Monthalia, Texas Explained

Official Name:Monthalia, Texas
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Coordinates:29.4689°N -97.6086°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Texas
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Gonzales
Government Type:Unincorporated community
Established Date:1846
Unit Pref:Imperial
Elevation Ft:390
Population As Of:2000
Population Total:65
Timezone:CST
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Postal Code:78614
Area Code:830
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:1378699

Monthalia is a small unincorporated rural community. It is located along Gonzales County Road 143. The road joins US 90A and FM 466 as a bridge across the Guadalupe River. The road bypasses neighboring Belmont. The ghost town Oak Forest and the "MA Wade Dam" lie to the north.

The community had only 65 people as of the 2000 census. It is primarily home to livestock ranchers and has no schools or businesses. Nolan Ryan Beef operates several ranches in the area raising cattle.

Monthalia was first settled in 1846. It had a church and masonic lodge by 1868 and a post office was established in 1893.[1] The community later built a school. The school closed in 1948 and the post office was closed in 1968; both were moved a short distance to neighboring Cost.[2]

Notes

  1. Schmidt, Walter G. (1993) An Encyclopaedia of Texas Post Offices, p. 149, Chicago, Illinois: The Collectors' Club of Chicago.
  2. Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "," http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hnm58 (accessed March 30, 2008).