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Iredell
birdseye view, early 1900s
Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
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History
in a Pecan shell
In the late 1850s two settlers named Ward Keeler and Ranse Walker
settled in the area. The community grew up around Walker's house,
but it was named after Ire, Keeler who was Ward's son. Dell (as in
"Farmer in the…") was added to make the name more pleasing.
A post office opened in 1870.
In 1880 the Texas Central Railroad came through and the town moved
from its original location to be near the tracks. The paint was hardly
dry when a flood of the Bosque River washed the town away. They rebuilt
on higher ground - the way most towns do if they're given the chance.
In 1884 the population was estimated to be thirty, but it reached
600 by 1892.
In 1931 it had 570 residents, but it slowly declined to 366 by 1960.
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Iredell
street scene
Photo Courtesy Jack Williams, 2002 |
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Iredell
Texas Forum
I had driven
through Iredell several times wondering why such a town had sprung
up in the middle of nowhere, and why it died. Finally on one trip
a friend of mine and I stopped to look around. It is really quite
a picturesque town with a river at one end. Most of the buildings
are falling in except for a few. I looked in the window of one of
about three buildings that had not succumbed to the ravages of time
and saw two completely restored steam locomotives. They weren't
full size locomotives but the size you would find running around
a zoo. There was also one diesel locomotive. We walked on down the
sidewalk to the river and upon returning saw a man walking his dog
up the street. When we approached I casually asked if those were
his steam locomotives and he said, "Yes, you want to look at them"?
He withdrew some keys from his pocket and opened up for us to take
a look. They were amazing to say the least. He told us that he had
restored one to put in the Waco Zoo, but their insurance was going
to be so high because of them that they nixed the idea. I also asked
him about the town. He said that in its heyday, there was a rail
line and three cotton gins there. But as the cotton market fell,
the rail line pulled out and most of the town had died. If you ever
get a chance to stop, you should get out and walk around. ... I
enjoy your website, Thanks, Jack Williams, September 08, 2002
I have lived in Iredell for eight years now and it is still at a
population of 369 and is a great little town. Our sports have gone
wonderful and the people are great. Iredell is a wonderful place
you should visit. - Breanna, 18/Sep/2002
Anyone wishing to share history or photos of Iredell, Texas,
please contact
us.
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