TexasEscapes.com HOME Welcome to Texas Escapes
A magazine written by Texas
Custom Search
New   |   Texas Towns   |   Ghost Towns   |   Counties   |   Trips   |   Features   |   Columns   |   Architecture   |   Images   |   Archives   |   Site Map

McLennan County TX
McLennan County

Texas Towns
A - Z
Txas Trips
Texas Trips
Waco Hotels

More Hotels

MART, TEXAS

McLennan County, Central Texas North

31° 32' 34" N, 96° 49' 52" W (31.542778, -96.831111)
State Highway 164 and FM 939
About 18 Miles E of Waco the county seat
22 miles W of Groesbeck
Population: 1,944 Est. (2018)
2,209 (2010) 2,273 (2000) 2,004 (1990)

Mart, Texas Area HotelsWaco Hotels
Mart TX - Cotton Scene
Cotton Scene in Mart
Courtesy Will Beauchamp Collection

History in a Pecan Shell

Settlement here began just after the Civil War and the community was originally known as Willow Springs. Since that name was already in use, the people chose Mart when they applied for a post office (which opened in 1880). Their hope was that the name would be prophetic and their town would become a regional commercial hub.

In the mid 1880s, Mart had a population of 150 people. The railroad was rather late in reaching Mart. It wasn’t until 1900 when the IG&N (International and Great Northern) connected Marlin with Waco.

The town incorporated in 1901, the same year a school district was organized and the first bank opened. Two more banks opened (1904 and 1909). Mart was ahead of most towns its size with paved roads, electricity and telephone service.

Between1900 and 1910, the population jumped from a mere 300 residents to nearly 3,000 (2,939 to be exact). By 1914 businesses included an ice factory and two newspapers.

Although the Great Depression merged two banks, for the most part, Mart glided through the Great Depression. However, when the railroad discontinued passenger service, the blow was a hard one.

Residents leaving in search of jobs reduced the population from its peak of 3,800 (1929) to 2,853 as the Great Depression gathered momentum.

The 1950 population was reduced to 2,273 and the 1970 population was recorded as 2,183.

In the 1970s the railroad cut all service, depriving the town of a substantial cash influx.

The population was 2,031 in the late 1970s but rebounded to 2,324 in 1982. The 1990 census counted 2,004 residents that increased to 2,273 by 2000.
Mart Texas Downtown Building
A building in downtown Mart
TE photo, June 2003
Mart Tx - 1st Baptist Church
First Baptist Church
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, June 2010
More Texas Churches
Mart Tx - Display Caboose
Display Caboose
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, June 2010
See Texas Railroads
Mart, Texas Post Office Mural – McLennan Looking for a Home, 1939 by Jose Aceves
See Mart, Texas Post Office Mural
"McLennan Looking for a Home", 1939 by Jose Aceves
Mart, Texas post office
Mart Post Office, TX 76664
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, June 2010
More Texas Post Offices
Mart Post Office cornerstone
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, June 2010
More Texas Corner Stones
Mart TX - I & G. N. Depot
I & G. N. Depot
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Mart TX - I & G. N. Roundhouse and Yard
I & G. N. Roundhouse and Yard
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Texas Depots
Mart TX - YMCA
YMCA in Mart
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Mart Tx city limit
Mart city limit, McLennan County line
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, June 2010

Take a road trip

Mart, Texas Nearby Towns:
Waco the county seat
Groesbeck
See McLennan County | Central Texas North

Book Hotel Here:
Waco Hotels | More Hotels
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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Texas Towns A - Z Texas Regions:
Gulf Texas Gulf Coast East East Texas North Central Texas North Central Woutn Central Texas South Panhandle Texas Panhandle
South South Texas Hill Texas Hill Country West West Texas Ghost Texas Ghost Towns counties Texas Counties

Texas Escapes Online Magazine »   Archive Issues » Home »
TEXAS TOWNS & COUNTIES TEXAS LANDMARKS & IMAGES TEXAS HISTORY & CULTURE TEXAS OUTDOORS MORE
Texas Counties
Texas Towns A-Z
Texas Ghost Towns

TEXAS REGIONS:
Central Texas North
Central Texas South
Texas Gulf Coast
Texas Panhandle
Texas Hill Country
East Texas
South Texas
West Texas

Courthouses
Jails
Churches
Schoolhouses
Bridges
Theaters
Depots
Rooms with a Past
Monuments
Statues

Gas Stations
Post Offices
Museums
Water Towers
Grain Elevators
Lodges
Stores
Banks

Vintage Photos
Historic Trees
Cemeteries
Old Neon
Ghost Signs
Signs
Murals
Gargoyles
Pitted Dates
Cornerstones
Then & Now

Columns: History/Opinion
Texas History
Small Town Sagas
Black History
WWII
Texas Centennial
Ghosts
People
Animals
Food
Music
Art

Books
Texas Railroads

Texas Trips
Texas Drives
Texas State Parks
Texas Rivers
Texas Lakes
Texas Forts
Texas Trails
Texas Maps
USA
MEXICO
HOTELS

Site Map
About Us
Privacy Statement
Disclaimer
Contributors
Staff
Contact Us

 
Website Content Copyright Texas Escapes LLC. All Rights Reserved