Mount Selman, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mount Selman, Texas
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 Mount Selman, Texas
Location in Texas
Mount Selman, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Cherokee |
| Elevation | 696 ft (212 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 430, 903 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1342114 |
Mount Selman is a small, quiet place in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. It's called an "unincorporated community," which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's part of a larger county. In the year 2000, about 200 people lived there. Mount Selman is also close to bigger towns like Tyler and Jacksonville.
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History of Mount Selman
How Mount Selman Started
Mount Selman began in 1884. It was built along a railroad line called the Kansas and Gulf Short Line Railroad. A few people, including Dr. R.D. Bone and J.W. Wade, helped start the community. They named it "Selman" after Dr. James Selman, who gave land for the new settlement.
A post office opened in Mount Selman in the same year it was founded. However, there was already another place in Texas named Selman. To avoid confusion, the community's name was changed to Mount Selman.
Growth and Decline of the Community
By 1892, Mount Selman had about 125 people living there. It was a busy little place with different businesses. There was a gristmill, which grinds grain into flour, and a gin, which separates cotton fibers. The community also had a Presbyterian church, a general store, a drugstore, and other shops selling dry goods and groceries.
Mount Selman became an important shipping center because of the railroad. Farmers in the area would send their crops, like peaches, plums, and tomatoes, from Mount Selman to other places.
The community grew quite a bit, and its population reached its highest point in 1914, with 500 residents. After that, the town started to get smaller. By the early 1950s, the population had dropped to 220, and many of the stores closed down. The post office eventually closed in 1973, and mail for Mount Selman started coming from nearby Bullard. In 1990, Mount Selman had several churches, a community center, and houses spread out in the area.
Recent Events in Mount Selman
On April 9, 2015, a strong tornado hit Mount Selman. This tornado was an EF-2, which means it was quite powerful. It snapped and uprooted many trees. It also damaged small buildings and caused damage to a house, removing its roof and collapsing some of its outer walls.
Where is Mount Selman?
Mount Selman is located in the northern part of Cherokee County. You can find it where two roads meet: U.S. Route 69 and Farm to Market Road 177. It is about 20 miles (32 km) north of Rusk and about 3 miles (5 km) north of Jacksonville.
Education in Mount Selman
Today, students in Mount Selman attend schools that are part of the Jacksonville Independent School District.
