Ladonia in Fannin County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Ladonia

Photographed By James Hulse, September 28, 2023

1. Ladonia Marker

Inscription. Settled about 1840 by James McFarland and Daniel Davis, this community was first called McCownville after early settler Frank McCown, the town's first merchant. James H. Cole, a carpenter who moved to the county in 1855, planned and staked out the town site and included wide streets. According to local legend McCown changed the town name in 1857 to honor Ladonia Millsay, a traveler on a wagon train from Tennessee who entertained residents with her singing. By 1858 the settlement had a post office named Ladonia.

The town grew rapidly after 1860 because of its fertile farming area. The community incorporated in 1885 and had a population of 700, two cotton gins, a bank, a flour mill, a school, and several churches. The arrival of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway in 1887 made Ladonia an agricultural marketing town for cotton, corn, oats and wheat and resulted in a business boom. The population had increased to 2,000 by 1897 and the town included 100 businesses.

The town declined slowly as agricultural goods were shipped over improved roads and citizens moved to larger cities. By 1936 Ladonia had 1,119 citizens and 39 businesses. By 1990 the population was 658.

Erected 1996 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 8906.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed

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in these topic lists: Agriculture • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.

Location. 33° 25.518′ N, 95° 56.829′ W. Marker is in Ladonia, Texas, in Fannin County. Marker is at the intersection of South Side Plaza Street and West Side Plaza Street, on the right when traveling west on South Side Plaza Street. The marker is located south of the Ladonia City Hall. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ladonia TX 75449, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bethel Lodge No. 134 A.F. & A.M. (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ladonia Presbyterian Church Building (about 500 feet away); Ladonia Veterans Memorial (about 600 feet away); Ladonia Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ladonia Baptist Church World War I Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); First Baptist Church of Ladonia (approx. ¼ mile away); Little Bethel Baptist Church (approx. half a mile away); Mt. Carmel Cemetery (approx. 7½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ladonia.

Also see . . . Ladonia, TX. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) (Submitted on October 9, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The Ladonia Marker in front of Ladonia City Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, September 28, 2023

2. The Ladonia Marker in front of Ladonia City Hall

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

Photographed By James Hulse, September 28, 2023

3. The view of the Ladonia Marker from the street

Credits. This page was last revised on October 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 54 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 9, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.