Owensville, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Owensville
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 Owensville, Texas
Location in Texas
Owensville, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Robertson |
| Elevation | 489 ft (149 m) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1380317 |
Owensville is a former town in Robertson County, Texas, United States. It is now considered a ghost town. Owensville was located about five miles northwest of Franklin, along Farm to Market Road 46.
What was Owensville's early history?
Owensville was chosen to be the main town, or county seat, for Robertson County in 1855. This meant that all the important county records were moved there. They came from a town called Wheelock to the new courthouse in Owensville in 1856.
The town was named after Harrison Owen. He was the very first county clerk for Robertson County. A post office also opened in Owensville in 1856, right when the courthouse did.
How did Owensville grow?
Owensville quickly became a busy place. It remained the county seat through the Civil War. However, a big change happened that affected its future. The new railroad lines that were built in the area did not pass through Owensville. This was a problem for the town's growth.
Why did Owensville decline?
After the Civil War, during a time called Reconstruction, the county judge, I.B. Ellison, made a big decision. He declared that Calvert would be the new county seat. In 1870, all the county records were moved from Owensville to Calvert.
Once Owensville lost its status as the county seat, the town quickly started to shrink. The post office closed in 1872. It did briefly open again from 1895 to 1897, but it wasn't enough to save the town. By 1990, the only thing left of Owensville was its cemetery.
