Mineola in Wood County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Mineola

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

1. Mineola Marker

Inscription. Since its establishment in 1873, the community of Mineola has been tied historically to the railroad and transportation industries. The Texas & Pacific Railroad planned to connect Longview and Dallas by rail, and began building west in 1872. Meanwhile, the Houston & Great Northern Railroad built northward from Troup. Several communities developed near anticipated depot sites, though they declined when the two railroads joined. The site was named Mineola; various stories recount the naming of the new settlement.

Additional rail lines soon connected to Mineola, which experienced impressive growth. The rail brought new residents, including a number of immigrant families, and made Mineola a shipping center for agricultural Wood County. The growth sparked the establishment of various institutions, including a newspaper, the Mineola Monitor; churches, beginning with St. Paul's Baptist Church in 1871; a city cemetery, founded in 1873; a school system started in 1875 and becoming public in 1881; and First National Bank, which organized in 1898. An 1888 fire destroyed 18 buildings downtown, but the community quickly recovered.

In the early 20th century, transportation continued to affect Mineola, as the federal government built U.S. Highway 80 through the town. In 1929, the Texas 7 Pacific terminal in Longview relocated to Mineola; many families resettled here, sparking population and commercial growth. The railroads continued to be vital to the community until they declined in the 1950s.

In 1996, Amtrak revived passenger service to Mineola, restoring the town's bond with rail. Today, Mineola continues to be a leading community in Wood County and east Texas.

Marker is property of the state of Texas

Erected 2008 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 14536.)

Topics. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.

Location. 32° 39.741′ N, 95° 29.349′ W. Marker is in Mineola, Texas, in Wood County. It is on Commerce Street east of South Johnson Street, on the right when traveling east. Along parking lot fence next to the RR tracks. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Commerce Street, Mineola TX 75773, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep 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 walking distance of this marker: Railroads in Mineola (within shouting distance of this marker); Saloons in Mineola (within shouting distance of this marker); C. W. Raines (within shouting distance

Mineola Marker along the RR track fence, just to right of black truck. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

2. Mineola Marker along the RR track fence, just to right of black truck.

of this marker); Site of the Coleman Family Drug Store and Clinic (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Dixie Overland Highway - The Jim Hogg Highway (about 400 feet away); Mineola's Jewish Community (about 500 feet away); First National Bank Building (about 500 feet away); Site of Public Mineral Water Well (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mineola.

Also see . . . Texas State Historical Association on Mineola, Texas. (Submitted on September 5, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Marker near Mineola Train Depot and old caboose. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

3. Marker near Mineola Train Depot and old caboose.

Mineola Sports Heritage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

4. Mineola Sports Heritage

Mineola Entertainment Heritage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

5. Mineola Entertainment Heritage

Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 690 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 5, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 4, 5. submitted on September 6, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.