|
|
MILAM, TEXAS
Former Sabine
County Seat, East
Texas
Highways 21 and 87
6 Miles N of Hemphill,
Sabine County Seat
55 Miles East of Lufkin
Population: 1,329 (2000)
|
The
El Camino Park in Milam at the intersection of 21 and 87.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December, 2007 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
The Spanish called Milam Las Borregas and used it as a watering stop
– and so didn’t the Indians before them. It later became a campsite
on the Old San Antonio Road and settlement began in the late 1820s.
Called Red Mound at first, it was renamed to honor Ben
Milam in 1835. It was designated the seat of government that year
for what was then the “Municipality of Sabine.” It remained in that
role until 1858.
Milam was a port of entry for the Republic of Texas and had an official
collector stationed there. After the Civil War two large race courses
were in operation, but by the mid 1880s the population was a mere
130 (estimate).
By the late 1930s it was up to 250 but declined after WWII.
The Handbook of Texas reported the population as 177 for 1990. It
has since grown to 1,329.
See Hemphill,
Sabine County Seat |
The
El Camino Park and markers
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December, 2007 |
Milam
historical marker.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December, 2007 |
Entering
Milam from the west on State Highway 21.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December, 2007 |
The King's
Highway ( Texas 21)
AKA El Camino Real
Old San Antonio Road
Old Spanish Trail |
From
"Holiday
Day Trips" by
Bob Bowman:
"If
you're into road trips, take a drive down East Texas' oldest highway.
The King's Highway (Texas 21) stretches from Toledo
Bend Reservoir near Milam to San
Antonio. It is also one of our most scenic roadways. The route
was used by Indians and traveled by Spanish missionaries in 1791.
It is also known as El Camino Real, the Old Spanish Trail, and the
Old San Antonio Road."
HOTELS
>
Traveling Texas?
Book your hotel here and save
|
Marker
for the Camino Real (King's Highway) that passes through Milam.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December, 2007 |
|
|
