Near Livingston in Polk County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Early Roads in Polk County

Photographed by Jim Evans, December 15, 2016

1. Early Roads in Polk County Marker

Inscription. Travel was of great importance in Polk County's early days. Civilized Indians—particularly Creeks, Alabamas, Coushattas and Kickapoos—were numerous and had many trails for intercommunication. Long King's Trace (named for a chief) led from Alabama villages through site of present Livingston, past site of this marker. The Coushatta Trace began in Louisiana, wound through what is now Polk County, joining (more than 100 miles west) an ancient road into Mexico. The Alabama Trace branched off El Camino Real (The King's Highway) east of Nacogdoches and came to the site of present Alabama-Coushatta Reservation. Indians started many other local roads.

A Mexican-Indian trail became the Nacogdoches-Liberty Stagecoach Road, after white settlement began in the 1820s. Settlers brought in goods by Trinity River boats, establishing 20 landings (or wharves) on the 72 miles of Polk County riverfront. Roads led to the interior from the landings; boats handled shipping of county produce for many years.

Northeast of Livingston is the "Old Israel Road"—named for a religious colony whose buildings have disappeared. As with many of the Indians, memory of these people is preserved only in the road's name.

Erected 1970 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 10391.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Roads & Vehicles.

Location. 30° 38.102′ N, 95° 0.373′ W. Marker is near Livingston, Texas, in Polk County. It can be reached from Farm to Market Road 1988 1.2 miles south of Farm to Market Road 3126, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Livingston TX 77351, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker

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is in the American South

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Site of the Town of Swartwout (approx. ¼ mile away); Goodrich School (approx. 4.1 miles away); Margaret V. "Margo" Jones (approx. 6 miles away); Forest Hill Cemetery (approx. 6 miles away); Trinity Lodge No. 14, A.F. & A.M. (approx. 6.4 miles away); The Sawyer House (approx. 6.4 miles away); First Methodist Church of Livingston (approx. 6½ miles away); Birthplace of Margo Jones (approx. 6½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Livingston.

Photographed by Jim Evans, December 15, 2016

2. Early Roads in Polk County Marker

Photographed by Jim Evans, December 15, 2016

3. Early Roads in Polk County Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2016, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,017 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 16, 2016, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.