Old Troy, Texas facts for kids

Old Troy was once a small town in Bell County, Texas. It is now a ghost town, which means it's a place where a town used to be, but almost everyone has left. Old Troy was located about two miles north of the city we know today as Troy. People started settling there in the 1850s. In 1854, a post office called Elm Creek was opened in the settlement.

The Rise and Fall of Old Troy

Old Troy had a short but interesting history. It grew for a while, but then a big change made people move away.

Early Days: A New Settlement

In the 1850s, pioneers began to settle in this part of Texas. They built homes and started farms. The community grew enough to get its own post office in 1854. This post office was named Elm Creek. It helped connect the small town with the rest of the world.

The Railroad Changes Everything

A major event changed the future of Old Troy. In 1882, the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad built its tracks. But the railroad did not go through Old Troy itself. Instead, it built its route a bit south of the town. The railroad then set up a new station there. This new station became the start of what is now the modern city of Troy.

What Happened to Old Troy?

Many people in Old Troy did not want to move to the new town. They tried to keep their community alive. For example, the school in Old Troy was still busy. In 1903, it still had 60 students! This shows that some families stayed in Old Troy for a long time. However, the new town with the railroad station grew quickly. It offered more opportunities. Slowly, people began to move away from Old Troy. By the late 1920s, Old Troy had almost completely vanished. Today, it is just a memory of a past settlement.