Atlas, Texas, Lamar County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

The community dates from the mid 1880s when a local quarry supplied rock to the Texas-Midland railroad. Railroad owner Edward Green named the town after the mythological giant who held the world on his shoulders.

A post office was granted in 1884 when the town had a population of 20 people supplied by a single store. Atlas was on the mail coach / stage line that ran to the county seats of Cooper and Paris. By 1914 the population had increased to 50 and Atlas had phone service. The population in 1929 was reported as 76. The number of people through the Great Depression isn�t available, however Atlas had two functioning stores as well as a school and church.

The post office closed in 1943 and after the war, the population peaked at 120. The postwar exodus from rural to urban areas hit Atlas hard. By 1949 it had been reduced to just 50 residents.

By 1957 the school had merged with Roxton schools and the town had no businesses. The population fell to a low of 40 for the 1970 census and 20 by the middle of that decade where it has remained through 2000.

Photographer's Note:
Just two pictures, but I think I got the whole town. - Barclay Gibson

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