George's Creek, Texas Explained

Official Name:George's Creek, Texas
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Texas#USA
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Texas
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Somervell
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation M:214
Elevation Ft:702
Coordinates:32.2942°N -97.6378°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:76070
Area Code:254
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:1378349

George's Creek, also spelled Georges Creek, is an unincorporated community in northeastern Somervell County, Texas, located off of U.S. Highway 67.[1]

History

The community was a companion town to Fort Spunky and was developed on the 8-mile long George's Creek, a tributary of the Brazos River.[1] [2]

The community was located on land owned by George Barnard, an owner of several trading posts for Native 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 of Johnson County. J.H. Chambers and Norv Randle, the first settlers of the town, came in 1854. A copper and sulfur mine opened during the Civil War. After the war, many families came to George's Creek, most of them farmers. A cotton 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 to Hood County at some point. A year later, a post office serving the community opened. A blacksmith, photography studio, shoe store, barbershop, doctor's office, and a telephone exchange all operated in the community at some point.[1] In the 1880s, two Baptist churches served the community. Cumberland Presbyterian and Methodist congregations also existed. 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.[1]

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 in silica and a mine that specialized in the material thrived in the town around 1888.[1] Unimin operates a silica mine on the banks of the creek today.[3] 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 from The Atlantic documented the church and showed its decline from a thriving congregation to averaging an attendance of around six or seven people.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Leach . Dorothy . George's Creek, TX . Handbook of Texas Online . . August 20, 2020.
  2. Web site: U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Georges Creek .
  3. Web site: Locations . Covia . August 20, 2020.
  4. Web site: George's Creek Baptist Church . . August 20, 2020.
  5. News: Creigh . Spencer . Moser . Bobby . Buder . Emily . ‘The Church Is Ending’ . August 20, 2020 . . May 3, 2019.