|
|
 |
|
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 |
 |
Courthouse
towering over downtown buildings.
Statue and weather vane missing.
Photo courtesy Sam Fenstermacher, April 2007 |
Meridian
Area Attractions
Meridian
State Park
Rt 2, Box 2465 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"
|
|
|
Meridian
Library
Old Postcard |
|
|
Meridian
Library today
TE Photo, 2000 |
|
|
