CAMPBELL, TEXAS

Hunt County, Central Texas North

33° 8' 53" N, 95° 57' 5" W (33.148056, -95.951389)

One Mile N of I-30
About 6 Miles E of Greenville
Population: 620 Est. (2018)
638 (2010) 734 (2000) 683 (1990)

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Bible Church
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, March 2014

History in a Pecan Shell

Campbell dates to 1880 with the arrival of the railroad. People had been anticipating the connection and practically met the locomotive with hammers and nails in their hands. They built the depot first but the post office wasn't granted until June the following year.

The town was first known by the submitted name of Oliverea but the use of that name was short-lived. When autumn arrived, everyone was using Campbell. Texas (or Tom Campbell, Texas). There seems to be some debate over which Tom Campbell is the namesake. The argument was whether it was Thomas M. Campbell (who later became Governor of Texas) or someone else who just happened to have the same name.

The post office listened to the voice of the people and renamed itself in September of 1882. In 1900 Campbell had a respectable population of 508 people served by twelve businesses.

Campbell incorporated in 1912. From a population of 583 in 1920, Campbell mushroomed to an estimated 1,000 by 1925. The town had its own newspaper and telephone exchange in the mid 1920s but by 1930, the population had fallen by more than half (to 416).

From that point on, the population stabilized but businesses continued to close. By the early 1960s the community had only four.

The 1970 census counted just 204 residents and during the following decade, Campbell reincorporated, allowing it to annex rural properties, boosting the population to 549. It has since grown to 734 for the 2000 census.

Campbell Community Center
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, March 2014

Campbell United Methodist Church
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, March 2014
More Texas Churches

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, March 2014

Campbell City Limit
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, March 2014

Campbell TX - Site of Henry and Emerson Colleges historical marker

Henry and Emerson Colleges historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, March 2014

Take a road trip

Campbell, Texas Nearby Towns:
Greenville the county seat
Dallas
See Hunt County

Central Texas North

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