Oatmeal, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oatmeal, Texas
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 Oatmeal, Texas
Location in Texas
Oatmeal, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Burnet |
| Elevation | 1,234 ft (376 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 512 & 737 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1380281 |
Oatmeal is a small, unincorporated community in Burnet County, Texas, United States. This means it's a place without its own local government. In the year 2000, only about 20 people lived there.
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The Story of Oatmeal, Texas
The first families to settle in this area were German immigrants. They arrived in the late 1840s and made their homes along Oatmeal Creek.
The community's unique name has two possible origins. It might have come from a Mr. Othneil, who owned the first gristmill in the area. Another idea is that it's a translation of "Habermill." "Haber" is a German dialect word for "oats."
A post office was officially opened in 1853, and it was named Oatmeal. This small community was known for having the very first fruit orchard in Burnet County. It also had a place where people pressed cheese.
In the 1870s, a cotton gin was built. This building remained an important local landmark into the early 1900s. At one point, Oatmeal also had a general store where people could buy supplies. A cemetery was set up in 1871, but records show that burials happened there as early as 1854.
By 1936, Oatmeal had two churches and several homes spread out. In 1990, the population was still around 20 people. Most of them were families who worked in farming and ranching. At that time, the community had a church, a community center, and the cemetery. The population remained the same in 2000.
Stringtown: A Historic Settlement
After the Civil War, a group of freedmen (formerly enslaved people) created a settlement. This community was in the eastern part of Oatmeal and was known as Stringtown.
Stringtown included homes and a building that served as both a church and a school. It was also home to Burnet County's only cemetery for African Americans. The community of Stringtown existed until the early 1920s.
Oatmeal's Unique Culture
Oatmeal is famous for its water tower, which is painted to look like a giant box of oatmeal!
Since 1978, the community of Oatmeal and the nearby city of Bertram have held an annual Oatmeal Festival. This festival started as a fun way to make fun of chili cook-offs. A local resident named Ken Odiorne began the tradition. He wrote to the big companies that made oatmeal to ask for their help. Only one company, National Oats, replied and offered support.
The Oatmeal Festival has been very important in keeping Oatmeal well-known. It has helped this community, which is the second-oldest in Burnet County, continue to thrive.
Where is Oatmeal Located?
Oatmeal is found along RM 243. It is about eight miles southeast of Burnet. It is also about 56 miles northwest of Austin.
Oatmeal's Climate
The weather in Oatmeal has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Oatmeal has a humid subtropical climate. This type of climate is often shown as "Cfa" on climate maps.
Learning in Oatmeal
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The first schoolhouse in Oatmeal opened its doors in 1858. Just eleven years later, a second school building replaced it. In 1936, Oatmeal's school was still open and teaching students. Today, children in the community attend schools that are part of the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District.
