Cottonwood, Callahan County, Texas
Encyclopedia
Cottonwood is an unincorporated community
in southeastern Callahan County
, Texas
, United States
, on FM
880, eight miles northwest of Cross Plains
. It was first settled by J. W. Love in 1875, under the name Cottonwood Springs. The name was shortened to Cottonwood when a post office was established there. The town has a community center, a church of Christ
building, a Baptist Church building, and a Methodist Church building, and a volunteer fire department.
Cottonwood is part of the Abilene, Texas
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
A historical marker just outside of the town reads as follows:
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in southeastern Callahan County
Callahan County, Texas
*Baird*Belle Plain*Callahan City*Clyde*Cottonwood*Cross Plains*Eula*Putnam-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Callahan County, Texas-External links:* at the University of Texas*...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, on FM
Farm to Market Road
In the United States, a farm-to-market road or ranch-to-market road is a state road or county road which serves to connect rural or agricultural areas to market towns...
880, eight miles northwest of Cross Plains
Cross Plains, Texas
Cross Plains is a town in Callahan County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,068 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Cross Plains is located at ....
. It was first settled by J. W. Love in 1875, under the name Cottonwood Springs. The name was shortened to Cottonwood when a post office was established there. The town has a community center, a church of Christ
Church of Christ
Churches of Christ are autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices. They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone, and seek to be New Testament congregations as originally established by the authority of Christ. Historically,...
building, a Baptist Church building, and a Methodist Church building, and a volunteer fire department.
Cottonwood is part of the Abilene, Texas
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Abilene metropolitan area
The Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in west central Texas that covers three counties—Taylor, Jones, and Callahan. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 160,245 .-Counties:*Callahan*Jones*Taylor-Places with 2,500 to 5,000 people:*Anson*Clyde*Dyess...
.
Cottonwood Springs
After Indians on High Plains were subdued (1874) by Gen. R. S. MacKenzie, settlers started to pour into this area, where they found abundant game, water, and good soil for ranching, farming. Cottonwood Springs, at head of Green Briar Creek, was one of first villages founded (in 1875). The town soon became a trading center for southeastern part of county. It had several stores, two churches, and a school; and although usually peaceful, it experienced many gun battles. The town name was shortened to "Cottonwood" after first post office was established in 1883.
Bank and Post Office
In the center of the town, a building labeled "Cottonwood Texas" still stands, which was once the town's bank and post office. Its historical marker reads,W. F. Griffin opened a bank about 1911 in this small frame building. With Griffin as a director, Paul Ramsey served as the first president. His duties included teller, cashier, loan officer and custodian. When the railroad bypassed Cottonwood, merchants and residents moved away. In January 1915, the bank closed. In 1918 Hazel Respess opened a post office in the building and ran it for the next 50 years. In 1975, postal service here was stopped. This spot has been a gathering place for the community.