Avalon, Texas, Ellis County. (original) (raw)

32� 12' 20" N, 96� 47' 24" W (32.205556, -96.79)

Intersection of Hwy 34 and FM 55
14 Miles SE of Waxahachie the county seat
ZIP codes 76623
Area code 972
Population: 400 est. (2019)
130 est. (2010, 2000)

History in a Pecan Shell

Settlement began in the early 1860s with William John reportedly naming the community. A post office was granted in the summer of 1881, in 1884 the town reportedly had two steam cotton gins, three churches, two doctors, a druggist, and several stores. The population reached 100 in 1890 which more than doubled by 1900. The post office closed its doors in 1907 when nearby Italy, Texas took responsibility for Avalon's mail, but by 1937, they reopened the Avalon office.

The population was 300 by 1940 but WWII and increased post-war mobility reduced the population by half. In 1970 the population was given as 130 - the same estimate that is used on the 2017 map.

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