George's Creek, Texas | |
|---|---|
  George's Creek, Texas  George's Creek, Texas | |
| Coordinates:32°17′39″N97°38′16″W / 32.29417°N 97.63778°W /32.29417; -97.63778 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Somervell |
| Elevation | 702 ft (214 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 76070 |
| Area code | 254 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1378349[1] |
George's Creek, also spelledGeorges Creek, is anunincorporated community in northeasternSomervell County, Texas, located off ofU.S. Highway 67.[2]
The community was a companion town toFort Spunky and was developed on the 8-mile long George's Creek, atributary of theBrazos River.[2][3]
The community was located on land owned by George Barnard, an owner of severaltrading posts forNative Americans and the namesake of the aforementioned creek. He bought several thousand acres of land around the area. At the time, the community was part ofJohnson County. J.H. Chambers and Norv Randle, the first settlers of the town, came in 1854. Acopper andsulfur mine opened during theCivil War. After the war, many families came to George's Creek, most of them farmers. Acotton gin, school, church, and a cemetery operated in the town's business center following the influx of families. It became a part of Somervell County in 1875, following its transfer toHood County at some point. A year later, a post office serving the community opened. Ablacksmith, photography studio, shoe store,barbershop, doctor's office, and atelephone exchange all operated in the community at some point.[2] In the 1880s, twoBaptist churches served the community.Cumberland Presbyterian andMethodist congregations also existed.[4] Following the advent of the automobile and paved roads, many residents moved to cities. Smaller farms were merged into large ranches and the population began to decline from 86 in the mid-1920s to 25 in 1960. The post office ceased operations in 1939. A population count in 1988 saw the number of residents rise back to 86. 66 was the recorded population in 2000 and 2010.[2]
Every year since 1892, relatives of the early settlers meet at the cemetery and partake in a clean-up, dinner, and reunion on the grounds. Around 400 came in the mid-1970s. The creek proved to be rich insilica and a mine that specialized in the material thrived in the town around 1888.[2]Unimin operates a silica mine on the banks of the creek today.[5]
George's Creek Baptist Church was established in 1885, with the sanctuary built in 1915 following various places serving as places of worship for the congregation, including the Methodist church, schoolhouses, and even tents.[4] A video fromThe Atlantic documented the church and showed its decline from a thriving congregation to averaging an attendance of around six or seven people.[6]
Municipalities and communities ofSomervell County, Texas,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
