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JOURDANTON,
TEXAS
Atascosa County
Seat, South
Texas
Highways 16, 97, and 173
5 miles SW of Pleasanton
36 miles S of San Antonio
Population:
3755 (2000) 3,732 (1990)
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Atascosa
County Jail in Jourdanton
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2006 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
While Col. T. H. Zanderson is credited with founding the town in 1909,
the name comes from that of Jourdan Campbell, who drew the blueprint
for the railroad (the Artesian Belt) showing the town as a proposed
stop. Citizens of Jourdanton raised a $50,000 to lure the railroad
into bringing their main line into town.
Lots were auctioned off and cattle and cotton were soon being shipped
to San Antonio from
the Jourdanton depot. By 1914, with a population of 1,200, Jourdanton
was a thriving town.
It experienced a ten-year decline which ended in the mid 20s. For
the 1930 Census, Jourdanton was down to 767 residents.
Oil was discovered in 1942 which lead another period of growth. The
1952 population reached a new high of 1,483. In 1956 the 1909 courthouse
was remodeled. In 1965 Jourdanton reported 1,990 residents. The railroad
stopped running in the 1960s. |
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The
Catholic Church in Jourdanton
Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
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| Jourdanton
main street scene, showing the J. C. Applewhite Bakery, far left,
early 1900s. Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
PEOPLE
Armless Judge
by Mike Cox ("Texas Tales" Column)
Paul Desmuke |
Paul
and Mae Desmuke Gravesite at Jourdanton City Cemetery
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, July 2007 |
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