Indian Gap, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Indian Gap, Texas
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 Indian Gap, Texas
Location in Texas
Indian Gap, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Hamilton |
| Elevation | 1,562 ft (476 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1338427 |
Indian Gap is a small place in Texas, United States. It's called an "unincorporated community," which means it's not officially a city or town with its own government. It's nestled between two hills in the western part of Hamilton County.
Contents
History of Indian Gap
The name "Indian Gap" comes from the Comanche people. They used the hills in this area as a starting point. The community itself was settled in 1877.
An early settler named Hawley Gerrells opened a post office in his home in 1879. His home was very important to the community. It served as a store, a church, and a place for people to gather.
Later, in 1889, H.A. Shipman took over the store and post office. He also started selling land lots in 1892. In the 1920s, about 90 people lived in Indian Gap.
At its busiest, Indian Gap had many businesses. There was a bank, a hotel, and three stores. It also had a blacksmith shop and a gin (a machine for separating cotton). People could get their hair cut at the barber shop. There were churches and even a weekly newspaper called The Arrow.
However, the community's population began to shrink. The post office closed in 1972. By the 1970s, only 36 people lived there. This number stayed the same until 2000. In 2010, the population was 27, but it grew to 35 by 2019.
Where is Indian Gap?
Indian Gap is located in the western part of Hamilton County. You can find it where two roads meet: Farm to Market Road 218 and Farm to Market Road 1702.
It is about 17 miles (27 km) west of Hamilton. It's also about 35 miles (56 km) east of Brownwood. If you travel south, it's about 40 miles (64 km) from Stephenville.
Schools in Indian Gap
Indian Gap used to have its own schools. These schools closed around 1959. Today, students from Indian Gap attend schools in the Hamilton Independent School District.
Famous Person from Indian Gap
Indian Gap is the hometown of Frank N. Mitchell. He was a brave soldier who fought in the Korean War. Frank N. Mitchell was awarded the Medal of Honor. This is the highest military award given by the United States government. It is given for extreme bravery in battle.
Indian Gap in Books
In 2009, an author named Dee Kelly wrote a book called A Good Man's Sin. The story is about a boy who moves from a big city to Indian Gap. He plays six-man football there. Six-man football is a version of American football played with six players per team. In the book, the boy later goes on to play in the National Football League.
