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History in a Pecan
Shell
Named in honor of a judge named Merritt, the name was shortened
over time. The honor was bestowed by Dr. O. Murcheson, who is credited as being
the town founder in the late 1860s / early 1870s.
A post office was granted
in the 1884 – two years before the arrival of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe
Railroad. In the 1890s Merit had most essential business and the population was
near 300. By 1917 the number of residents had increased to an estimated 500.
By the mid 1940s the population was back to 300 and by the early 1950 it decreased
further – to an estimated 185. |
Photographer's
Note:
Another of
these small towns that surround a large school complex. The schools are all named
Bland, which I assume is the school district name. Merit has three separate school
complexes, one of which is a new elementary school being built to the east of
'downtown'. - Mike
Price, August 2009 |
Merit Cemetery on the east side of town
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, August 2009 | |
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