Farm to Market Road 390
Encyclopedia
Farm to Market Road 390, Farm Road 390, or FM 390, is a state highway
in the U.S. state
of Texas
maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
. The road has official status as a scenic highway and is signed with distinctive brown shields unique among the state's system of Farm to Market Roads. The road, located in northern Washington County, begins at U.S. Route 290
in Burton
and intersects near Gay Hill before terminating at northeast of Brenham
. The road has a spur route
at Independence
connecting to the ruins of the 19th Century campus of Baylor University
and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
. The road also passes through the former communities of Longpoint and William Penn.
and used by American pioneers settling in Texas.
The first portion of the modern road to join the state's highway system was the section in Independence from Old Baylor Park to the present which, along with FM 50 south of that juncture, was first designated as sometime between 1933 and 1936. By 1939 that highway was decommissioned but reinstated in 1940. SH 211 was replaced by FM 50 and State Highway Spur 197 along the present FM 390 at Independence in 1943.
Two years before in Burton, State Highway Loop 125 was designated along the present and the portion of the present FM 390 between Spur 125 and US 290. FM 390 was initially designated in 1945 from Loop 125 in Burton to SH 36 near Gay Hill. Later that year FM 390 was extended over Loop 125 to US 290, and Loop 125 was shortened to its present spur. In 1951, FM 390 was extended 4 miles (6.4 km) east of SH 36 and an additional 0.8 miles (1.3 km) the following year. In 1954, the route was extended to FM 50 south of Independence and then from the junction of FM 50 and Spur 197 in Independence east to William Penn. The route at Independence was realigned in 1958 creating the route's spur and eliminating the route's concurrency
with FM 50 south of town and replacing Spur 197. FM 390 was extended south of William Penn in 1971 to a portion of that would be renumbered as SH 105 in 1973.
In 1995, the Texas Legislature
passed a law recognizing FM 390 as a scenic highway and directing TxDOT to erect route markers indicating the route number and the road's scenic status. In response, TxDOT erected along the route a shields unique among the state's Farm to Market Roads with a distinctive brown background resembling the shields of the state's Recreational Roads.
Farm to Market Spur 390 is a short spur route of FM 390 at Independence that branches off of its parent route along Old Baylor Rd. to the west terminating at Old Baylor Park, the original location of Baylor University, chartered in 1845 by the Congress of the Republic of Texas
and opened the following year, and the University of Mary Hardin Baylor, formerly Baylor University's women's department. Both colleges relocated to their current campuses in Waco
and Belton
respectively in 1886.
The spur was the northern terminus of SH 211 beginning between 1933 and 1936. SH 211 was decommissioned by 1939, but was reinstated in 1940. SH 211 was again decommissioned in 1942, and the spur became the western terminus of Spur 197. SS 197 was incorporated into FM 390 in 1958.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
. The road has official status as a scenic highway and is signed with distinctive brown shields unique among the state's system of Farm to Market Roads. The road, located in northern Washington County, begins at U.S. Route 290
U.S. Route 290
U.S. Highway 290 is an east–west U.S. Highway located entirely within the State of Texas. Its current western terminus is at Interstate 10 milepost 477 , southeast of Junction, and its eastern terminus is at Interstate 610 on the northwest side of Houston.-Route Description:West of Austin, U.S...
in Burton
Burton, Washington County, Texas
Burton is a town in Washington County, Texas, United States. The population was 359 at the 2000 census, and 375 in 2009.-Geography:Burton is located at ....
and intersects near Gay Hill before terminating at northeast of Brenham
Brenham, Texas
Brenham is a city in east-central Texas in Washington County, Texas, United States, with a population of 16,147 according to the 2009 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
. The road has a spur route
Spur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
at Independence
Independence, Texas
Independence is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Texas, United States. Located twelve miles northeast of Brenham, it was founded in 1835 in Austin's colony of Anglo Americans. It became a Baptist religious and educational center of the Republic of Texas...
connecting to the ruins of the 19th Century campus of Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
The University of Mary Hardin–Baylor, generally referred to as UMHB, is a Christian co-educational liberal arts institution of higher learning located in Belton, Texas, United States. Founded by the Republic of Texas in 1845 as "Baylor Female College," it has grown to approximately 2,700 students...
. The road also passes through the former communities of Longpoint and William Penn.
History
FM 390 generally follows along a portion of the much older La Bahía Road from western Louisiana into southeast Texas used before European settlement. The road was extended by the Spanish to GoliadGoliad, Texas
Goliad is a city in Goliad County, Texas, United States. It had a population of 1975 at the 2000 census. Founded on the San Antonio River, it is the county seat of Goliad County. It is part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Goliad is located on U.S. Highway 59, named also for...
and used by American pioneers settling in Texas.
The first portion of the modern road to join the state's highway system was the section in Independence from Old Baylor Park to the present which, along with FM 50 south of that juncture, was first designated as sometime between 1933 and 1936. By 1939 that highway was decommissioned but reinstated in 1940. SH 211 was replaced by FM 50 and State Highway Spur 197 along the present FM 390 at Independence in 1943.
Two years before in Burton, State Highway Loop 125 was designated along the present and the portion of the present FM 390 between Spur 125 and US 290. FM 390 was initially designated in 1945 from Loop 125 in Burton to SH 36 near Gay Hill. Later that year FM 390 was extended over Loop 125 to US 290, and Loop 125 was shortened to its present spur. In 1951, FM 390 was extended 4 miles (6.4 km) east of SH 36 and an additional 0.8 miles (1.3 km) the following year. In 1954, the route was extended to FM 50 south of Independence and then from the junction of FM 50 and Spur 197 in Independence east to William Penn. The route at Independence was realigned in 1958 creating the route's spur and eliminating the route's concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with FM 50 south of town and replacing Spur 197. FM 390 was extended south of William Penn in 1971 to a portion of that would be renumbered as SH 105 in 1973.
In 1995, the Texas Legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
passed a law recognizing FM 390 as a scenic highway and directing TxDOT to erect route markers indicating the route number and the road's scenic status. In response, TxDOT erected along the route a shields unique among the state's Farm to Market Roads with a distinctive brown background resembling the shields of the state's Recreational Roads.
Route description
FM 390 begins at US 290 in Burton and follows W. Washington St. northeastward to N. Main St. where it intersects Spur 125. FM 390 turns northwest along Main St. and then northeast along La Bahia Trail intersecting FM 1697 before leaving Burton. The route merges with FM 1948 moving southwest for less than half a mile before branching off to the northeast. The route intersects FM 2679 at Longpoint and then crosses the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway at Gay Hill before intersecting SH 36. At Independence, FM 390's short spur route branches off to Old Baylor Park before FM 390 crosses FM 50. From Independence, the route passes to the east intersecting FM 2621 before reaching William Penn. The route then intersects FM 1935 and then turns south toward its terminus at SH 105.Independence spur
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
and opened the following year, and the University of Mary Hardin Baylor, formerly Baylor University's women's department. Both colleges relocated to their current campuses in Waco
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
and Belton
Belton, Texas
Belton is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,623 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bell County.Belton is part of the Killeen – Temple – Fort Hood metropolitan area.-Geography:...
respectively in 1886.
The spur was the northern terminus of SH 211 beginning between 1933 and 1936. SH 211 was decommissioned by 1939, but was reinstated in 1940. SH 211 was again decommissioned in 1942, and the spur became the western terminus of Spur 197. SS 197 was incorporated into FM 390 in 1958.