Kittrell, Texas facts for kids

Kittrell is a fascinating ghost town located in Walker County, Texas, in the United States. It's about 20 miles north of Huntsville and 10 miles west of Trinity. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, and it's not as busy as it used to be. Kittrell was named after its founder, Pleasant Williams Kittrell. He was a doctor who also helped start the University of Texas. He even worked with Sam Houston, who was a very important leader in Texas history.

The Story of Kittrell

Kittrell was started in the late 1850s. At its busiest in 1889, about 104 people lived there. Over time, fewer and fewer people stayed.

Life in Early Kittrell

Pleasant Williams Kittrell chose this area because it was separated from the rest of the county by the Trinity River. For many years, the only way to get to Kittrell was by boat! This made it a very isolated place.

The town had its own post office from 1878 until 1920. This was important for sending and receiving mail. In 1911, Kittrell even had a school for students up to the sixth grade. However, this school closed in 1933 and joined the Trinity Independent School District.

Businesses and Changes Over Time

In 1914, a report called the Texas Gazetteer mentioned that Kittrell had a general store. It also had a cotton gin, which separated cotton fibers from their seeds. There was also a seed mill, likely for processing seeds.

By 1945, the community had only 25 residents and just one business left. The town became even quieter.

Connecting to the World

Kittrell was not easy to reach for a long time. Cars could not get into the town until the 1950s. Before then, many people had already left because traveling by boat was the only option.

In 1991, maps showed an area near Kittrell called the Trinity oilfield. This suggests that oil might have been found or processed nearby. By 2010, Kittrell had 39 people, one business, and two churches.

Chalk Creek Cemetery

Near Kittrell is the Chalk Creek cemetery. This cemetery has been used by the community since 1865. You can find several gravestones there from the American Civil War. In 1988, this historic cemetery was officially recognized as a Texas historical site.

Important People from Kittrell

• Pleasant Williams Kittrell - He was a Texas historian and helped start the University of Texas. He also worked with Sam Houston during his time as a political leader.
• Sam Houston - A very famous leader and president of Texas. It is believed that he once lived on land that is now part of Kittrell.