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Three Rivers Hotels


THREE RIVERS, TEXAS

Live Oak County, South Texas

28° 28' 2" N, 98° 10' 46" W (28.467222, -98.179444)

Hwy 72 and US 281
3 miles W of I-37
Halfway between San Antonio and Corpus Christi
10 miles N of George West the county seat
72 miles S of San Antonio
23 miles E of Tilden
32 miles SW of Kenedy
ZIP codes 78060, 78071
Area code 361
Population: 1,949 Est. (2019)
1,848 (2010) 1,878 (2000)

Book Hotel Here › Three Rivers Hotels

Three Rivers Tx Dam
Photo courtesy Sarah Reveley, January 2010

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.

See Three Rivers Historical Marker



Three Rivers, Texas
Landmarks & Attractions

Historical Markers & Photo Gallery

Three Rivers Tx Dam
Another view of the dam
Photo courtesy Sarah Reveley, January 2010
Texas Rivers

Photographer's Note:
One of the three rivers in Three Rivers. I didn't see the alligator sign until I was walking off!! - Sarah Reveley, January 2010

Three Rivers Tx - Warning Alligators
Alligators Warning
Photo courtesy Sarah Reveley, January 2010


Rialto Theatre in Three Rivers, Texas
The Rialto Theatre
Only recently (2003) has the theater downtown reopened after being totally restored.
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, August 2011
More Texas Theatres


Three Rivers Tx Gas Station Video Shack
"A new twist on spiral columns at the gas station"
- Sarah Reveley
More Texas Gas Stations


Three Rivers TX Grain Silos
Silos in Three Rivers.
Photo courtesy Will Beauchamp, 2009
More Texas Grain Elevators


Selena mural in Three Rivers, Texas
Selena mural in Three Rivers, 11 miles north of George West.
TE Photo, 2004


Three Rivers TX Dr Pepper Bottle
Bottom of Dr Pepper bottle made at the Three Rivers Glass plant.
Photo courtesy Will Beauchamp, 2009

Photographer's Note:
The Three Rivers Glass Factory made soda bottles for hundreds of bottling companies across Texas and surrounding states. Most found have the mark 3 RIVERS* or 3R* on bottom or on the heel. - Will Beauchamp

Three RIvers TX Glass Factory Historical Marker
Three Rivers Glass Factory
Historical Marker

Photo courtesy Will Beauchamp, 2009


Three Rivers Historical Marker
Three Rivers Historical Marker on the town square on US 281
Photo courtesy Will Beauchamp, 2009

>Historical Marker

Three Rivers

Founded March 1913 by Charles R. Tips. An investor chartered June 12, 1913, as Hamiltonburg--named for local family. Town lot sale began July 4, 1913. Townsite renamed by U.S. Postal Department May 1, 1914, to mark fork of three rivers--Nueces, Atascosa and Frio. Present interests are ranching, farming, gas, oil and recreation.



Three Rivers, Texas Recreation

  • Choke Canyon State Park & Choke Canyon Reservoir
    Camping, fishing, boating, swimming, picnicking, hiking.

  • Tips Park - On Frio River. One mile west off Hwy 72.
    Camping, fishing and picnicking.



  • Three Rivers, Texas Chronicles
  • Twin Towns by Mike Cox
    "The Hamiltonburg post office got mail intended for Hamilton, in Hamilton County, and vice versa. In 1914, the Post Office Department complained about the similar town names. Hamilton being long-established, the onus fell on Hamiltonburg to come up with a different name.

    Citizens circulated a petition proposing that the year-old town be named Tips in honor of developer Charles Tips, but Tips modestly declined. Instead, he proposed a name based on the local geography. Since the Atascosa, Frio and Nueces Rivers converged nearby, he suggested, why not call our town Three Rivers? That handle suited the townsfolk and made it unscathed through the federal bureaucracy. With the stroke of some government worker’s pen, Hamiltonburg became a place with a much more evocative name. An added bonus: The name gave the impression that the place had plenty of water, helpful for business development."

  • The Anatomically Incorrect Cowboy Silhouette by Brewster Hudspeth
    One Bar -Two Dimensions



  • Fedral prison sign, George West, Texas
    Federal Prison sign
    TE Photo, 2004



    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



  • Take a road trip

    South Texas

    Three Rivers, Texas Nearby Towns:
    George West the county seat
    Tilden
    | Kenedy
    San Antonio | Corpus Christi
    See Live Oak County

    Book Hotel Here:
    Three Rivers Hotels | More Hotels
    Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact us.









     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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