Emerald, Texas facts for kids

Emerald (also known as Emerald Grove or Laverne) was once a small community in Crockett County, Texas, United States. Today, it is known as a ghost town, meaning it was a place where people used to live but is now completely abandoned.

What Was Emerald Like?

Emerald was located about seven miles east of Ozona and 85 miles southeast of San Angelo. It was built on a square mile of land, divided into 300 smaller lots. The town was situated at an elevation of 2,425 feet above sea level.

Early Buildings and Water Supply

One of the first important steps for the town was digging a well in 1888. The Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway Company helped by adding a windmill, a pump, and a large water tank to this well. This made sure the town had a good supply of water. After the well was ready, houses and other buildings started to be constructed.

A Short-Lived Community

In 1890, Emerald even got its own post office, which was a big step for any growing community back then. However, later that same year, another town called Ozona was chosen to be the county seat for Crockett County. A county seat is the main town where the government offices for the county are located. This decision likely meant that Emerald would not grow as much as hoped.

By 1897, Emerald was completely abandoned. The school building, which had two rooms, was even taken apart and moved to Ozona. Today, there is nothing left of the original town site. It's just an empty piece of land where a community once tried to thrive.