Phillipsburg, Texas Explained

Official Name:Phillipsburg, Texas
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Texas#USA
Pushpin Image:Relief map of Texas.png
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Texas
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Texas
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Washington, Austin
Unit Pref:Imperial
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:387
Coordinates:30.095°N -96.3669°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:77833
Area Code:979
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1343953

Phillipsburg is an unincorporated community in southern Washington County, in the U.S. state of Texas. The very small rural community is located along State Highway 36 (SH 36) south of Brenham. Aside from the names of two local roads, the name Phillipsburg is no longer marked on modern maps. The cemetery and Lutheran church, which is still open for worship, are actually slightly to the south in neighboring Austin County.

Geography

Phillipsburg is situated on SH 36 at Old Phillipsburg Road, 6.1miles from downtown Brenham. Another source stated that the community is 5miles south of Brenham.[1] At this point, the BNSF Railway runs roughly parallel with SH 36 and on the west side of the highway. Local roads include Bilski Lane which intersects with SH 36, a short distance north of Old Phillipsburg Road and goes a short way to the east-northeast. New Wehdem Road meets SH 36 just south of Old Phillipsburg Road and heads generally to the southwest. Phillipsburg Church Road, which approximates the Austin-Washington county line, starts at SH 36 0.7miles south of Old Phillipsburg Road. Phillipsburg Church Road goes 1.2miles to the east-northeast before turning sharply to the south-southeast at Wonder Hill Road near St. Paul Lutheran Church of Phillipsburg. There is a state historical marker at the church, which is in Austin County. Phillipsburg Church Road goes 0.7miles south-southeast to Phillipsburg Cemetery, also in Austin County. Continuing in a southerly direction, the road intersects with SH 36 near Kenney.

History

Phillipsburg attracted mostly residents of German ethnicity. In 1889, a post office opened in the settlement, which was located along the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway. The following year, the community acquired a station along the railroad. A competing settlement named Pesch was located nearby, but by 1891 Phillipsburg was the more important of the two. Phillipsburg became a significant supply point by 1896. St. Paul Church was built in 1901 and was welcomed into the Texas Lutheran synod twenty years later. In 1904, the post office closed. In 1936, there were about 100 persons and one business establishment in the town. The population decreased to 40 in 1952 and no businesses remained in Phillipsburg by 1970. In 2000, there were 40 persons reported as living in the area.[1]

Education

Today, Phillipsburg is served by the Brenham Independent School District.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Christian . Carole E. . Handbook of Texas Online: PHILLIPSBURG, TX . Texas State Historical Association . May 19, 2013.