Noxville, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Noxville, Texas
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Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
County | Kimble |
Elevation | 2,077 ft (633 m) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Area code(s) | 325 |
FIPS code | 48-52704 |
GNIS feature ID | 1380269 |
Noxville is a ghost town located in Kimble County, Texas, in the United States. It sits along the James River, about 21 miles east of Junction. A ghost town is a place that used to be a busy community but now has very few or no residents.
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History of Noxville
Noxville has actually existed in two different spots nearby! The original Noxville was where the first post office opened in 1879. It was started by Noah Nox (sometimes called Knox) in his general store. His wife, Persis, was the very first person in charge of the post office.
Moving the Town
In 1911, a new postmaster named James Milam decided to move the post office. He moved it, along with the town, to the west side of the James River. This new spot is where Noxville is located today.
Early Settlers
Some of the first non-native people to live in the Noxville area were farmers and ranchers. Besides Noah Nox, important early settlers included Creed Taylor, Munroe McDonald, and James H. Parker.
James H. Parker came from Alabama after the American Civil War ended. He owned a lot of land, about 12,000 acres! He even gave some of his land to build the old school house. Creed Taylor was another important figure who had served in the military for Texas. He retired to Noxville and lived there for the rest of his life.
Noxville School and Community
Noxville had a school made from native limestone, a type of rock found in the area. This school was used until just before World War II. After it closed, students from Noxville went to school in nearby Harper. The old Noxville school building was still used as a place for people to vote even into the 2000s.
Some homes and buildings from the early settlers are still standing today. The McDonald family's old home and barn, the John New home (which was also a post office), and the James H. Parker home are still lived in by the families of the original settlers. The Noxville cemetery is also still used for burials.
The Great Western Cattle Trail
Noxville was an important stop on the Great Western Cattle Trail. This trail was used from 1874 to 1885 to move huge numbers of cattle and horses. Over 5 million Longhorn cattle and a million horses passed through Noxville! It was the first stop after leaving Kerrville. You can still see a marker for this historic trail in front of the old post office.
By the year 2000, according to the official count, only three people lived in Noxville. This shows how much the town changed from its busy past.