Bethel, Anderson County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bethel, Texas
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 Bethel, Anderson County, Texas
Location in Texas
Bethel, Anderson County, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Anderson |
| Elevation | 371 ft (113 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area codes | 430 & 903 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1379413 |
Bethel is a small, unincorporated community in Anderson County, Texas. This means it is a place where people live, but it does not have its own local government like a city or town. In 2000, about 50 people lived in Bethel. It is also considered part of the larger Palestine, Texas area.
Contents
History of Bethel
Bethel is located on land that was first given to José de Jesús Grande in 1833. Not many people settled there until the mid-1840s, after conflicts with local Native American tribes became less frequent.
Early Settlers and Community Life
The first settlers gathered around the land of Charles Gilmore. His house was very important to the community. It served as the first place for voting, a school, and a church. Gilmore gave some of his land to build Gilmore's Chapel Methodist Church and its cemetery. This cemetery is still called Gilmore's Chapel Cemetery today.
By 1852, Bethel had a general store, a blacksmith shop, and a post office. Charles Gilmore was the first postmaster. In 1854, a group of Baptists started the Judson Baptist Church near Gilmore's home. They built their first church building and cemetery, which is now known as Old Judson Cemetery. After the American Civil War, the Judson Church moved closer to Cayuga, Texas. In 1860, about 300 people lived in Bethel.
Bethel Church and Cemetery
The Bethel church and cemetery were built on land given by Henry Rampy in 1859. Rampy wanted the property to be used equally by the Baptists, Methodists, and Cumberland Presbyterians. The church was used for about 40 years before it was abandoned and taken down. The cemetery is still used today and is cared for by a group of volunteers, many of whom are descendants of the original settlers.
For many years, the cemetery was marked by a group of large cedar trees. A local story says that during the Civil War, soldiers from the Confederacy camped near the cemetery. Soldiers who died were buried there without grave markers. The cedar trees were planted so that after the war, people could find the graves and place markers. Two more Bethel churches were built further south later on.
Changes Over Time
The economy of Bethel has always been mostly based on farming. The post office closed in 1914. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, the population dropped to only 30 people. After World War II, the population increased slightly to 90 people because of major oil discoveries in the area. From the 1970s to 1990, about 30 people lived there. As of 2000, the population was 50 people. The cemetery is still an important part of the community today.
Where is Bethel?
Bethel is located along U.S. Highway 287. It is about 8 miles (13 km) southeast of the Trinity River in the northwestern part of Anderson County. It is also about 21 miles (34 km) northwest of Palestine.
Education in Bethel
Bethel used to have its own school district. In the 1950s, this district joined with the Cayuga Independent School District. In 1990, the buildings of the Cayuga ISD were the only ones left in the community. Today, students in Bethel are still served by the Cayuga Independent School District.
