Alta Loma, Texas. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

The community dates from 1830 when Asa Brigham was given a land grant from the Mexican government. Except for the turmoil of the Revolution, Brigham's grant remained relatively undisturbed except for the day to day activities of the inhabitants. Things picked up in 1878 when the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway arrived. Local farmers now had a way to ship their produce (pears, figs and oranges) to distant markets. The Alta Loma Improvement and Investment Company encouraged settlement and took on the responsibility of building permanent infrastructure. A depot was built, followed by a school and churches.

A post office was granted in 1894 and the following year an artesian well was brought in, the first of what was to become 30 separate wells. The wells became a welcome source of drinking water for nearby Galveston.

The population in the late 1890s was only 200 but by 1915 it had grown to 500. Besides fruit production, dairy farming, and the raising of beef cattle added to the economy.

Alta Loma's fortunes during the Great Depression mirrored most of the country and the community may have benefitted from its proximity to Galveston. The development of nearby oil fields boosted the population to 1,350 by 1940.

While population growth was slow, by the time of the 1970 census, Alta Loma counted 1,536 residents served by 30 separate businesses.

In January of 1978, the town of Santa Fe incorporated Alta Loma into its own city limits. Four years later, another piece of Alta Loma's identity disappeared when the name of the post office was changed to Santa Fe.

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