Tennessee Colony, Texas

Tennessee Colony
Unincorporated community
Tennessee Colony
Tennessee Colony

Location within the state of Texas

Coordinates: 31°50′8″N 95°50′20″W / 31.83556°N 95.83889°W / 31.83556; -95.83889Coordinates: 31°50′8″N 95°50′20″W / 31.83556°N 95.83889°W / 31.83556; -95.83889
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]

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.[3]

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.[3]

On November 15, 2015, a deadly mass shooting took place at a campsite in Tennessee Colony, where six people were shot and killed. The shooter has been apprehended and charged.[4]

Government and infrastructure

Three major Texas Department of Criminal Justice correctional facilities, the George Beto Unit,[5] the Coffield Unit,[6] and the Mark W. Michael Unit,[7] are located near Tennessee Colony and use the community's name in their mailing addresses. They are all co-located with the Louis C. Powledge Unit and the Gurney Unit, which use Palestine, Texas mailing addresses.[8][9]

The United States Postal Service operates the Tennessee Colony Post Office.[10]

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. 1 2 Tennessee Colony in the Handbook of Texas Online
  4. ↑ Digital Media Staff, KLTV. KLTV ABC http://www.kltv.com/story/30528560/sheriff-six-killed-in-campsite-homicide-suspect-charged. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ Beto Unit, Texas Department of Criminal Justice website. Retrieved on January 19, 2016.
  6. ↑ Coffield Unit, Texas Department of Criminal Justice website. Retrieved on January 19, 2016.
  7. ↑ Michael Unit, Texas Department of Criminal Justice website. Retrieved on January 19, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Powledge (B2)." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on January 7, 2016.
  9. ↑ Gurney Unit, Texas Department of Criminal Justice website. Retrieved on January 19, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Post Office Location - TENNESSEE COLONY." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 10, 2010.


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