Concepcion, Texas. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

One of the oldest towns in the county, it was named after Santa Cruz de Concepci�n. Initially the town was part of a Spanish land grant to Francisco Cordente. It's recent history began with the granting of a post office in 1873. Evelen years later the town was thriving with an estimated population of 600. Don Julian Palacios, a local sheep rancher was elected Justice of the Peace for the area and the town reportedly had a (a much more realistic) population of 100 by the early 1890s.

The Concepcion school reported 64 pupils enrolled for the 1906-07 school year. An attempt to split Duval into two counties was instigated by local political boss Archer Parr. Parr and his supporters wanted Benavides to be the new county seat, but although an election was held, the legislation authorizing a new county was found to be in violation of the state constitution.

By 1914 the population was reported to be 150. Estimates varied greatly from a low of 75 to a high-water mark of 500 in 1927. The agreeded-upon figure of 75 was used from the mid 1930s through the mid 1960s. The Concepcion school eventually merged with Benavides schools. The town was described as having "a few scattered dwellings, a church, and one business" in 1968. The population of 25 has been in use from the early 70s to the present.

Conception still appears on the state map and the detailed TXDoT map of Duval County shows seven cemeteries within a few miles of the town.

Concepcion Civic Center
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, October 2010

1920s Duval County map showing Concepcion (SE Duval County)
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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