Star, Texas
Star is an unincorporated community in Mills County in Central Texas. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 85 in 2000.[1]
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[edit] Geography
Star is located at 31°28′07″N 98°18′58″W / 31.46861°N 98.31611°W (31.4684944, -98.3161482). It is situated at the junction of U.S. Highway 84 and FM 1047 in east central Mills County, east of Goldthwaite and west of Evant.[2]
[edit] History
The community was laid out by Alec Street in the mid-1880s and was named for nearby Star Mountain. A post office was established in 1886 with Calvin Skinner as its first postmaster.[2] In 1890, the first public road opened from Star to Goldthwaite. By 1895, the community had a saloon, several grocery stores, and a drug store. A tornado struck Star on May 5, 1904. Two people were killed and five homes were completely destroyed.[3] The community recovered and a permanent church was built in 1905. In 1910, a bank opened.[1] A four room, two-story stone school building was completed in 1913. A hailstorm damaged homes, businesses, and the school on April 22, 1924. Star's bank was robbed in 1928 and the robber got away with about $3,000 and several valuables. Four years later, during the Great Depression, the bank was sold to the Trent State Bank in Goldthwaite.[3] By 1939, Star had a numerous variety of businesses operating in the community. That same year, three area schools – McGirk, Center City, and Hurst Ranch – consolidated with Star. The population stood at around 170 in the mid-1940s. The rising popularity of the automobile caused a decline in the number of local businesses. By 1980, the community had an estimated population of 85. That figure remained steady through 2000.[1]
Although Star is unincorporated, it does have a post office with the zip code of 76880.[4] The Star Historical Museum is the community's main attraction.
[edit] Education
The community of Star is served by the Star Independent School District and home to the Star School (Texas) Tigers.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Star, Texas". The Handbook of Texas online. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/hns79.html. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ a b "Star, Texas". Texas Escapes Online Magazine. http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountry/Towns/StarTexas/StarTexas.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-09.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Star Historically Speaking". Written by Billie Gail Soules Day in 1948. Star Historical Museum. http://www.startexasmuseum.org/Star%20Historically%20Speaking.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ Zip Code Lookup
[edit] External links
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Star, Texas
- Star, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
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