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REILLY
SPRINGS, TEXAS
AKA Reily SpringsHopkins
County, East Texas
FM 1567 and FM 2560
About 9 Miles SE of Sulphur
Springs
Population: 0000044 (2000) |
History
in a Pecan Shell
James Reily is the community namesake. Reily saw an opportunity to buy bonus land
from Texas War of Independence veterans who wanted to turn their land into cash.
He acquired the properties in the early 1840s.
Being a source of water
on a popular trail from Shreveport, a campground gradually developed into a permanent
settlement. After the Civil War, the residents built a brick kiln which in turn
allowed for other buildings.
The community was given a post office in
1871 but the name was misspelled (as Reilly) by authorities – hence the two spellings
of the name.
The population in 1885 reached 200 with most essential business
in place.
The community peaked at 300 residents in the 1920s but the Great
Depression dealt the town a severe blow, reducing it to a mere 60 people by the
end of the 1930s.
Reilly Springs was a voting precinct after WWII
and kept at least one store. Postwar progress lured others away and by the early
50s there were just 40 residents left.
The store and school closed although
the school became a community center. Forty-four people called it home for the
1990 census – and that same number was used for the year 2000. |
 |
"The
Crabb home place just east of Seymore on Reilly
Springs Road. East of Hwy 154. The road led to Reilly Springs."
1950
Photo courtesy Mary Ellen Ledford |
1882
Map showing "Reily Springs"
in Hopkins County near Wood County line
Courtesy Texas General Land Office |
1940s
Hopkins County Map showing "Reilly Springs"
Courtesy Texas General Land Office | |
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