Bonita, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bonita, Texas
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 Bonita, Texas
Location in Texas
Bonita, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Montague |
| Elevation | 994 ft (303 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 940 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1352658 |
Bonita is a small, unincorporated community located in north-central Montague County, Texas, United States. An unincorporated community is a place where people live, but it does not have its own local government like a city or town. According to the Handbook of Texas, about 25 people lived in Bonita in the year 2000.
Contents
The Story of Bonita
Bonita started in 1886. This was when a railway, the Gainesville, Henrietta and Western Railway, was built through northern Montague County. The community might have been named after Bonita Hansen, whose father was an engineer on the railway. Another idea is that it was named after the Spanish word bonita, which means "beautiful," because the area was very pretty.
In 1887, Bonita got its own post office. By 1900, it became an important place for shipping cattle and cotton. At that time, about 300 people lived there. A bank was opened in Bonita in 1906.
Changes and Decline
Over time, things changed for Bonita. Fires and the building of a new road, U.S. Route 82, caused the community to shrink. By the 1930s, the population was 218, and there were seven businesses.
By the 1950s, the number of people living in Bonita had dropped to 80, and there were only three businesses left. The post office closed in 1967. In 2000, the population was 25 people.
Tornado Events
Bonita has experienced some strong weather. On March 26, 2009, a weak tornado (called an EF0 tornado) hit the area, but it did not cause any damage.
A much stronger, possible F4 tornado struck Bonita on April 25, 1893. This powerful storm destroyed nine homes, and two of them were completely flattened.
Where is Bonita Located?
Bonita is found on Farm to Market Road 1815. This road helps connect farms and rural areas to larger markets. The community is about 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Montague, in the northeastern part of Montague County.
Education in Bonita
Students in the Bonita area attend schools that are part of the Nocona Independent School District.
Famous Person from Bonita
- Wilcy Moore, a well-known baseball pitcher who played for the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
