Center Point, Camp County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Center Point,
Camp County, Texas |
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 Center Point, Camp County, Texas
Location in Texas
Center Point, Camp County, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Camp |
| Elevation | 331 ft (101 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 903, 430 |
| FIPS code | 48- |
| GNIS feature ID | 2034805 |
Center Point is a small community in Camp County, Texas. It's not a city with its own government, but a place where people live together. This community was started in 1865 by people who had been freed from slavery. You can find Center Point about nine miles southeast of Pittsburg. A special marker, called a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, was put there in 1979 to remember its founding.
Contents
Center Point's History
Center Point was settled in 1865 by formerly enslaved people. This happened after the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared many enslaved people free. The community's name likely came from where two roads cross: Farm to Market Road 2057 and County Road 4247.
Life in the Community
In 1983, a map of Camp County showed that Center Point had two churches, a cemetery, and a community center. By the year 2000, about 41 people lived there. The Center Point Baptist Church was started in 1873. The community also had businesses like a brick kiln, a sawmill, and a cotton gin. These businesses helped the community grow and thrive.
Center Point School
A one-room school opened in Center Point in 1887. It served 31 Black children for about 100 days each year. At first, the school was not very good.
School Improvements
Later, in 1916, money from school bonds helped build a new, larger school. This new building had four rooms. By 1936, the school was considered one of the best in Camp County. Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Cash were the first principals at the school, which was built on a 14-acre campus. At its busiest time, the school taught 279 students.
School Consolidation
Over time, fewer people lived in Center Point, and fewer students attended the school. Because of this, the school joined with the Pittsburg Independent School District in 1955. In 1996, another Recorded Texas Historic Landmark was placed to honor the history of the Center Point school.
Center Point Cemetery
The Texas Historical Commission has officially recognized the Center Point Cemetery. Its special code is CP-C010.
Notable People from Center Point
Barbara Smith Conrad was born in Center Point in 1940. She became a famous opera singer, known as a Mezzo-soprano. Conrad has performed with opera companies all around the world. She even sang at the White House and for Pope John Paul II during his visit to New York City in 1995. She often says that her love for music started at the Baptist church in Center Point.
