Tennessee Colony | |
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  Tennessee Colony Location within the state of Texas Show map of Texas Tennessee Colony Tennessee Colony (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:31°50′8″N95°50′20″W / 31.83556°N 95.83889°W /31.83556; -95.83889 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Anderson |
| Elevation | 364 ft (111 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
• Total | 150 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 75861, 75880, 75884, and 75886 |
| Area code(s) | 903, 430 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1348366[1] |
Tennessee Colony is anunincorporated community inAnderson County, in theU.S. state ofTexas.[1] According to theHandbook of Texas, the community had a population of 300 in 2000. It is located within thePalestine, Texas micropolitan area.
Tennessee Colony was established in 1847 by settlers fromTennessee andAlabama, who named their settlement for one of their home states. The first settlers who settled in the community had the last names Shelton, Avant, Hank, and Seagler. The community's fertile soil and moist climate made it feasible to growcotton, and several plantations were established, including the Jackson Plantation, which, at one time, was one of the largestplantations inEast Texas. They were extremely successful. A post office was established at Tennessee Colony in 1852. Before theCivil War, as well as after, the community fell victim to racial tensions. Two white men fromMississippi named Cable and Wyrick were accused of plotting aslave uprising in 1860, suspected of encouraging slaves to kill most of the community's white residents by poisoning the water supply in the settlement. They were tried and hanged soon after. The nearby city ofPalestine had the community's first railroad built there. As of 1884, Tennessee Colony boasted a population of 200 and three churches, a steam-poweredgristmill, and acotton gin. As the community's businesses moved to the nearby city ofPalestine, the community's population plummeted over the next few decades. There were a few grocers andcotton gins in the area, and it eventually received a telephone connection. It functioned as a small cultural port in the 20th century. The population declined to just 100 people by 1914, rose again to 300 in 1927, but again declined during the 1930s. In 1941 there were 150 people in Tennessee Colony. A total of 21,000 acres of land was purchased just southwest of the settlement by theTexas Department of Corrections in 1965, and the first medium-securityprison facility named theCoffield Unit was built in the community and held approximately 2,000 prisoners. It reached its population zenith of 400 by that year. Then theBeto Unit, the community's second prison, was finished in 1984. There were factories built for fabricating metal, as well as building concrete blocks and highway signs, in these prison facilities. It also had thrivingagricultural andlivestock operations. It had a steady population of 120 from the 1970s to 1990. It had a population of 300 in 2000. It currently has two historical markers, with one honoring the community, and the other commemorating the community's cemetery.[2]
It was reported that the community's first businesses included a general store, ablacksmith shop, and a cabinet shop. Cotton was shipped on a ferry on theTrinity River. The community traded goods to cities as far asDallas.Circuit riders held church services in their homes before the first log church was built, presumably in 1838. Another was built later on. AMasonic lodge was established in 1857. Another building that was used as a church, a school, and lodge was completed in 1860 and closed in 1948. Most of the community's current residents are descendants of the original settlers.[3]
Although Tennessee Colony is unincorporated, it has a post office, with theZIP code of 75861.[4]
On November 15, 2015, a deadlymass shooting took place at a campsite between Tennessee Colony and Palestine, where six people were killed by an intoxicated neighbor upset about losing his family's land. The shooter, William Hudson, was charged with capital murder and was sentenced to death by aBrazos County court on November 15, 2017.[5][6]
TheLos Mexicles street gang was founded in the community.
Tennessee Colony stands alongFarm to Market Road 321, 14 mi (23 km) northwest ofPalestine, in the northwestern part ofAnderson County.[2]
A log school opened in Tennessee Colony in 1851, and the name of the teacher was Mr. Grant Kersky. A man named Seymour tried to open a school forAfrican American children when he arrived in the community in 1869, but the white settlers ardently opposed this and forced him to leave. It had a school in 1884.[2] Today the community is served by theCayuga Independent School District. Schools in the community were classified as "outstanding" and were also taught by a teacher surnamed Hooker as well as Professor Sydney Newsome. They were supported by schools from Palestine and other nearby communities. The founders ofTexas Christian University were alumni of the school.[3]
Three majorTexas Department of Criminal Justice correctional facilities, theGeorge Beto Unit,[7] theCoffield Unit,[8] and theMark W. Michael Unit,[9] are located near Tennessee Colony and use the community's name in their mailing addresses. They are all co-located with theLouis C. Powledge Unit and theGurney Unit, which usePalestine mailing addresses.[10][11]
Municipalities and communities ofAnderson County, Texas,United States | ||
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| Footnote | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Authority control databases: Geographic |
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