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LADONIA, TEXAS

Fannin County, North Central Texas / East Texas

33°25'46"N 95°56'48"W (33.429336, -95.946668)

Highways 34 and 50, Farm roads 2456 and 64
16 Miles SE of Bonham the county seat
32 Miles NW of Sulphur Springs
27 Miles N of Greenville
NW of Dallas
Population: 629 Est. (2018)
612 (2010) 667 (2000) 658 (1990)

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Ladonia
Photo courtesy Texana Pictures - Frank R. Brown, April 2017

History in a Pecan Shell

The area was settled around 1840 by James MacFarland and Daniel Davis. James H. Cole, is credited with platting the town around 1855. The community had been known as McCownville but in 1857 the name was changed – supposedly to honor La Donna Millsay, a Tennessean singer who entertained the town.

The name La Donna was submitted to the postal authorities for a post office – and when it opened in 1858 – no one was sure of who was responsible of the slight change in spelling. In 1887 the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad arrived and the town grew to a respectable population of 350 (more or less). Ladonia became a shipping point for cotton, corn, and grain crops. In the 1890s the population grew to an estimated 1,500 people – and 2,000 by the end of that decade. In the throes of the Great Depression the population fell to 1,199 and never recovered . By the 1970s it was down to just over 800 residents. By 1990 it reported a population of 658. and for the 2000 census it had risen to 667.

See Ladonia Historical Marker ›

Part of the old downtown area of Ladonia.
The two older buildings were built in 1897 and 1898.
Photo courtesy Texana Pictures - Frank R. Brown, April 2017

The 1897 W.B. Merrill Building
Photo courtesy Texana Pictures - Frank R. Brown, April 2017

Photo courtesy Texana Pictures - Frank R. Brown, April 2017

Photo courtesy Texana Pictures - Frank R. Brown, April 2017

Approaching the old former hotel
Photo courtesy Texana Pictures - Frank R. Brown, April 2017

Former Ladonia Hotel restored
Photo courtesy Texana Pictures - Frank R. Brown, April 2017

The hotel building in 2006
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006
More Rooms with a Past

Granny's Place, one of the businesses that appears to be operational, although it was closed at 3PM on a Tuesday.
Photo courtesy Texana Pictures - Frank R. Brown, April 2017

Signs, Signs, Signs everywhere!
Photo courtesy Texana Pictures - Frank R. Brown, April 2017

Downtown Ladonia
Photo courtesy Mike Price, April 2008

Downtown store fronts
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006

Former Presbyterian Church - now Heritage Hall
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006

United Methodist Church in downtown Ladonia
Photo courtesy Mike Price, April 2008

Photo courtesy Mike Price, April 2008
More Texas Churches

Ladonia City Hall
Photo courtesy Mike Price, April 2008

Ladonia TX Volunteer Departyment & Fire Engine

Ladonia Volunteer Department & fire truck
Photo courtesy Mike Price, April 2008

Ladonia detail: 1897
Photo courtesy Mike Price, April 2008
More Pitted Dates

"A beautiful Victorian that's the most impressive thing in town."
- Mike Price, April 2008 photo
More Victorian Architecture

More Victoriana
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006

Photo courtesy Mike Price, April 2008
More Texas Gas Stations

Photo courtesy Mike Price, April 2008
More Texas Water Towers

Ladonia Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Mike Price, April 2008

Take a road trip

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.