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THREE
RIVERS, TEXAS
Live Oak County,
South Texas
Hwy 72 and US 281
3 miles W of I-37
Halfway between San Antonio
and Corpus
Christi
10 miles N of George West
72 miles S of San Antonio
on US 281
23 miles E of Tilden,
32 miles SW of Kenedy on Hwy 72
Population: 1,889 (2000)
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The Rialto Theatre in Three Rivers
TE photo, 3-2001 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Annie T. Hamilton paid the San Antonio, Uvalde and Gulf Railroad to
build a depot on her land in 1913. Her money bought her the immortality
of having the town named Hamiltonburg. Her immortality was
short-lived, however, when mail was frequently sent in error to Hamilton,
Texas. The mail-receiving residents of Hamiltonburg wanted a new name
- and fast. Charles R. Tips who had sold parcels of land for the townsite,
suggested the town be named for its location near the three Rivers
of Atascosa, Frio, and Nueces. The new name was in effect on May 1,
1914 and we have been unable to find a record of Annie Hamilton's
reaction.
In 1920 natural gas was discovered, piped into town and soon a refinery
and a glass factory were built. The glass factory was closed in 1938
but the refinery today now belongs to Valero (formerly Diamond Shamrock)
and is the town's major employer. In 1925 the population was estimated
at 1,000 and it slowly increased by 1965 to 1,932 and later to 2,177
by 1988.
The building of a dam produced Choke Canyon Lake. The town
has been flooded at least once and only recently (2003) has the theater
downtown reopened after being totally restored. |
Three Rivers
Texas Forum
Subject: Three Rivers History
I am from there
and I believe the last flood there was in the 1967 after hurricane
Beulah. In the 1980's (I believe it was the 80's...it could have
started in the late 70's) a levee was built around the city to keep
it from flooding again. Also diamond shamrock is now valero. Just
a few things I wanted to point out. All in all I really enjoy this
website...great work! Thanks, Stacy Meeks, Austin, December 15,
2005
Anyone wishing to share history or photos of Three Rivers, Texas
, please contact
us.
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