Louise, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louise, Texas
|
|
|---|---|
Post office
|
|
| Nickname(s):
LTX
|
|
Location of Louise, Texas
|
|
 |
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Wharton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.7 sq mi (17.4 km2) |
| Elevation | 85 ft (26 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 889 |
| • Density | 132.7/sq mi (51.09/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
77455
|
| Area code(s) | 979 |
| FIPS code | 48-44212 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1361870 |
Louise is a small community in southwestern Wharton County, Texas, United States. It started as a train station in 1881. The land around Louise was perfect for growing rice. Other crops also grew well, and people found oil and gas nearby.
The number of people living in Louise was highest in 1960. After that, it went down, but then it grew again. Louise has its own school district. In 2020, about 889 people lived there.
Contents
Where is Louise?
Louise is located right on U.S. Route 59. It is about 9 miles (14 km) west of El Campo. East Mustang Creek flows past the eastern side of Louise. The area is about 85 feet (26 meters) above sea level.
The community of Louise covers a total area of about 6.7 square miles (17.4 square kilometers).
Who Lives in Louise?
In 2018, about 935 people lived in Louise. There were more females (541) than males (394). The average age of people in Louise was 34.8 years old.
Here is how the population of Louise has changed over the years:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 279 | — | |
| 1920 | 300 | — | |
| 1930 | 527 | 75.7% | |
| 1940 | 450 | −14.6% | |
| 1960 | 900 | — | |
| 1980 | 310 | — | |
| 1990 | 310 | 0.0% | |
| 2000 | 977 | 215.2% | |
| 2010 | 995 | 1.8% | |
| 2020 | 889 | −10.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 Wharton County History, p. 29 Texas Handbook: LOUISE, TX |
|||
Most people in Louise identify as white. Many residents are of Hispanic or Latino background, especially Mexican ancestry.
History of Louise
Early Days and the Railroad
Long ago, Native Americans had a campsite about 4 miles (6 km) north of Louise. This is the oldest known settlement nearby. A place called Stage Stand Creek, about 2 miles (3 km) east of Louise, got its name because stagecoaches used to stop there.
In 1881–1882, a man named John William Mackay helped build a new railroad. This railroad connected Rosenberg and Victoria. One of the six stations on this new line was named Louise. It was named after Mackay's wife, Louise Hungerford Mackay.
By 1888, about 100 people lived in Louise, and the first post office opened. In 1893, two men, G. M. Sadler and A. F. Brown, started selling land in Louise. They told people it was "the greatest country on earth" and a great place to grow rice.
Growing with Rice and New Businesses
By 1900, the railroad was owned by a different company. In 1901, Sadler and his partners built a water-pumping plant. Sadler also built the Rice Hotel in 1901. A traveler named H. P. Stockton accidentally got left behind by his train in Louise. He decided to stay and make Louise his home. In 1903, Stockton bought the Rice Hotel and other businesses from Sadler.
That same year, Sadler planted 426 acres (172 ha) of rice and made a lot of money. Soon after, K. H. Payne and William Thomas started drilling deep-water wells. These wells helped farmers water their rice fields. Louise State Bank opened in 1905.
Community Life and New Discoveries
While rice was the main crop, farmers also grew corn, cotton, and milo. Many different groups of people moved to the area. By 1925, the population grew to 300. Louise had 25 stores, three garages, two banks, and two rice warehouses.
The Methodist church was built in 1894 and was used as a school for a while. The Baptist church was built in 1905. Construction of Saint Procopius Catholic Church began in 1945. Before this church was built, Catholics traveled to Hillje for mass.
In the 1930s, people started looking for oil and gas, and oil wells were drilled nearby. In 1938, a rice mill and dryer were brought to Louise.
Population Changes and Famous Athletes
The population of Louise reached its highest point of 900 people in 1960. Louise even had a big sign called the "Outdoor Newspaper" that got national attention. However, many young people moved to bigger cities. By 1980, the population dropped to 310, and it stayed the same in 1990. In 2000, the number of residents grew to 977.
Louise is also known for the "Brezina Boys." These were six brothers who all played football for the University of Houston. One of them, Greg Brezina, even played for the Atlanta Falcons. His brothers were Bob, Gus, Bernie, Steve, and Mark.
Education in Louise
Louise has its own school system called the Louise Independent School District. It was officially started in 1908. In 1905–1906, there were 97 students in the Louise School District.
Over the years, the Louise district grew by including several smaller school districts nearby. For example, it absorbed Sandies in 1938, Adams, Carancahua, and Plainview in 1948, and Gobbler Creek in 1951. In 1990, the Louise schools had 448 students and 36 teachers.
See also
In Spanish: Louise (Texas) para niños
