Bonita, Texas Explained

Official Name:Bonita, Texas
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Texas#USA
Pushpin Label:Bonita
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Texas
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Montague
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:994
Coordinates:33.7589°N -97.5944°W
Area Code:940
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:1352658

Bonita is an unincorporated community in north-central Montague County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had a population of 25 in 2000.

History

Bonita was established in 1886 with the construction of the Gainesville, Henrietta and Western Railway through northern Montague County. It was most likely named for Bonita Hansen, an engineer's daughter, or the Spanish word bonita, due to the area's beauty. In 1887, Bonita received a post office. It became a shipping point for cattle and cotton in 1900 and had 300 residents. A bank was chartered in 1906. Fires and the construction of U.S. Route 82 from St. Jo to Nocona led to Bonita's demise. In the 1930s, it had a population of 218 and had seven businesses. By the 1950s, the population had fallen to 80 alongside three businesses, and the post office closed in 1967. Its population was 25 in 2000.

On March 26, 2009, an EF0 tornado struck Bonita, but there was no damage.[1] On April 25, 1893, a possible F4 tornado struck Bonita. Nine homes were destroyed, two of which were leveled.

Geography

Bonita is located on Farm to Market Road 1815, 9miles northeast of Montague in northeastern Montague County.

Education

The Bonita area is serviced by the Nocona Independent School District.

Notable person

Notes and References

  1. http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/090326_rpts.html SPC Storm Reports for 03/26/09