Neches, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Neches
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Neches Post Office
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 Neches
Location in Texas
Neches
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Anderson |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Leader Nancy Frentress |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
75779
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| Area code(s) | 903, 430 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1363629 |
Neches is a small community in east central Anderson County, Texas. It's known as an unincorporated community and a census designated place (CDP). This means it's a recognized place, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city. In 2000, about 175 people lived there. Neches is part of the larger Palestine, Texas area.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Neches started to grow in 1872 when the International-Great Northern Railroad built tracks through the area. Local landowners, J.J. Davis and Murdock McDonald, gave land for a train station and to help the town expand.
Early Days and Growth
The first post office in Neches opened in 1872 and was called Nechesville. By 1884, the community had grown quite a bit. It had a Masonic lodge (a social club), two sawmills (for cutting wood), a gristmill (for grinding grain), two churches, two general stores, and two saloons. About 100 people lived there. They often shipped lumber from Neches.
By 1890, Nechesville added two cotton gins (machines that separate cotton fibers) and a hotel. The population grew to 400 settlers. A local store owner, J.B. McDonald, was also a Justice of the Peace, meaning he helped with local legal matters. In 1892, the community's name officially changed to Neches.
Newspapers and Population Changes
Neches even had its own newspapers! The Southern Poultry Journal was published in 1896, and the Neches Tribune came out before the 1930s.
The population changed over the years. It dropped to 261 people in 1900 but then grew back to 400 in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1939, Neches reached its biggest size with about 900 people and 24 businesses. This made it a very successful community!
However, after that, the population started to shrink. It fell to 280 in 1949 and then to 111 in 1970. By 1985, Neches had three churches, two community halls, and six businesses. The population then slowly grew again, reaching 114 in 1990 and 175 in 2000.
Even though it's an unincorporated community, Neches still has its own post office with the ZIP code 75779.
Past Events
On May 11, 1953, a strong storm, possibly a tornado, hit Neches. It tore the roof off a home.
During the Battle of Nacogdoches, a historical event, a group of people from Neches joined the fight.
Where is Neches?
Neches is located in eastern Anderson County. It's where U.S. Highway 79 meets Farm to Market Road 321 and Farm to Market Road 2574. The Union Pacific Railroad also runs through the area.
Neches is about 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Palestine. It's also about 4 miles (6 km) from the Neches River. Other nearby towns include Jacksonville, which is about 14 miles (23 km) southwest, and Tyler, about 40 miles (64 km) southwest.
Neches' Climate
The weather in Neches usually has hot and humid summers. The winters are generally mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. On climate maps, you might see this as "Cfa."
Who Lives in Neches?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 266 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
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Neches was first officially counted as a census designated place in the 2020 U.S. Census. In 2020, the population of Neches was 266 people.
Learning in Neches
The first school in Neches was built in 1872, and another one appeared in 1884. There was also a special school called Stovall Academy. It started three miles from Neches in 1866, then moved to the community. It was renamed the Neches Normal Institute and later became Neches High School, which is still open today. In 1985, Neches still had a school.
Today, students in the community attend schools in the Neches Independent School District. The sports teams at Neches High School are called the Tigers!
Famous Faces from Neches
Some notable people have connections to Neches:
- Gary Brown - bass player for the band Whiskey Myers
- Cody Cannon - lead singer for the band Whiskey Myers
- Lenora Rolla - an activist, educator, and historian who lived in Neches until she was five years old.
