Oakland, Colorado County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oakland, Texas
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 Oakland, Texas
Location in Texas
Oakland, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Colorado |
| Elevation | 167 ft (51 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
78951
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| Area code(s) | 979 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1343015 |
Oakland is a small, unincorporated community located in Colorado County, Texas, United States. This means it's a settlement that isn't officially governed as a city or town. According to the Handbook of Texas, about 80 people lived there in the year 2000.
History of Oakland
Oakland is built on land that was once owned by a famous frontiersman named James Bowie. As early as 1844, a settlement known as Prairie Point existed here. It had a store along the stagecoach route that connected the towns of Columbus and Gonzales.
In 1857, A. C. Herford officially laid out the town. The community needed a post office, but it was too close to other existing post offices. So, a man named Amasa Turner agreed to move his post office from Lavaca County to Herford's new town. However, Turner insisted that the post office keep its original name, Oakland. He had chosen this name to honor the home of David G. Burnet, an important figure in Texas history.
In 1861, a Masonic lodge was started in Oakland. By 1884, the town had grown to about 200 people. It had three general stores, a bar, a steam-powered machine for separating cotton (called a cotton gin), two churches, and mills for sawing wood and grinding grain.
Oakland's population reached 264 people in 1900. By the 1930s, it had about 200 residents, seven businesses, and a church. However, the population began to decline. By 1950, only 100 people lived there with just three businesses. In 1970, there were 95 residents, and by 1974, it was down to 80. From 1974 to 2000, the population stayed around 80 people. Even though it's unincorporated, Oakland still has its own post office with the ZIP code 78951.
The Strunk-Woolsey House in Oakland is a historic building. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized for its historical importance.
Geography of Oakland
Oakland is located in the northwestern part of Colorado County, close to the border with Lavaca County. You can find it southwest of where Farm to Market Road 532 and Farm to Market Road 2144 meet.
The community is about 22 miles (35 km) southwest of Columbus. It's also about 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Weimar and 16 miles (26 km) southeast of La Grange. The Navidad River also flows through the Oakland area.
Education in Oakland
Education has been a part of Oakland for a long time. By the 1850s, there was already a small schoolhouse made of logs in the village. In the 1870s, a two-story school building was constructed. The second floor of this building was used for Masonic meetings, and the structure also served as a church.
An important school called Oakland Normal School was established in 1882. This school was created to train Black educators, helping them become teachers. It continued to operate in 1884. By 1904, there were two schools in the community: one for 81 Black students and another for 65 White students. Today, students in Oakland attend public schools provided by the Weimar Independent School District.
Notable Person from Oakland
- John Woolsey – He was a resident of Oakland who served in the 20th Texas Legislature. This means he was a representative for the area in the state government.
