Tennessee Colony, Texas

Tennessee Colony
Unincorporated community
Tennessee Colony

Location within the state of Texas

Coordinates: 31°50′8″N 95°50′20″W / 31.83556°N 95.83889°WCoordinates: 31°50′8″N 95°50′20″W / 31.83556°N 95.83889°W
Country United States
State Texas
County Anderson
Elevation 364 ft (111 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 150
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 75861, 75880, 75884, and 75886
GNIS feature ID 1348366

Tennessee Colony is an unincorporated community in western Anderson County, Texas, United States. It lies just off U.S. Highway 287 northwest of the city of Palestine, the county seat of Anderson County.[1] Its elevation is 364 feet (111 m).[2]

It is about 170 miles (270 km) south of Hugo, Oklahoma.[3]

History

Tennessee Colony was established in 1847 by settlers from Tennessee and Alabama, who named their settlement for one of their home states. Cotton plantations were established, including the Jackson Plantation, which was at one time among the largest plantations in East Texas.[4]

As of 1884 Tennessee Colony boasted a population of 200 and three churches, a school, a steam-powered gristmill, and a cotton gin. Population declined to just 100 people by 1914, rose again to 300 in 1927, but again declined during the 1930s. In 1941 there were 150 people in Tennessee Colony. Beginning in 1965 when the Coffield Unit was started, the construction and operation of state prisons have increased the local population, which was 300 in 2000.[4]

Government and infrastructure

Four major Texas Department of Criminal Justice correctional facilities, the George Beto Unit,[5] the Coffield Unit,[6] the Mark W. Michael Unit,[7] and the Gurney Unit,[8] are located near Tennessee Colony and use the community's name in their mailing addresses.

The United States Postal Service operates the Tennessee Colony Post Office.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Rand McNally. The Road Atlas '08. Chicago: Rand McNally, 2008, p. 100.
  2. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Tennessee Colony, Texas, Geographic Names Information System, 1979-11-30. Accessed 2008-04-12.
  3. ↑ Cosgrove, Jaclyn. "Oklahoma Watch: Task force looks at fathers in prison." The Oklahoman. November 20, 2011. Retrieved on November 23, 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Tennessee Colony in the Handbook of Texas Online
  5. ↑ Beto Unit, Texas Department of Criminal Justice website, accessed August 10, 2009
  6. ↑ Coffield Unit, Texas Department of Criminal Justice website, accessed August 10, 2009
  7. ↑ Michael Unit, Texas Department of Criminal Justice website, accessed August 10, 2009
  8. ↑ Gurney Unit, Texas Department of Criminal Justice website, accessed August 10, 2009
  9. ↑ "Post Office Location - TENNESSEE COLONY." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 10, 2010.