Burkeville, Texas
Burkeville is an unincorporated town in northern Newton County, Texas, United States. It sits at the intersection of State Highways 63 and 87 10 miles west of the Sabine River. The Burkeville Independent School District serves the resident students.
Historical development
The town was named for John R. Burke, a well educated and wealthy man from New York who took up residence there.[1] He donated the land tract that would be used for the county courthouse. The plots for the town were laid out in 1844, and within three years the residents there petitioned to become the county seat. Over several years, the county seat would switch between Burkeville and Newton until the state legislature ordered that Newton should remain the permanent county seat in 1856.[2] The town also served as an arsenal of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Agriculture and trade would keep the economy prospering until the lumber industry would add to the local market. In 1906, a catastrophic fire consumed all of the town's businesses excluding one.[3]
Recreation
The nearby Toledo Bend Reservoir is used for recreation by the locals as well as tourists and freshwater fishing enthusiasts.
Burkeville has a long standing tradition of football excellence in a state where football is king. The Burkeville Mustangs won state in football in 1986 and 2001 in class 1A.
References
External links
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Burkeville, Texas
- Sam Forse Collins Recreation Area - Sabine River Authority of Texas
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Coordinates: 31°0′0″N 93°40′5″W / 31.00000°N 93.66806°W