Pennington, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pennington, Texas
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 Pennington, Texas
Location in Texas
Pennington, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Houston and Trinity |
| Elevation | 344 ft (105 m) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 173 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
75856
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| Area code(s) | 936 |
| GNIS feature ID | 382475 |
Pennington is a small community in Texas, USA. It's not a city with its own government, but it's a place where people live and work. Most of Pennington is in Trinity County, but a small part also reaches into Houston County. Even though it's not a city, it has its own post office and a special ZIP code (75856). In 2021, about 173 people lived there.
Contents
History of Pennington
Pennington started on land that was part of a large property grant from Mexican Texas in 1835. Two people, A. F. Westall and Daniel Daily, bought this land in 1855. Daniel Daily later owned a big piece of it, about 1,280 acres.
Early Days and Growth
In May 1860, the Salem Baptist Church was started in the area. This church later became known as the Pennington Baptist Church. The town itself was planned in February 1866 by Dan Daily. He named it after Hill (or Hugh) Pennington, who opened the first shop there.
Pennington got its own post office in 1873. The community grew a lot between 1874 and 1882. During this time, it was even the main county seat, meaning it was the center of government for the county. Its population might have been as high as 1,000 to 1,500 people.
Decline and Modern Times
However, Pennington started to shrink after 1882. This happened because a railroad wasn't built through the town. Also, the county seat moved to a new town called Groveton.
Pennington tried to become an official town in 1901, but it seems to have lost that status by 1904. Its population continued to decrease over the years. By 1980, only about 100 people lived in the quiet rural village. In 2000, the population was 67. Today, it's a small, peaceful community.
Weather Events
Pennington has experienced some strong weather. On May 3, 2009, a tornado hit the area. It damaged a shed and moved a trailer. Many trees were also broken.
On Christmas Day in 2012, two more tornadoes struck Pennington. One was very strong. It completely destroyed a farm supply store and a restaurant. Several homes and trailers were also badly damaged. Another smaller tornado caused some debris to fly around but didn't cause much harm.
Location of Pennington
Pennington is located off U.S. Highway 287. It is close to the Davy Crockett National Forest. The community is about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Groveton. It sits in the northwestern part of Trinity County and the southeastern part of Houston County.
Education in Pennington
Pennington had its own school called Pennington College, which later became Steele Academy. It started in 1866 and welcomed both boys and girls. The school officially received its charter in 1870. It operated until 1882, led by teachers like Daniel Webster Steele. The school eventually closed because other schools in the area offered competition.
Today, students living in Pennington attend schools within the Groveton Independent School District. This district serves students from both the Houston and Trinity County parts of the community.
Images for kids
- Pennington, Texas
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Pennington Baptist Church, 1955
