Halsell, Texas facts for kids

Halsell was a small, quiet community in Clay County, Texas, Texas, United States. It was not a big city with its own government, but rather a collection of homes and businesses. This community no longer exists because it was covered by water when Lake Arrowhead was created in 1965.

The Story of Halsell

How Halsell Began

The community of Halsell started around the year 1900. It was named after a local rancher, Harry Halsell. In 1901, Halsell got its very own post office. At first, it was just a small, quiet place where people involved in ranching lived and worked.

The Railway Arrives

Things changed for Halsell in 1910. A company called the Southwestern Railway Company built a train line. This line connected the towns of Henrietta and Archer City. Halsell became an important stop on this new train route.

A Time of Growth

For almost ten years, the small town of Halsell grew quickly! More people moved there because of the railway. By 1920, the population of Halsell reached about 600 people. It was a busy time for the community.

The End of the Railway

Sadly, the railway's success did not last long. By 1921, fewer people were traveling by train. This caused the railway company to go out of business. When the train stopped running, Halsell's growth also ended. The town's post office had already closed in 1919.

Oil Discovery and Lake Arrowhead

In the 1930s, oil was found in the area around Halsell. However, this discovery did not have much effect on the small community. The biggest change came in 1965. That year, Lake Arrowhead was built. The land where Halsell stood would be covered by the new lake's water.

Moving the Community

Because of the lake, everyone living in Halsell had to move. Even the people buried in the Halsell cemetery were moved. Their graves were carefully relocated to other cemeteries in the county. Today, Halsell no longer exists as a town. However, you might still see it marked on some maps, near the eastern shores of Lake Arrowhead.