Kingston, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kingston, Texas
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 Kingston, Texas
Location in Texas
Kingston, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Hunt |
| Elevation | 633 ft (193 m) |
| Population | |
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140 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central) |
| Area code(s) | 903, 430 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1374385 |
Kingston is a small community in Hunt County, Texas, USA. It's not a city with its own government, but it's a known place. Many people remember Kingston as the hometown of Audie Murphy, a famous American hero.
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Where is Kingston?
Kingston is found in the state of Texas. It's about 10 miles north of a bigger town called Greenville. You can find it along U.S. Route 69, which is a major road. It's also just three miles south of another community named Celeste.
Kingston's History
Kingston started as a community in 1880. This happened when the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad built train tracks through the area. The tracks were extended from Denison to Greenville.
How Kingston Got Its Name
A man named Nick Hodges donated land for the railroad. In return, the railroad let him choose the name for the new community. He picked "Kingston" to honor a place in Georgia. This was where his Confederate army unit had surrendered during the American Civil War.
Early Growth and Decline
Kingston grew very quickly after the railroad arrived. By the end of 1880, it already had its own post office. Two years later, a local newspaper called the Kingston Beacon began publishing. Around the year 1900, a college was even located in the town.
By 1890, Kingston's population had reached 600 people. The community had many businesses and social places. However, its growth slowed down after that. The town decided not to offer money to the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway. This meant that railway line did not come through Kingston.
Population Changes Over Time
Because of this decision, Kingston's population began to shrink. By 1914, the number of people living there had dropped by half. The post office in Kingston closed down in 1930. By 1947, the population had halved again, reaching only 150 people. In the year 2000, Kingston's population was about 140 residents.
