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MEXIA, TEXAS
Limestone County,
Central Texas
North
31° 40' 54" N, 96° 28' 52" W (31.681667, -96.481111)
Highways 84, 14 and 171
12 miles N of Groesbeck the county
seat
30 miles S of Corsicana
43 miles E of Waco
ZIP code 76667
Area code 254
Population: 7,344 Est, (2019)
7,459 (2010) 6,563 (2000) 6,933 (1990)
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The First Presbyterian
Church in Mexia
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, August 2005
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History in
a Pecan Shell
Named
for the Mexía family, whose ownership dates to 1833, things were pretty
quiet in these parts until the railroad arrived. Mexia was platted
in 1870 by the Houston and Texas Central Townsite Company, a sister
company of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. Lots went on sale
in 1871 when the tracks between Hearne
and Groesbeck were still under contstruction.
A post office was granted in 1872, and Mexia was incorporated the
following year.
By 1880 Mexia had a sizeable population of 1,800 with four schools
and three churches. By 1885 the population was up to 2,000 residents.
The Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway built through between 1904 and
1906 - connecting Hillsboro
and Houston, and making
making Mexia a railroad crossroads.
In 1912 a large natural gas deposit was discovered by the Mexia Gas
and Oil Company. Oil was discovered in 1920, creating an instant boomtown
that rivaled the boom in Ranger.
From just 3,482 people the population exploded to an estimated 35,000
in 1922, causing martial law to be (briefly) declared.
After the initial boom, the population decreased to a more manageable
10,000 by the mid-20s, but the onset of the Great Depression forced
people to leave Mexia to find greener pastures. The population stabilized
around 6,500 in the early 1930s, but the number of businesses reported
fell by one third. A German Prisoner of War Camp was built in Mexia
in 1942. (See WWII)
The population was given as 6,618 in the early 1950s, not far from
today's figure of 7,459.
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Corsicana and
Powell Oil Fields Geologic Map showing Mexia-Groesbeck Gas Field.
Click on image to enlarge.
Wikimedia
Commons
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Mexia, Texas
Area Attractions
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Fort
Parker State Park
On Park Road 28 off State Hwy 14
5 Miles SW of Mexia
TE Photo 2007 |
Confederate
Reunion Grounds State Historic Site
194 Park Road 28 Mexia TX 76667
254/562-5751
S of Mexia on Hwy 14,
another 2.5 miles west on FM 2705. |
Mexia, Texas
Forum
Subject: Thank
You to Mexia
Dear TE, Many Many years ago, I lived in Mexia, and have very fond
memories of how good and community-minded the people were. I now live
in a big town in New Jersey, and it is much different here. I am not
a native, but my daughter is a Mexia native. When I became ill one
year, all the churches First United Methodist, and the Presbyterian
Church, and First Baptist Church all got together and made suppers
for me till I got better. These things never go forgotten. One day
I will take my daughter back to Mexia and show her the house she spent
her first three years. Thank you. - Judi Blau, New Jersey, November
29, 2006
Book Hotel Here › Mexia
Hotels |
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