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Bosque County TX
Bosque County


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MERIDIAN, TEXAS


Bosque County Seat, Central Texas North

31°55'29"N 97°39'24"W (31.92, -97.66)

Highways 6, 22, 144, and 174
On the North Bosque River
38 miles W of Hillsboro
47 miles NW of Waco
44 miles SE of Stephenville
67 miles SW of Fort Worth
ZIP code 76665
Area code 254
Population: 1,515 Est. (2019)
1,493 (2010) 1,491 (2000) 1,390 (1990)

Meridian Area Hotels › Stephenville Hotels | Hillsboro Hotels

Bosque County Courthouse Clock Tower, Meridian Texas
The restored Bosque County Courthouse clock tower
Photo courtesy Sam Fenstermacher, July 2007

History in a Pecan Shell

The county was surveyed by George Bernard Erath for whom the neighboring county is named. The town shares it's geographically inspired name with Meridian, Mississippi and Merida,Yucatan, Mexico (among others) The ninety-eighth meridian, however, only runs through a tiny portion of Bosque County. The explanation is that the town was named after several geographic places also surveyed by G. Erath - places that were on (or closer to) the 98th Meridian.


A timeline of significant events in Meridian history

1854: Bosque County established - 120 acres donated for a townsite - lots auctioned on July 4th that year.
1856: First county post office. Every antebellum building in the county was built of logs.
1866: The short lived Bosque Beacon becomes the the town's first newspaper.
1874: Town of Meridian incorporates
1881: The Santa Fe Railroad bypasses Meridian by laying tracks 1½ miles to the east.
Although there was some development around the depot - the "old" town of Meridian stayed put and still throve.
1884: The Bosque County Bank opens
1886: Meridian takes responsibility for education away from the county - starts own ISD
1909: Meridian College opened
1920: Population: 1,074
1930: Population: 759

The restored Bosque County Courthouse,  Meridian Texas
Photo courtesy Sam Fenstermacher, July 2007
Bosque County Courthouse
by Lou Ann Herda


Meridian Texas downtown building
Courthouse towering over downtown buildings.
Statue and weather vane missing.

Photo courtesy Sam Fenstermacher, April 2007


Meridan Library old post card
Meridian Library
Old Postcard


Meridian, Texas library today
Meridian Library today
TE Photo, 2000



Meridian, Texas Area Attractions

  • Meridian State Park
    173 Park Road 7, Meridian, TX 76665
    (254) 435-2536

  • Lake Whitney State Park
    Along the eastern shore of Lake Whitney.
    Box 1175 Whitney TX 76692
    254/694-3793

  • Norse, Texas - For those interested in Norwegian immigrants and their life in Texas, nearby Norse (FM 219 and North on FM 182) has the most history. The graveyard of Our Savior's Lutheran Church has the grave of Cleng Peerson, the "Father of Norwegian immigration"

  • Fort Worth Hotels | Hillsboro Hotels | More Hotels

  • Meridian State Park
    Photo courtesy Sam Fenstermacher, March 2012
    Meridian State Park
    by Sam Fenstermacher



    Related articles

  • Meridian Chiggerfest Cartoon by Roger T. Moore



  • Take a road trip

    North Central Texas

    Meridian, Texas Nearby Towns:
    Hillsboro | Waco | Stephenville | Fort Worth

    See Bosque County

    Book Hotel Here:
    Hillsboro Hotels | Fort Worth 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.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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