Hackberry (Lavaca County), Texas facts for kids

Hackberry is a place in Lavaca County, Texas, United States. It's not a city or town with its own government anymore, but it used to be a small community. You can find it along Farm to Market Road 532, about eleven miles northeast of Hallettsville.

The Story of Hackberry

Early Beginnings

The story of Hackberry began in 1846. A man named Ludwig Von Neuhaus came all the way from Germany to settle in Texas. He traveled by train and got off about halfway between Houston and San Antonio.

The community was named Hackberry because of the many hackberry trees growing nearby. These trees were a common sight in the area.

Growing the Community

Ludwig Von Neuhaus started farming the land. In 1853, he opened a sawmill and a gristmill. A sawmill cuts wood, and a gristmill grinds grain, like corn, into flour. A few years later, he added a cotton gin, which separates cotton fibers from their seeds. These businesses helped the community grow.

Hackberry got its own post office in 1862, making it easier for people to send and receive mail. A Methodist church was built in 1861. This church also served as the local school for many years until it unfortunately burned down in 1896.

In 1865, Neuhaus opened a general store. This store was rebuilt in 1880 as a two-story building. It had strong iron shutters, which were likely used to keep the store safe.

Hackberry Today

Over time, the community of Hackberry changed. The old general store, even though it's no longer open, remains a reminder of the area's rich history. Today, many people living in the Hackberry area are descendants of Ludwig Von Neuhaus and other families who came from Central Europe.

The main activities in the area now are farming, especially raising cattle and growing hay.