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History in
a Pecan Shell
Col. Dee Thompson
is credited with founding the town in the late 1800s. A post office
was granted in 1883 and seven years later the community had 350 residents.
By the mid 1890s Deport could boast a population of 600 which included
five doctors – an impressive number for the times. The economy was
based on cotton and corn.
In 1911 Paris and Mt.
Pleasant were connected by a railroad and Deport prospered accordingly.
Three years later the population was 1,200 – the town’s high-water
mark.
In 1929 a disasterous fire destroyed much of the town’s business section.
That and the effects of the Great Depression shrank the population
to just over 800. The town managed to get through the next 20 years
without incident or disaster, but in the mid 1950s, the railroad was
discontinued. In the 1980s the population was 722, increasing to 746
in the early 1980s. The 2000 census reported 718 residents. |
Deport, Texas
Landmarks
Deport Photo Gallery
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The 1909 First
State Bank building
Photo
courtesy Brett Parker |
"A little
history from FDIC. First State Bank 1909 till 1927 when the decline
of economy forced FSB into bankruptcy. FIRST NATIONAL BANK then took
over assets in 1927. It was sold to Guaranty Federal Bond in 1974.
When a new building was built across the street, the old became storage.
Building changed hands 3 times by locals. It turned into residents
home in 2005." - Brett Parker
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Support
your local businesses
Darden-Sparts Department Store
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, 2010 |
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Deport, Texas
Forum
Subject: Deport,
TX
I grew up (off and on) in Deport, Texas. It's in both Red River and
Lamar counties. It has a lot of history. I don't have pictures, but
my great grandpa, Therbert Thomas, owned a blacksmith shop when my
grandma was a kid. There is several churches, a volunteer fire department,
an American Legion, the old jail house, cotton gin, and there used
to be so much more. There are several cemeteries, one being Mt. Vernon
or Mt. Pleasant cemetery (can't remember) set back off of 271 where
there are lots of graves of people who died from the flu way back
when. The church associated with said cemetery is still standing and
has been various things, including a Restaurant called The Whistle
Stop. Don't confuse this with Highland Cemetery, also located off
271 near the old cemetery. Deport has a population of 718, I believe.
I just want to see my hometown get its recognition, especially seeings
as to how it is still a functional town. L Babbitt, August 21, 2022
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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
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