Clairemont, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clairemont, Texas
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The abandoned Kent County Jail is one of the few remaining buildings in Clairemont.
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 Clairemont, Texas
Location in Texas
Clairemont, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Kent |
| Elevation | 2,126 ft (648 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 806 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1354539 |
Clairemont is a ghost town located in Kent County, Texas. A ghost town is a place where most people have moved away, leaving behind empty buildings. Clairemont used to be the "county seat" for Kent County. This means it was the main town where the county government was located.
You can find Clairemont where two highways meet: U.S. Route 380 and Texas State Highway 208. It's about 14 miles southwest of Jayton. In the year 2000, only about 15 people lived in Clairemont.
Contents
History of Clairemont
How Clairemont Started
Clairemont was founded in 1892. It was created when Kent County was officially formed. The plan was for Clairemont to be the county's main town and government center. A local rancher named R.L. Rhomberg owned the land where the town was built. He named the new town after his niece, Claire Becker.
Early Buildings and Growth
By 1895, Clairemont had important buildings. A courthouse and a jail were built from sandstone. The town also had several stores, a bank, a newspaper, and a hotel. Even though a railway line bypassed Clairemont in 1909, the town continued to grow and do well.
Economy and Population Peak
The main ways people made money in Clairemont were through cotton farming and raising cattle. Later, finding oil also became important for the town's economy. By the 1930s, more than 200 people lived in Clairemont.
Decline of the Town
However, by the 1950s, Clairemont started to shrink. In 1954, it lost its title as the county seat to nearby Jayton. The Clairemont courthouse burned down soon after its records were moved to Jayton. But the bottom floor of the courthouse was saved and used as a community center.
After losing its status as the county seat, people began to move away from Clairemont. The number of people living there slowly dropped. By the 2000s, the population had shrunk to about 15 people, making it a true ghost town.
