Prairie Hill, Texas
Encyclopedia
Prairie Hill is an unincorporated community
in Washington County, Texas
, United States
. Founded in 1870, the community flourished from the 1880s through to the 1960s and is still in existence today.
, centered on the corner of Old Independence Road (County Road 60) and Prairie Hill Road (County Road 63). It is located at 30°14′55"N 96°22′37"W.
The corner of Prairie Hill Road and Old Independence Road was the heart of the Prairie Hill community. Saint John
Lutheran Church was located there, as was the Hafer General Store, the Prairie Hill School, and the doctor's office. The Prairie Hill dance hall
was located about a half-mile north on Old Independence Road. The Prairie Hill Cemetery (officially the cemetery of Saint John Lutheran) and the cotton gin were adjacent to the church.
Today, Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church and its cemetery are the only remaining structures from the old Prairie Hill community.
. However, it continues to be an active community. Saint John Lutheran of Prairie Hill is an active congregation with over 450 members, and is the center of community life. Many community activities are sponsored by or supported by the congregation. Prairie Hill Books - an online bookstore - operates where the Prairie Hill School once stood. The Prairie Hill Volunteer Fire Department still operates out of the firehouse in Prairie Hill. There are also active Prairie Hill chapters of the 4-H and the County Extension office.
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 Washington County, 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...
. Founded in 1870, the community flourished from the 1880s through to the 1960s and is still in existence today.
Location
Prairie Hill is six miles north of the town of Brenham, TexasBrenham, 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...
, centered on the corner of Old Independence Road (County Road 60) and Prairie Hill Road (County Road 63). It is located at 30°14′55"N 96°22′37"W.
Major features
John the Evangelist
Saint John the Evangelist is the conventional name for the author of the Gospel of John...
Lutheran Church was located there, as was the Hafer General Store, the Prairie Hill School, and the doctor's office. The Prairie Hill dance hall
Honky tonk
A honky-tonk is a type of bar that provides musical entertainment to its patrons...
was located about a half-mile north on Old Independence Road. The Prairie Hill Cemetery (officially the cemetery of Saint John Lutheran) and the cotton gin were adjacent to the church.
Today, Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church and its cemetery are the only remaining structures from the old Prairie Hill community.
History
Prairie Hill was originally settled by German immigrants in the early 1870s. In 1876 the church was organized as St. John's Lutheran Church. This structure was enlarged in 1911, and then burned down in 1912. The structure was rebuilt the same year. The church joined the Texas Lutheran synod in 1925. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/PP/hrp58.htmlPrairie Hill today
Much of what made Prairie Hill a community is no longer present (the school, the dancehall, and the general store), and for this reason, some would consider Prairie Hill a ghost townGhost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
. However, it continues to be an active community. Saint John Lutheran of Prairie Hill is an active congregation with over 450 members, and is the center of community life. Many community activities are sponsored by or supported by the congregation. Prairie Hill Books - an online bookstore - operates where the Prairie Hill School once stood. The Prairie Hill Volunteer Fire Department still operates out of the firehouse in Prairie Hill. There are also active Prairie Hill chapters of the 4-H and the County Extension office.