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

History in a Pecan Shell

Forreston dates from 1843 and is believed to be Ellis County�s first communities. First called Howe�s Settlement after William Howe, who arrived in the early 1840s, it underwent a change of name in the mid 1840s to Chambers Creek. A post office opened in 1846 and the town became the original county seat of neighboring Navarro County. When Ellis County was organized in 1850, present-day Forreston found itself within Ellis County lines.

The community added most essential business over time but when the MKT Railroad arrived around 1890, the town shifted its businesses closer to the rails. The last change of name came when businessman and postmaster Carr Forrest donated land for the depot. But even before this act of generosity, the community was widely known as Forrest�s Store. Forreston had 200 people just after the turn of the 20th Century but even its railroad connection didn�t help. Growth was slow and even into the 1940s. it only reached an apex of 350 residents.

The 1990 Census only showed 300 people and ten years later the population declined to a mere 200. Forreston, however, continues to be a tidy town with an appreciation for its history.

A Visit to Forreston

Photographer's Note:
This is a nice, small town bypassed by I-35. - Barclay Gibson

Rock buildings in Forreston
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, October 2009

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Forreston, Texas - Texas Escapes' 2200th town