Phelps, Texas, Walker County. (original) (raw)

Cistern
TE photo, June 2004

History in a Pecan Shell

The Houston and Great Northern Railroad built a station here in the 1870s and the town grew up around it. The contractor for the railroad construction was the Phelps-Dodge Corporation from whence the name came.

In 1874 a post office was granted and the railroad added a spur at Phelps, connecting Huntsville to the main line. Phelps became the nucleus of a cluster of sawmills � and the mill workers resided in the hub town. It was estimated that the population included residents of 100 separate families. From a mere 25 people in 1890, the town reached 300 by 1914. As the forest played out and the sawmills moved on, Phelps declined to a single business. The 1950 population was estimated to be 100 and the post office closed in the mid-1960s.

Walker County 1907 postal map showing Phelps (E of Huntsville)
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.