Bend, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bend, Texas
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 Bend, Texas
Location in Texas
Bend, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | San Saba, Lampasas |
| Elevation | 1,112 ft (339 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 325 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1351872 |
Bend is a small, unincorporated community in western Central Texas. This means it's a town that isn't officially a city. It's located in parts of both Lampasas and San Saba counties. In 2010, about 1,678 people lived there.
Contents
History of Bend
How Bend Got Its Name
People started settling in the Bend area in the mid-1800s. Farmers were the first to arrive. In 1854, the community was called Schleicher's Bend, named after an early settler, Gustav Schleicher. Other early families included the Low brothers.
By 1856, the name changed to McAnelly's Bend. This was after Robert Daugherty McAnelly, who owned land on the Lampasas side of the river. The community is split by the Colorado River. The part on the Lampasas side is known as "Little Bend."
When people applied for a post office in the late 1870s, they suggested "Little Breeches" or "Bend." The "Bend" Post Office opened in 1879 and has been open ever since.
Growth and Changes Over Time
In 1890, Bend had about 400 people. For most of the 1900s, the population was much smaller, usually between 100 and 125 residents.
During the 1870s and 1880s, Bend grew. It had a gristmill (for grinding grain), a cotton gin (for separating cotton fibers), and a general store for farmers. Three churches also opened in the 1880s. By 1890, there was a courthouse, a local police force (constabulary), craft shops, and a hotel. Farmers in the area mainly shipped corn, cotton, and cattle. From 1990 to 2000, Bend had 115 residents and two businesses.
A Victorian-style resort and spa called Sulphur Springs was located three miles south of Bend. It wasn't used much during the Great Depression (a time when the economy was very bad). But in the 1980s, it became popular again as a fishing resort on the Colorado River.
The Famous Pecan Trees
In the early 1900s, many pecan orchards were planted around Bend. By the middle of the century, the "Hollis native pecan" became a very important cash crop (a crop grown to sell for money) for the region.
People in Bend believe the 'Jumbo Hollis' pecan tree is the most productive pecan tree in the world! Its name comes from its unusually large nuts and its first owner, Thomas I. Hollis. While other native pecan trees had about 70 to 80 nuts per pound, the 'Jumbo Hollis' averaged only 33 nuts per pound, meaning its nuts were much bigger. At the 1904 World's Fair (a big exhibition), 'Jumbo Hollis' pecans won a bronze medal for being the largest on display. The tree's best year was 1919, when it produced an amazing 1,015 pounds of nuts!
Geography
Bend is located on Farm to Market Road 580. It sits on a horseshoe-shaped bend in the Colorado River. It's about 14 miles (23 km) southeast of San Saba. Bend is also about 26 miles (42 km) west of Lampasas and 95 miles (153 km) northwest of Austin.
Education
The first school in Bend opened in 1872. The school in Little Bend closed in the 1920s. In 1960, the Bend school joined with the San Saba schools. Today, the part of Bend in San Saba County is served by the San Saba Independent School District. The Lampasas County part of Bend, known as Little Bend, is served by the Lampasas Independent School District.
Transportation
Farm to Market Road 580 crosses the Colorado River at a place called Eagle Ford Crossing. This road connects Bend with Little Bend. In 1884, a ferry boat that used a cable was put in place at Eagle Ford Crossing. This ferry was replaced by the Regency Bridge in 1902. The main road in Bend was paved in 1960.
In Popular Culture
The comedy western movie My Little Chickadee had some scenes that were set in Bend.
