Austonio, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Austonio, Texas
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Country | United States |
State | Texas |
County | Houston |
Elevation | 253 ft (77 m) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Area codes | 430 & 903 |
GNIS feature ID | 1384224 |
Austonio is a small, unincorporated community located in Houston County, Texas, United States. Being "unincorporated" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own separate local government like a city or town. In the year 2000, about 37 people lived there.
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A Look at Austonio's Past
This community started a long time ago, even before the year 1900. It was first called Pearville.
How Austonio Got Its Name
In 1930, the people living in Pearville decided to hold a contest. They wanted to find a new name for their community! A person named Ruth Tucker suggested the name "Austonio." This name was a clever mix of two big Texas cities: Austin and San Antonio. Everyone liked it, and that's how the community got its unique name.
Growth and Change Over Time
A post office was opened in Austonio in 1932. It helped people send and receive mail for many years, until 1971. The community really grew and did well before World War II. In 1940, Austonio reached its biggest population ever, with 150 people living there. It even had four stores! However, after 1945, the community started to get smaller. By 1990 and 2000, the population was estimated to be around 37 people.
Where is Austonio Located?
Austonio is found in the western part of Houston County. You can find it right where Texas State Highway 21 and Farm to Market Road 1280 meet. It's about 14 miles (23 km) southwest of a town called Crockett. It's also about 13 miles (21 km) west of Lovelady.
Learning in Austonio
Austonio once had its own school. Back in 1931, this school also taught students from nearby communities like Ash, Mapleton, and Creek.
School Districts Today
In 1964, the Austonio school joined the Lovelady Independent School District (ISD). Today, most of the children living in Austonio attend schools within the Lovelady Independent School District. However, a small part of Austonio, located north or northeast of FM 1280, is part of the Crockett Independent School District.