Texana
Encyclopedia
Texana, Texas, a ghost town
, is located in Jackson County and is near Edna, Texas
.
, at the time a popular Mexican liberal, soldier, and politician. In 1835, however, after Santa Anna had proven himself an enemy of republican government, the residents of the settlement changed the name to Texana. During the Texas Revolution
of 1835-36, Texana served as a port of entry and training camp for many volunteers from the United States. Dr. Jack Shackelford's company of Alabama Red Rovers camped around Texana for about two weeks before joining James W. Fannin's command at Goliad. In the spring of 1836 the citizens of Texana joined the Runaway Scrape
. "Uncle" Jeff Parson, a slave during the Runaway Scrape, told how the "old town of Texana was abandoned, not an individual was left on Jackson County soil, all were in flight, where they were going no one knew."
After the Battle of San Jacinto
, when republic officials organized the surrounding area into Jackson County, Texana- one of the oldest American settlements- served as county seat. In the summer of 1836 the Army of the Republic of Texas
established Camp Independence on acreage belonging to Capt. Sylvanus Hatch about four or five miles from Texana. Capt. Sylvanus Hatch was a Savannah Freemason and member of Solomon's Lodge
No. 1, F. & A. M. at Savannah, Georgia. Solomon's Lodge No. 1, F. & A. M. at Savannah, Georgia was founded by the renowned soldier, statesman, philanthropist and freemason James Edward Oglethorpe in 1734. The next year Camp Independence was the site of the famous duel between Felix Huston and Albert Sidney Johnston. That year also saw a public sale of town lots that encouraged settlement. In 1840 Texana incorporated as a municipality. By 1880 the town had acquired regular steamboat service, mail and stage routes, a booming business section, and its own newspaper, the Clarion. As late as 1882 Texana was a thriving port with as many as twenty ships docking each week. In 1883, however, the New York, Texas and Mexican Railway bypassed the settlement, precipitating a sharp decline. Shortly thereafter county voters elected to make Edna, Texas
the county seat, and by 1884 Texana was a virtual ghost town.
, currently covers the ghost town, as a result of the construction of the Palmetto Bend Dam, which was finished in 1979. The lake currently serves as a recreational destination for visitors. The dam and the lake are managed by the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority
.
Ghost 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...
, is located in Jackson County and is near Edna, Texas
Edna, Texas
Edna is a city in Jackson County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,899 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County.Edna is the gateway to Lake Texana, which covers the site of Texana, Texas...
.
History
In 1832 Dr. Francis F. Wells and his sister-in-law, Pamelia McNutt Porter, founded a community in south central Jackson County that later developed into Texana. The village was originally named Santa Anna after Antonio López de Santa AnnaAntonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
, at the time a popular Mexican liberal, soldier, and politician. In 1835, however, after Santa Anna had proven himself an enemy of republican government, the residents of the settlement changed the name to Texana. During the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
of 1835-36, Texana served as a port of entry and training camp for many volunteers from the United States. Dr. Jack Shackelford's company of Alabama Red Rovers camped around Texana for about two weeks before joining James W. Fannin's command at Goliad. In the spring of 1836 the citizens of Texana joined the Runaway Scrape
Runaway Scrape
The Runaway Scrape was the name given to the flight and subsequent hostilities that occurred, as Texan, Tejano, and American settlers and militia encountered the pursuing Mexican army in early 1836....
. "Uncle" Jeff Parson, a slave during the Runaway Scrape, told how the "old town of Texana was abandoned, not an individual was left on Jackson County soil, all were in flight, where they were going no one knew."
After the Battle of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
, when republic officials organized the surrounding area into Jackson County, Texana- one of the oldest American settlements- served as county seat. In the summer of 1836 the Army of the Republic of Texas
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...
established Camp Independence on acreage belonging to Capt. Sylvanus Hatch about four or five miles from Texana. Capt. Sylvanus Hatch was a Savannah Freemason and member of Solomon's Lodge
Solomon's Lodge
Solomon's Lodge, in Savannah, Georgia is a Masonic Lodge was founded in 1734 by James Oglethorpe and claims to be the oldest continuing operating lodge in America. It wasn't called Solomon's Lodge until 1776, previously being known as "The Lodge at Savannah."...
No. 1, F. & A. M. at Savannah, Georgia. Solomon's Lodge No. 1, F. & A. M. at Savannah, Georgia was founded by the renowned soldier, statesman, philanthropist and freemason James Edward Oglethorpe in 1734. The next year Camp Independence was the site of the famous duel between Felix Huston and Albert Sidney Johnston. That year also saw a public sale of town lots that encouraged settlement. In 1840 Texana incorporated as a municipality. By 1880 the town had acquired regular steamboat service, mail and stage routes, a booming business section, and its own newspaper, the Clarion. As late as 1882 Texana was a thriving port with as many as twenty ships docking each week. In 1883, however, the New York, Texas and Mexican Railway bypassed the settlement, precipitating a sharp decline. Shortly thereafter county voters elected to make Edna, Texas
Edna, Texas
Edna is a city in Jackson County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,899 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County.Edna is the gateway to Lake Texana, which covers the site of Texana, Texas...
the county seat, and by 1884 Texana was a virtual ghost town.
Lake Texana
Lake Texana, a reservoir on the Navidad RiverNavidad River
The Navidad River is a 90 mile long coastal river in the U.S. state of Texas that runs roughly parallel to its sister river, the Lavaca River. It is not spring fed, and all of its volume is runoff which eventually provides for much of the water in Lake Texana.-Course:It begins in two primary...
, currently covers the ghost town, as a result of the construction of the Palmetto Bend Dam, which was finished in 1979. The lake currently serves as a recreational destination for visitors. The dam and the lake are managed by the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority
Lavaca-Navidad River Authority
The Lavaca-Navidad River Authority or LNRA was formed in August, 1941 by the Texas legislature. Its regulatory authority is authorized by Article 16, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution, codified in Vernon's Annotated Texas Civil Statutes as Article 8280-131...
.