Latexo in Houston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Town of Latexo

Photographed by James Hulse, September 26, 2022

1. Town of Latexo Marker

Inscription. Early community called Oldham, near Bethel Church and school, was renamed Starks' Switch when International & Great Northern Railroad in 1872 laid sidetrack to serve Starks' sawmill (2 Mi. W).

Latexo post office opened in 1907, after the Louisiana Texas Orchard Company platted 3,000 acres of fruit land and a town here. Lumbering later stripped timber from area, but permanent settlers grew fruit and cotton. About 1915 Latexo became first Houston County school to teach agriculture. Ranches sprang up, 1960s. Unincorporated, town has fire squad, other civic services.

2nd Plaque
Town incorporated 1979, electing mayor, aldermen. Street lights, signs added; new school (1980), city hall and fire station (1984), and post office (1985).

Erected 1972 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 7028.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Education • Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location. 31° 23.72′ N, 95° 28.294′ W. Marker is in Latexo, Texas, in Houston County. It is on Farm to Market Road 2663 ¼ mile east of U.S. 287, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located in front

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of the Latexo Fire Station. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 388 FM 2663, Latexo TX 75849, 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 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Latexo Baptist Church (approx. ¼ mile away); John Wortham (approx. 2½ miles away); John Gordon Beasley, Sr. (approx. 4.3 miles away); Vicory Barker Tunstall (approx. 4.3 miles away); Houston County (approx. 4.6 miles away); Site of Mary Allen Seminary (approx. 4.7 miles away); The Beazley House (approx. 5 miles away); Kings Highway Camino Real — Old San Antonio Road (approx. 5 miles away).

Also see . . . Stark's Switch. Texas Almanac

Latexo, previously known as Stark's Switch, is an incorporated rural community five miles north of Crockett on U.S. Highway 287 and State Highway 19 in north central Houston County. It was established in 1872, when the International and Great Northern Railroad was constructed through the area. The railroad built a small siding to serve nearby Stark's Sawmill, and a community, known as Stark's Switch, developed. Just after 1900 the Louisiana Texas Orchard Company purchased 3,000 acres surrounding the settlement and platted a town named Latexo, an acronym of the company's name.

(Submitted on October 2, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the Town of Latexo Marker from the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 26, 2022

2. The view of the Town of Latexo Marker from the street

Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 594 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 2, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.