Coffeeville, Texas facts for kids

Coffeeville is a fascinating ghost town located in northeastern Upshur County, in East Texas, United States. It's one of the very first places settled in East Texas, making it a spot with a lot of history!

What is Coffeeville?

This old town is found south of Texas State Highway 155 and about five miles west of Lake O' the Pines. It's in an area known for its many pine trees. The town got its name from the Coffee family, who were early settlers. However, some people say it was named because of the smell of brewing coffee from campsites, or even from a spilled green coffee bean that grew there!

A Busy Stop on the Way West

Coffeeville first grew into a town when Jefferson was a busy riverport. Coffeeville was about a day's journey west from Jefferson. This made it a perfect place for wagon trains to stop and rest. People traveling west could also get new supplies here. Between 1845 and 1866, many former Southern farmers, called planters, settled in this area.

Life in Early Coffeeville

By 1852, Coffeeville had its own post office. The town was quite lively in the 1850s! It had churches for both Methodists and Presbyterians. There were also three doctors, two stores selling dry goods, and two grocery stores. You could find a drugstore, a special club called a Masonic lodge, and even an academy (a type of school). A large hotel welcomed travelers.

At its busiest, Coffeeville had many places to visit. There were several saloons, a bowling alley, and a pool hall. Many blacksmith shops helped fix wagons and tools. The town also had five churches. As late as 1867, Coffeeville was home to one of only four high schools in all of Upshur County. This school was quite large, with seventy students!

Why Coffeeville Became a Ghost Town

Coffeeville started to decline during and after the Civil War. During the war, the town was used as a training site for Confederate soldiers. This was done at the request of the Governor, Edward Clark.

After the war, new railroad lines were built. But these railroads did not go through Coffeeville. This meant that people and goods started using the trains instead of the old wagon trails. As a result, the town's population slowly got smaller. In 1887, about 2,000 people lived there. By 1904, only 152 people remained. By 1946, the number dropped to just 50.

The post office in Coffeeville closed in 1915. By 1940, only two stores were left. In the year 2000, there were still about 50 people reported to be living in the area. However, today, almost nothing remains of the old town. Only a small church building stands as a reminder of Coffeeville's past.