Bronson, Texas facts for kids

Bronson is a small community in west central Sabine County, Texas, United States. It is located on U.S. Route 96 where it meets State Highway 184. Bronson is about nine miles west of Hemphill. Its ZIP Code is 75930.

Discovering Bronson, Texas

Bronson is a small, unincorporated community. This means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town.

Where is Bronson Located?

Bronson is found in the eastern part of Texas. It sits in Sabine County, a county known for its beautiful forests. The community is easy to find because it's right on two main roads: U.S. Route 96 and State Highway 184.

How Bronson Began

Bronson was named after Samuel Bronson Cooper. He was an important person in the area's history. The community started in 1895 when a settler and developer named John Henry Kirby arrived.

Kirby was a very busy person. In 1902, he started the Kirby Lumber Company. This company became huge! At one point, it owned over 300,000 acres (about 1,200 square kilometers) of pine forests in East Texas. The company also ran thirteen sawmills, which cut down trees and turned them into lumber.

In the same year, 1902, Bronson got its own post office. A weekly newspaper called the Bronson Bulletin also started up. This helped people in the community stay connected. A few years later, in 1905, the Bronson Independent School District was created. This meant kids in Bronson had their own local schools.

Bronson's Growth and Changes

Bronson grew quite a bit in its early years. By 1910, about 1,000 people lived there. The population kept growing through the 1920s. It reached its highest point with around 1,200 residents. This growth happened as new highways were being built in the area.

However, things changed in the 1930s. The country faced tough economic times. Also, the supply of timber (trees for lumber) started to run low. These challenges caused Bronson's population to shrink. This decline continued into the 1940s. By 1949, only about 300 people were estimated to live in Bronson.

Over time, schools in the area also changed. In 1962, the Bronson school district joined with the schools in Pineland. They formed a new, larger district called the West Sabine Independent School District.

By 1992, Bronson had 254 residents. This number went up to 377 people by the year 2000. Bronson remains a small but historic community in Texas.