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Collin County TX
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BLUE RIDGE, TEXAS

Collin County, North Central Texas

33°17'57"N 96°24'6"W (33.299206, -96.401616)

Highway 78 and FM 981
20 Miles S of Sherman
12 Miles N of Farmersville
17 Miles NE of McKinney the county seat
ZIP Code 75424
Area code 972
Population: 1,180 (2020)
822 (2010) 672 (2000) 521 (1990)

Blue Ridge Texas Coca Cola Mural
Blue Ridge Coca Cola Mural
Photo courtesy Mike Price, 2007

History in a Pecan Shell

Texas Revolution veteran Matthiss Mowry was the original owner of what was to become Blue Ridge through a Republic land grant. The town itself wasn’t established until 1876 when a post office was established. The name reportedly coming from a topographical feature and the abundant blue flowers.

By 1877 a cotton gin, sawmill, and gristmill were in operation. The population was near 400 by 1900 and by 1915 it had reached 600.

The town was struck by a killer tornado on October 8, 1919, taking seven lives and doing substantial damage. In just ten years there was hardly a trace of the damage and the population was climbing back toward its 1915 levels with 450 residents. Streets were paved and the town had all utility infrastructure in place for 1930.

On the eve of WWII, the population was 400 but although it fared well through the Great Depression, the postwar years weren’t as kind. It fell into a comfortable lull of between 400-500 residents from the late 70s to the present (2000) 672.

Blue Ridge Texas water tower
Blue Ridge water tower
Photo courtesy Mike Price, November 2007
More Texas Water Towers

Blue Ridge Texas Coca Cola Mural
Coca Cola Mural
Photo courtesy Mike Price, 2007


Blue Ridge Texas Coca Cola Mural
Coca Cola Murals
Photo courtesy Mike Price, 2007
More Texas Murals | Coca-Cola

Take a road trip

Central Texas North

Blue Ridge, Texas Nearby Towns:
McKinney the county seat
Sherman | Farmersville
See Collin County

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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