Hampton, Texas Explained

Official Name:Hampton, Texas
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Texas
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Palo Pinto
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:0.5
Area Land Km2:0.5
Area Water Km2:0.0
Area Total Sq Mi:0.0
Area Land Sq Mi:0.0
Area Water Sq Mi:0.0
Population As Of:1875
Population Total:150
Population Density Km2:0
Population Density Sq Mi:0
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation M:295
Elevation Ft:968
Coordinates:32.5442°N -98.3661°W
Area Code:254

Hampton was a town in Palo Pinto County, Texas, United States. The town was moved south one mile to a nearby railroad and renamed Gordon in 1881.

Geography

Hampton was located at (32.56747, -98.98.36420).[1]

History

The town of Hampton was settled around the year 1864, one mile north of present-day Gordon, Texas. Hampton was a wood-structured town on the frontier. A post office opened its doors in 1879, with Robert Rogan appointed as postmaster. Mr. Rogan and a Mr. Cotney were early town businessmen. Jess Neblet was the first merchant selling groceries and dry goods in town. On the religious scene, the First Baptist Church of Hampton was organized 1879, with the Methodist Church following a few months later.

Just as Hampton was beginning to thrive, the Texas and Pacific Railway started making its way through southern Palo Pinto County. The new railroad was part of the largest single expansion of the Texas and Pacific system, linking Fort Worth to Sierra Blanca; and it occurred between 1880 and 1881. The track did not go through Hampton proper but was located about a mile south of town. Town leaders met and decided that it would be best for the community to move closer to the railroad and take advantage of what it had to offer. Town leaders included the likes of Albert Lusk, Ben Foster, Jess Neblet, Jim Moore, John Moore, Tod Wood, Alf Beckham, Jasper Odan, Jeff Cowden, and Dock Abels.

By late 1881 Hampton was full-swing in the process of relocation to the railroad town of Gordon. Records indicate that the First Baptist Church relocated to Gordon in late 1881 and the Methodist Church made the move in early 1882. The Hampton post office was one of the last official re-locations when it was moved to Gordon, re-opening there on October 17, 1883. [2]

Education

The area in which Hampton was located is served by the Gordon Independent School District.

References

  1. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  2. Web site: Gordon Texas . www.gordontexas.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070630171430/http://www.gordontexas.com/history.asp . 2007-06-30.

External links