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History in
a Pecan Shell
The
name comes from an elevated area found between the Navasota River
and Christmas Creek. A post office opened in 1884 and by 1890 there
were about 25 residents.
The 1890s were the community’s growth years with a Masonic lodge,
a school and a blacksmith shop joining the existing store, gristmill
and cotton gins. By mid-decade, the population had swelled to 250
and the town could boast of two hotels and five churches. But as early
as 1904, the population started drifting away. It fell to 152 and
the post office shut its doors until the mid 1920s when it reopened.
On the eve of the Great Depression, Prairie Hill’s population had
reached 300. It was one of the rare towns in Texas to gain population
as the Depression set in. By 1933 it had reached 500 but the boom
only lasted a few years.
By the end of WWII,
Prairie Hill was back to 400 residents, declining to 350 in 1947.and
down to 150 by 1975 (where it remained through the 2000 census). |
| 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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