Stranger, Texas, Falls County. (original) (raw)

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	The Stranger Cemetery TE photo, 2001

Stranger dates to the 1840s, although it is hard to imagine people settling such a remote area this early. Before it was given it's unusual name, it was connected to the community of Blue Ridgeand was referred to as "Upper Blue Ridge".

A plaque near Stranger says the name was given to the town by a visiting Frenchman. That seems like an unusual way to get your town named, no matter how gracious your town is to visitors. We checked the Handbook of Texas Online and their version is that a post office representative was asking the local blacksmith (who may or may not have been French) what to name the town. Why he would be doing this is anyone's guess, but he supposedly asked the man (a newcomer) who answered that he shouldn't decide since he was a stranger. The agent wrote down at least this part of the man's reply and there you have it.

	One of the Stranger churches you'll see in Falls County TE photo

Two churches still offer services in Stranger.

The population never surpassed 200 and that was in 1884. The 1960 Census showed a population of 27, but what it is now is anyone's guess.

1907 postal map showing Stranger in eastern Falls County
near Limestone County line
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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