Goldthwaite, Texas history, attractions, landmarks, courthouse, photos, travel. (original) (raw)

Mills County Seat, Texas Hill Country

31� 27' 2" N, 98� 34' 16" W (31.450556, -98.571111)

Highways 84, 183 and 16
FM 574 and 572
Hwy 84 & 183, 35 miles SE of Brownwood
Hwy 183, 37 miles NW of Lampasas
Hwy 84, 51 miles W of Gatesville
Hwy 16, 22 miles N of San Saba
55 miles N of Llano
ZIP code 76844
Area code 325
Population: 1,833 est (2019)
1,878 (2010) 1,802 (2000) 1,658 (1990)

Goldthwaite, Texas Area Hotels › Brownwood Hotels

Question:
If Belton is the Seat of Bell County and Hillsboro the Seat of Hill County, then the Seat of Mills County is:
a. Millopolis
b. Millsboro
c. Milton
d. Goldthwaite
Yes, it's Goldthwaite - named after Joseph G. Goldthwaite a railroad official who sold the first town lots.

History in a Pecan Shell

A timeline of significant Goldthwaite events:

1885: The town is established in what was Brown County on the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway.
1886: The post office opens.
1887: Mills County is organized. Land was donated with the understanding that Goldthwaite would be designated the county seat.
1888: The Mills County jail is built.
1890: Courthouse is built. Santa Fe Railroad builds a roundhouse and shops, but moves their division point to Brownwood after labor problems.
1898: The population reaches 1,200, and the town has two weekly newspapers, the Eagle and the Mountaineer.
1905: The Confederate Reunion that year was the largest public gathering in Mills County history.
1912: The courthouse burns
1913: The courthouse is replaced
1915: county's first school library was established and construction began on Lake Merritt.
1928: Goldthwaite had a population of 2,800.
1931: The population falls to 1,324 due to drought and economic hard times. Recovery after the depression was slow, and the actual number of business in 1988 was below the 55 reported in the 1950s. Agricultural diversification provided a solid economic base and wool, mohair, cattle, sheep, and pecans, are mainstays of the economy.

Goldthwaite, Texas

Landmarks/Attractions

Vintage photo courtesy TXDoT

The First Baptist Church, built in 1949.
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, October 2010

"Looking north up Fisher Street from the courthouse. Fisher Street (HWY 16/183) is the main street in Goldthwaite."
- Terry Jeanson, October 2010 photo

"Business Section North Side of Square, Goldwaite, Texas"
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

Buildings on North Side of Square - Today
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, October 2010

"I've been to Goldthwaite four times now and this always made me laugh. The building is across from the courthouse."
- Terry Jeanson, October 2010 photo

Historical Marker "on Fisher St (183/16) in front of the First Baptist Church"
- Terry Jeanson photo

**Photographer's Note:**Subject: Mills County Courthouse

"It seems funny that this central Texas county was organized after some of the Panhandle counties. One of my favorite articles on TE is "Sagging Symbols" by Dwight Young. Mr. Young makes a reference to some of the Texas courthouses being "the architectural paperweight that kept the town from blowing away." I think that is certainly true in Goldthwaite." -

Terry Jeanson, October 12, 2010

Mills County 1920s map showing Goldthwaite
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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