stables at the site. 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...
, Sweet Home served as a winter camp for freight and cotton wagon trains carrying supplies from Alleyton
Alleyton, Texas
Alleyton is an unincorporated area in central Colorado County, in the U.S. state of Texas, on the Colorado River. It is three miles east of Columbus.In 2000 Alleyton had 165 residents.-External links:...
(in Colorado County) to Brownsville
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
– the only Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
port that remained open throughout most of the war. Czechs
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
and Germans began arriving in the community during the 1870s. The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad laid tracks from Hallettsville
Hallettsville, Texas
Hallettsville is a city in Lavaca County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,345 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lavaca County. The town is home to the Texas Championship Domino Hall of Fame and also hosts a dominoes tournament every year in January...
to Yoakum
Yoakum, Texas
Yoakum is a city in DeWitt and Lavaca Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 5,731 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Yoakum is located at ....
in 1887, approximately five miles south of Sweet Home. Most of the residents and businesses relocated to a new location along the rail line. A few Czechs opted to stay at the original site. In 1890, the community had six stores. The first public school in Sweet Home was established in 1891. It was housed in the local Masonic Lodge hall. A two-story frame school house was constructed on the corner of Hallettsville and West streets in 1919. It was replaced by a newer facility in the 1930s. The railroad that had served Sweet Home for years and contributed to its growth, closed its agency in 1937. The population was estimated at 350 in 1948. There were also twelve stores and a recreational hall in the community at this time. On September 20, 1967, a tornado spawned by Hurricane Beulah
Hurricane Beulah
Hurricane Beulah was the second tropical storm, second hurricane, and only major hurricane during the 1967 Atlantic hurricane season. It tracked through the Caribbean, struck the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico as a major hurricane, and moved west-northwest into the Gulf of Mexico, briefly gaining...
destroyed Sweet Home's post office and damaged homes, businesses, and the Queen of Peace church. By the mid-1980s, around 360 people lived in the community. That figure remained steady through 2000. Sweet Home presently has two churches, a volunteer fire department, several businesses, and a new school.
Although Sweet Home is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 77987..
Education
Public education in the community of Sweet Home is provided by the Sweet Home Independent School DistrictSweet Home Independent School District
Sweet Home Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Sweet Home, Texas .It is a small country school located a few miles north of Yoakum. It teaches children K-8th grade...
. The district has one campus, Sweet Home Elementary, which serves students in grades pre-kindergarten through eight. Students in grades nine through twelve are eligible attend either Yoakum High School (Yoakum ISD
Yoakum Independent School District
Yoakum Independent School District is a public school district based in Yoakum, Texas .In 2009, the school district was rated "Academically Challenged" by the Texas Education Agency.-Schools:*Yoakum Primary School...
) or Hallettsville High School (Hallettsville ISD
Hallettsville Independent School District
Hallettsville Independent School District is a public school district based in Hallettsville, Texas .Located in Lavaca County, very small portions of the district extend into Colorado, Jackson, and Washington counties....
), with most opting for Yoakum.
External links
- Sweet Home Independent School District – Official site.