Mars, Texas | |
Settlement Type: | Ghost town |
Pushpin Map: | Texas#USA |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | United States |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | Texas |
Subdivision Type2: | County |
Subdivision Name2: | Van Zandt |
Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Timezone: | Central (CST) |
Utc Offset: | -6 |
Timezone Dst: | CDT |
Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
Elevation Ft: | 459 |
Coordinates: | 32.3594°N -95.7258°W |
Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
Blank1 Info: | 2034766 |
Mars is a ghost town in Van Zandt County, Texas, United States.
Once a retail center for the surrounding community, all that remains of the settlement is a church.
Mars was settled by brothers John and Henry Marrs.[1]
The settlement was a retail trading center, and had two mercantile stores, a blacksmith shop, and a cotton gin and grist mill.[1] [2] [3]
The Pleasant Ridge Church and school were established in 1871.[3] In 1916, the school consolidated to form the Clower Common School District (Clower is located approximately 15miles north of Mars).[3] [4]
In 1891, a post office was established, originally called "Acme". The name was changed to "Mars" seven years later. The post office closed in 1907.[3] [5]
The population of Mars was over 100 in 1915, and had declined to 50 in 1945.[1]
The Pleasant Ridge Church is all that remains of the settlement.[1]