Rock Island, Colorado County, Texas
Encyclopedia
Rock Island is an unincorporated community
in Colorado County, Texas
, United States
. According to the Handbook of Texas
, the community had an estimated population of 160 in 2000.
in Colorado County, approximately 12 miles southwest of Columbus
and 15 miles west of Eagle Lake
. The survey and map of the community was completed on February 19, 1896. Initially known as Crasco, after nearby Crasco Creek, citizens petitioned the post office department to change the name to Rock Island in 1897. The petition was granted and Charles Petersen was appointed the first postmaster of Rock Island on August 9, 1897. Dueling realtor's intent on outselling each other recruited land-buyers from Illinois
, Iowa
, and Missouri
, promising a "tropical paradise" near the Gulf of Mexico
. By 1904, Rock Island had a population of 367. That number peaked in 1925 at around 500. In the 1960s, the community suffered several fires that left large gaps in the former downtown. The number of inhabitants had fallen to 160 by the mid-1980s. It remained at that level through 2000.
Although it is unincorporated, Rock Island has a post office, with the ZIP code of 77470..
.
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 Colorado 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...
. According to the Handbook of Texas
Handbook of Texas
The Handbook of Texas is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association .-History:...
, the community had an estimated population of 160 in 2000.
Geography
Rock Island is located at 29°31′52"N 96°34′31"W (29.5310735, -96.5752497). It is situated along U.S. Highway 90AU.S. Route 90 Alternate (Texas)
U.S. Highway 90 Alternate is an alternate route to U.S. Highway 90 in the U.S. state of Texas, running from west of Seguin east via Seguin, Gonzales, Hallettsville, Eagle Lake, Rosenberg and Sugar Land to northeastern Houston...
in Colorado County, approximately 12 miles southwest of Columbus
Columbus, Texas
Columbus is a city in Colorado County, Texas, United States, west of Houston along Interstate 10, on the Colorado River. In 1890, 2,199 people lived in Columbus, Texas; in 1900, there were 1,824 residents. The population was 3,916 as of the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Colorado County...
and 15 miles west of Eagle Lake
Eagle Lake, Texas
Eagle Lake is a city in southeastern Colorado County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,664 at the 2000 census. It is home to a golf course, the largest private lake in Texas, and the Eagle Lake Regional Airport, which services light aircraft....
History
The area was settled in 1896 as part of a land promotion scheme on the Texas and New Orleans RailroadTexas and New Orleans Railroad
The Texas and New Orleans Railroad is a former railroad in Texas and Louisiana. At one point the company was the largest railroad in Texas, with of trackage in 1934, but by 1961 there were only remaining when it was merged with parent company Southern Pacific....
. The survey and map of the community was completed on February 19, 1896. Initially known as Crasco, after nearby Crasco Creek, citizens petitioned the post office department to change the name to Rock Island in 1897. The petition was granted and Charles Petersen was appointed the first postmaster of Rock Island on August 9, 1897. Dueling realtor's intent on outselling each other recruited land-buyers from Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, and Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, promising a "tropical paradise" near the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. By 1904, Rock Island had a population of 367. That number peaked in 1925 at around 500. In the 1960s, the community suffered several fires that left large gaps in the former downtown. The number of inhabitants had fallen to 160 by the mid-1980s. It remained at that level through 2000.
Although it is unincorporated, Rock Island has a post office, with the ZIP code of 77470..
Education
Public education in the community of Rock Island is provided by the Columbus Independent School DistrictColumbus Independent School District
Columbus Independent School District is a public school district based in Columbus, Texas .Columbus ISD serves the northern portion of Colorado County, including the city of Columbus and the communities of Frelsburg and Rock Island as well as a small portion of western Austin County that includes...
.