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SIMMONS,
TEXAS
South
Texas Ghost Town
Live Oak County
FM 1042
8 Miles SW of Three Rivers (via
FM 1545)
14 Miles NW of George
West
On the Nueces River
Just S of the Choke Canyon Reservoir
Population
0
Area
Hotels - Book Your Hotel Here & Save
George
West Hotels
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Old bridge
over the Nueces River, just north of Simmons
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, May 2007 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Dr. Charles F. Simmons of St. Louis is the town's namesake. Dr. Simmons,
who had made a fortune in the patent medicine business, originally
had a huge ranch here. In 1906 Simmons decided on splitting up his
60,000 spread and selling it off to farmers.
First known as Simmons City, the future looked bright. All plots were
sold in just over six months. The 1907 population was just 75 and
a post office was granted that same year with a school and church
built the year after. A two-story brick school was constructed in
the late 1930s, only to close in 1941. Local students were sent to
Three Rivers. By 1940 the population
had shrunk to a mere 35 and all of the town's businesses had closed
their doors by the end of that decade, including the post office.
About all that is left of Simmons is what is shown here from Terry
Jeanson's visit in May of 2007. |
| Entrance to
Simmons cemetery from the road. |
| Cemetery in
Simmons, TX. The turnstile keeps the wandering cows from entering
the cemetery and eating the grass (or anything else.) |
| Cows grazing
in front of the cemetery in Simmons |
Simmons Texas
historical marker in front of the Community Church.
Photos courtesy Terry Jeanson, May 2007 |
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