Nixon in Gonzales County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
First Baptist Church of Nixon
Photographed by James Hulse, February 8, 2021
1. First Baptist Church of Nixon Marker
The town of Rancho existed about one mile north of here for many years prior to the establishment of Nixon in 1906 on the new San Antonio and Gulf Railroad line. This church was organized in 1869 as a mission of the San Antonio Baptist Association by the Rev. T. Christmas and the Rev. J.F. Hines.
The congregation built a small sanctuary in Rancho and remained there until 1907 when they moved to the new town of Nixon and changed their name to Nixon Baptist Church. A Sunday School and Ladies Aid Society were organized and 37 members joined the church in 1909 as a result of a successful revival service. In 1921 Nixon Baptist joined the Gambrell Baptist Association. The congregation began a long-term association with the Alto Frio encampment near Leakey, Texas, when they erected a building there in 1928.
In conjunction with the building of a new sanctuary here in 1955, the congregation changed its name to First Baptist Church of Nixon. The congregation has since established a scholarship fund for local high school graduates pursuing Baptist studies, sponsored youth activities and programs, helped establish area mission churches, and contributed to the educational, moral, and cultural development of the community.
Erected 1994 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.
Location. 29° 16.264′ N, 97° 45.791′ W. Marker is in Nixon, Texas, in Gonzales County. It is at the intersection of North Texas Avenue and East 4th Street, on the right when traveling north on North Texas Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 403 North Texas Avenue, Nixon TX 78140, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Hill Country. It is also in the American South. 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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The John T. Nixon Ranch (approx. 0.2 miles away); Nixon Depot and Cattle Pens (approx. 0.2 miles away); Southern Pacific Railroad Promotes Nixon Townsite (approx. 0.2 miles away); Nixon (approx. Ό mile away); The First Cotton Gins in Nixon (approx. Ό mile away); Nixon Ice and Water Company and Poultry Processing Plants (approx. Ό mile away); Rancho (approx. 1.7 miles away); Site of Old Town of Union Valley (approx. 5.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nixon.
Also see . . . Rancho, TX.
The population was recorded at 100 again in 1892, and by then one of the churches had closed, leaving only the Methodist church. By 1896, however, the population once more totaled 150, and a Baptist church had been built.(Submitted on February 23, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)In 1904 the community supported a White school with fifty-six students and a Black school with forty students. Thereafter, Rancho declined steadily. Its post office closed in 1911, population figures became unavailable, and no trace of the town was shown on the 1936 county highway map. Source: The Handbook of TexasPhotographed by James Hulse, February 8, 20212. First Baptist Church of Nixon and Marker
Photographed by James Hulse, February 8, 2021
3. The view of the First Baptist Church of Nixon from the road
Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 23, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 589 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 23, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
