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TUCKER,
TEXAS
Anderson County,
East Texas
Highways 84 and 7
2 miles from the Trinity River
8 miles SW of Palestine
Population:
509 (2000)
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History in
a Pecan shell
Settlement began just after the Civil War when Freedmen from the Long
Lake cotton plantation organized the Green Bay AME Church. The name
Green Bay also designated two Black schools. A white community called
Prairie Point developed even though the Black section kept the name
Green Bay. With the arrival of the IG & N railroad in 1872, a post
office was granted under the name Prairie Point. In 1882 both post
office and town were renamed to honor storekeeper and landowner W.
H. Tucker. |
Green
Bay African Methodist Episcopal Church in Tucker.
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, July 2007 |
Green
Bay A.M.E. Church Historical marker
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, July 2007 |
Tucker
Church of God in Christ, a few blocks west off US 79/84.
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, July 2007 |
The
former Green Bay High School now serves as the community center.
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, July 2007 |
Greenbay
High School historical marker
Photo courtesy Erik Whetstone, October 2005 |
| The population
of Tucker was estimated at 40 during the 1880s and by the mid-1890s
it had grown to an estimated 150 citizens. Although the post office
closed in 1905, oil exploration began in 1913. After many dry holes,
finally in the early 30s profitable oil and gas wells came in and
a small refinery was built. Despite the oil, the population remained
about 60 through the Great Depression. By the mid 1960s the population
had fallen to a mere 40 people. From the late 70s through 1990 the
estimated population was just over 300. The oilfield is still in production
although the refinery has since shut down. |
Entering
Tucker from the south on US 79/84.
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, July 2007 |
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