Centerville Texas. (original) (raw)

Blackeye Pea Festival, Centerville, Texas

Black-Eyed Pea Festival, which began in 1937
and ran three consecutive years until WWII.
1930s vintage photo courtesy Jean Broussard

History in a Pecan Shell

Centerville was the original spelling and the name was chosen for the geographic location in the county. Leona had served as county seat until it was discovered it was not exactly in the center of the county. Buffalo served for a short time, which was also off-center.A timeline of significant events in Centerville's history
1846: Leon County is organized and named after Martin de Leon.
1850: Centerville becomes county seat, post office opens and a log cabin was built as a courthouse
1851: First school classes are held in the back room of a store
1852: The Leon Pioneer is published
1853: Frederick Law Olmstead (the landscape architect who designed New York City's Central Park) visits Centerville
1858: Leon County gets its first brick courthouse
During Reconstruction an infantry company was stationed in Centerville.
1872: The International-Great Northern Railroad bypasses the town
1884: Population reaches 300
1886: The 1858 Courthouse burns and is replaced
1910: First bank is opened
1914: Centerville population reaches 600
1930: Centerville is incorporated - population had declined to 388
1937: An annual Black-Eyed Pea Festival is established
1950: Population comes close to breaking 1,000 with 961 people calling Centerville home.

Leon County Courthouse & jail, Centerville Texas

First Methodist Church, Centerville, Texas

Centerville TX Commerce St Leon County Annex

"Buildings on Commerce (Texas 75) on the west side of the courthouse. The center building with the "PIX" sign looks like an old theater. The building on the far right is the Leon County Annex. A second County Annex building was completed in 2008 on the east side of the courthouse square."
- Terry Jeanson, 2008 photo

Centerville Texas courthouse square St. Mary's street

"Buildings on Saint Mary's (Texas 7) across from the courthouse. The one marked "Library" contains the Chamber of Commerce."
- Terry Jeanson, 2008 photo

Centerville TX Leon County Veteran's Memorial

Centerville TX Water Tower Tiger Pride

Native Sons

Lightnin' Hopkins
by Bob Bowman ("All Things Historical" column)
Blues singer Lightnin' Hopkins was born Sam Hopkins at Centerville on March 15, 1902. When his father died, his mother moved the family -- five brothers and sisters -- to Leona... more

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