Rugby, Texas. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Settled prior to the Civil War, Rugby has no explanation for its sporting name. Growth was too small to measure at first, but by the time of the 1870 census the town had a store and a single cotton gin. The first church wasn�t built until the early 1890s and the community had no post office until 1900 (it closed seven years later, reopened in 1914 and closed for good in 1929).

At its peak, Rugby had three gins, a doctor and two stores, but the population never reached 100. The figure of 75 was used from the mid-1920s through the late 1960s when it fell to an estimated 24.

Entering Rugby City Limits
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, September 2010

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