Merit, Texas, Hunt County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Named in honor of a judge named Merritt, the name was shortened over time. The honor was bestowed by Dr. O. Murcheson, who is credited as being the town founder in the late 1860s / early 1870s.

A post office was granted in the 1884 � two years before the arrival of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad. In the 1890s Merit had most essential business and the population was near 300. By 1917 the number of residents had increased to an estimated 500.

By the mid 1940s the population was back to 300 and by the early 1950 it decreased further � to an estimated 185.

Photographer's Note:
Another of these small towns that surround a large school complex. The schools are all named Bland, which I assume is the school district name. Merit has three separate school complexes, one of which is a new elementary school being built to the east of 'downtown'. - Mike Price, August 2009

Merit Cemetery on the east side of town
Photo courtesy Mike Price, August 2009

Merit Cemetery
Photo courtesy Mike Price, August 2009

Hunt County 1920s map showing Merit near Collin County line
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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