Greenvine, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Greenvine, Texas
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 Greenvine, Texas
Location in Texas
Greenvine, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Washington |
| Elevation | 440 ft (130 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 979 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1336989 |
Greenvine is a small, unincorporated community in southwestern Washington County, Texas, United States. An unincorporated community is a settlement that is not officially part of a city or town. In 2000, about 35 people lived there. Greenvine is also located within the Greater Houston metropolitan area.
History of Greenvine
The first German Baptist Church in Texas was started in Greenvine in 1861. This happened after J. Frank Kiefer, a German Baptist preacher, held a special religious meeting there in 1860. Greenvine began to grow when a nearby community called Vinegrove started to decline. Greenvine even had its own post office from 1879 until 1907.
By 1879, Greenvine became an important place for local farms to get supplies. In that same year, a local businessman and farmer named William Seidel discovered natural gas. He was the first person in Texas to use natural gas as fuel. The community thrived because of cotton farming and trade.
In 1882, about 300 people lived in Greenvine. Most of them were German, with a smaller number of Anglo residents. By 1884, Greenvine had a store run by the Grange, which was a farmers' organization. The Greenvine Lutherans also founded Emmanuel Church in 1884.
The population of Greenvine dropped to 150 by 1890. However, it was home to the region's first five-and-dime store, which sold many different items for low prices. In 1915, the Texas Lutheran Synod held a meeting in Greenvine.
By 1904, 182 people lived in Greenvine. But the Great Depression and people moving to cities caused the population to fall to 100 by 1936. In 1890, there were six businesses, including a hotel. By 1949, most of these businesses were gone, with only one store remaining.
Between 1980 and 2000, Greenvine had a population of 35 people. Even though it lost its main business area, the Baptist and Lutheran churches continued to serve the community in the 1980s. Today, there are two Texas historical markers in Greenvine. One celebrates the first time natural gas was used as fuel, and the other marks the Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Greenvine's Location
Greenvine is located on FM 2502 near Pond Creek. It is about 5 mi (8.0 km) south of Burton and 10 mi (16 km) southwest of Brenham. All these places are in southern Washington County.
Education in Greenvine
Greenvine had its own school in 1884. Since 1943, students from the community have attended schools in the Burton Independent School District.
