Talpa, Texas
Encyclopedia
Talpa is an unincorporated community
in Coleman County, Texas
, United States
. According to the Handbook of Texas
, the community had an estimated population of 127 in 2000.
in west central Coleman County, less than 20 miles from Ballinger
to the west and Coleman
to the east.
. The original town of Talpa was mapped out in the early part of 1990, consisting of 130 blocks, varying from eight, nine, ten, and twenty lots per block. Several additions were mapped out, including W.J. Sayre (1901), Laughlin (1900-1901), and Cusenbary (1909). Talpa incorporated during either the 1920s or 1930s. The town had a population of 254 in 1940 with sixteen businesses operating in the community. The number of residents steadily declined throughout the remainder of the twentieth century – from 234 in 1950 and 195 in 1960, to 122 in 1980. Talpa citizens voted to unincorporate in an election held on April 7, 1982. Four years later, on July 1, 1986, the Talpa Centennial Independent School District and Mozelle Independent School District merged to form the Panther Creek Consolidated Independent School District
. By 1990, approximately 127 residents were living in Talpa. That figure remained unchanged in 2000.
Although it is unincorporated, Talpa has a post office with the zip code of 76882.
. The district has two campuses, Panther Creek Elementary School (grades PK-5) and Panther Creek High School
http://www.pcreek.net/MP.cfm?P=2646 (grades 6-12).
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 Coleman 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 127 in 2000.
Geography
Talpa is located at 31°46′36"N 99°42′34"W (31.7765369, -99.7095226). It is situated along U.S. Highway 67U.S. Route 67
U.S. Route 67 is a 1,560 mile long north–south U.S. highway in the Central United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the United States-Mexico border in Presidio, Texas, where it continues south as Mexican Federal Highway 16 upon crossing the Rio Grande. The northern...
in west central Coleman County, less than 20 miles from Ballinger
Ballinger, Texas
Ballinger is a small town in the heart of Texas. Ballinger holds itself as county seat of Runnels County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,243 at the 2000 census...
to the west and Coleman
Coleman, Texas
Coleman is a city in Coleman County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,127 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Coleman County.-Geography:Coleman is located at ....
to the east.
History
The community was founded in the early 1880s. It developed as a Santa Fe Railroad switching point. The origin of the name Talpa is not known – some say it was named for the catalpa tree and others from a rock, possibly talpatate, a rock of superficial origin resembling calicheCaliche (Mineral)
Caliche is a sedimentary rock, a hardened deposit of calcium carbonate. This calcium carbonate cements together other materials, including gravel, sand, clay, and silt. It is found in aridisol and mollisol soil orders...
. The original town of Talpa was mapped out in the early part of 1990, consisting of 130 blocks, varying from eight, nine, ten, and twenty lots per block. Several additions were mapped out, including W.J. Sayre (1901), Laughlin (1900-1901), and Cusenbary (1909). Talpa incorporated during either the 1920s or 1930s. The town had a population of 254 in 1940 with sixteen businesses operating in the community. The number of residents steadily declined throughout the remainder of the twentieth century – from 234 in 1950 and 195 in 1960, to 122 in 1980. Talpa citizens voted to unincorporate in an election held on April 7, 1982. Four years later, on July 1, 1986, the Talpa Centennial Independent School District and Mozelle Independent School District merged to form the Panther Creek Consolidated Independent School District
Panther Creek Consolidated Independent School District
Panther Creek Consolidated Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Valera, Texas .Located in Coleman County, a small portion of the district extends into Runnels County and covers over...
. By 1990, approximately 127 residents were living in Talpa. That figure remained unchanged in 2000.
Although it is unincorporated, Talpa has a post office with the zip code of 76882.
Education
Public education in the community of Talpa is provided by the Panther Creek Consolidated Independent School DistrictPanther Creek Consolidated Independent School District
Panther Creek Consolidated Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Valera, Texas .Located in Coleman County, a small portion of the district extends into Runnels County and covers over...
. The district has two campuses, Panther Creek Elementary School (grades PK-5) and Panther Creek High School
Panther Creek High School (Texas)
Panther Creek High School is a 1A high school located eight miles south of Valera, Texas on FM 503. It is part of the Panther Creek Consolidated Independent School District located in southwestern Coleman County. It is a 1985 consolidation of Talpa-Centennial and Mozelle...
http://www.pcreek.net/MP.cfm?P=2646 (grades 6-12).