Greenville in Hunt County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

The Cotton Trade

Photographed by James Hulse, July 28, 2025

1. The Cotton Trade Marker

Inscription. Cotton brokers once occupied many of the second story offices in downtown Greenville. During the cotton harvest in the fall, their buyers inspected the cotton brought in by farmers to determine its quality and, therefore, its price the longer the fibers, the more desirable and valuable the cotton.

At the height of the harvest season, wagons filled with cotton surrounded the courthouse square as buyers negotiated with farmers for their crop. The buyers pulled small tufts of cotton from each bale to assess the quality. At the end of a busy trading day the bargaining left fluffy white drifts of cotton in a "snowfall" around the courthouse.

Cotton was an important cash crop. A cotton farmer's prosperity was directly related to the number of mules he owned. Two mules were needed to work 30 to 40 acres, 4 mules could handle 50 to 70 acres. Before the use of mechanical pickers, schools scheduled classes around the cotton harvest so children could help with the picking.

Erected by Greenville Main Street.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 33° 8.379′ N, 96° 6.372′ W. Marker is in Greenville, Texas, in Hunt County

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. It is on Johnson Street near Lee Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located on the side of the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2501 Lee St, Greenville TX 75401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region

and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

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 walking distance of this marker: Lt. Audie Leon Murphy (within shouting distance of this marker); Water Works (within shouting distance of this marker); Hunt County Courthouse Dedication (within shouting distance of this marker); Gussie Nell Davis (within shouting distance of this marker); To our Hunt County Heroes (within shouting distance of this marker); The Seven Courthouses of Hunt County (within shouting distance of this marker); 1929 Hunt County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Hunt County (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenville.

Photographed by James Hulse

2. The Cotton Trade Marker

The marker is located on the right side of the building

Credits. This page was last revised on August 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 125 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 1, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.