Belle Plain, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belle Plain
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 Belle Plain
Location in Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Callahan |
| Elevation | 1,847 ft (563 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1377985 |
Belle Plain is a fascinating ghost town located in Callahan County, Texas, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live, but now almost no one does. It's like a town that fell asleep and never woke up.
Contents
The Story of Belle Plain: A Texas Ghost Town
How Belle Plain Began
The story of Belle Plain started in 1875. A man named Nelson M. Smith bought some land. He wanted to build a college there. He also planned a town around the new school.
No one is completely sure how the town got its name. Many people believe it was named after Katie Belle Magee. She was the very first child born in the new town.
Early Days and Growth
By 1876, Belle Plain was growing. It had three businesses and about 65 people living there. In 1877, Callahan County was officially formed. The people voted, and Belle Plain became the county seat. This meant it was the main town for the county's government.
In 1879, the town got its first newspaper. By the mid-1880s, Belle Plain was a busy place. It had many businesses and Smith's small Belle Plain College. The town's population grew to around 400 people. It was an important center for trade and business in the county.
Why Belle Plain Became a Ghost Town
Like many towns in Texas during the 1800s, Belle Plain faced a big problem. The new railroad lines were being built, but they did not come through Belle Plain. This was a huge blow to the town.
Without the railroad, it was hard for businesses to get goods. It was also difficult for people to travel to and from the town. Both the town and the college started to shrink quickly.
In 1883, the county seat was moved to a nearby town called Baird. Even the stone jailhouse was taken apart. Its pieces were moved and put back together in Baird. Belle Plain College kept trying for a few more years. But it finally closed its doors in 1892.
By then, most people had left Belle Plain. The last few citizens moved away by 1907. That's when the town's post office closed for good. Belle Plain became a true ghost town.
