Rochester, Texas, Haskell County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Rochester came into being with the arrival of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railroad in 1906. A. B. Carothers donated the rail right-of-way and although the town was to be named in his honor - the name was rejected by postal authorities and was named after Rochester, New York.

The population was 400 by 1915 and the town incorporated seven years later. It reached its high-water mark just before WWII when 611 people called it home. The 1990 the population was 458 and it appears on the 2010 census as 324.

Rochester Landmarks / Attractions

Photo Gallery

Rochester Chronicles

Rochester Teacher by Mike Cox ("Texas Tales" Column)

"...When the Haskell County community of Marcy made the decision in 1906 to relocate three miles to be on the right of way of the new Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railroad, A.B. Carothers donated the land for the new tracks and 160 acres for the town site.

In appreciation, the railroad gave him first choice on what the new town should be called. He thought Carothers, Texas had a nice ring to it, but a check with postal authorities determined that name had already been taken in Texas. Not being able to honor the Haskell County land owner, the railroad opted to call the new town Rochester, after Rochester, N.Y.

His altruistic spirit not dampened, Carothers paid for construction of a one-room school house. Classes began in the fall with nine grades and one teacher... more

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