Pierce, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pierce, Texas
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 Pierce, Texas
Location in Texas
Pierce, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Wharton |
| Elevation | 98 ft (30 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
77467
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| Area code(s) | 979 |
| GNIS | 1365193 |
Pierce is a small, unincorporated community in Wharton County, Texas, United States. This means it's a town that isn't officially a city. In 2000, about 49 people lived there. Pierce is part of the larger Greater Houston area.
History of Pierce
The area was first known as Pierce's Station in 1881. A train track, built by the New York, Texas and Mexican Railway, went through the land of a man named Abel Head "Shanghai" Pierce. He allowed the railroad to build if he could choose where to put train stops to load cattle.
Shanghai Pierce built his own train stop near his home. He wanted Pierce to become the main town for Wharton County because it was in the middle of the county. In March 1894, 160 acres of land were divided into blocks for the town. Streets were made public, and a courthouse, a park, and a cemetery were built.
A post office opened in 1886, and the town's name changed to Pierce in 1895. By 1890, 40 people lived there. Shanghai Pierce also wanted another train track to pass through Pierce to make it a major meeting point for roads and railways, but this plan didn't happen. He also built a three-story hotel, which was later taken down in 1980.
Pierce built a church and homes for his workers. In 1892, the town had six people who helped buy and sell farm animals, several stores, and a cotton gin. The population grew to 100 between 1914 and 1926. Shanghai's nephew, A.P. Borden, was like the town's "mayor" then. By the 1940s, 150 people lived in Pierce, and there were five businesses.
However, by 1980, most of the homes were gone. The population dropped from 125 in 1967 to 49 two years later. For a while, the Texas Department of Public Safety (like the state police) and the Wharton County Youth Fair (a local event for young people) were located in Pierce. The town kept a grocery store, post office, and church, with its population staying at 49 from 1990 to 2000.
In June 1921, a strong storm called a Category 1 hurricane hit Pierce. Shanghai Pierce's old ranch house in the community is now listed as a historic place.
Geography and Climate
Pierce is located on U.S. Route 59. It is about 5 miles northeast of El Campo and 8 miles west of Wharton. It is also near Interstate 69 and Texas State Highway 71.
Climate in Pierce
The weather in Pierce has hot, wet summers and usually mild to cool winters. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. On climate maps, it's often shown as "Cfa."
Education
The first school in Pierce was built in March 1894. A school district was created in 1921, and a brick school building was constructed. The Pierce Ranch helped pay for it. In 1953, the school joined the Wharton ISD.
Today, public schools for children in Pierce are provided by two different school districts: the El Campo Independent School District and the Wharton Independent School District.
Gallery
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Post Office
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Church in Pierce
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Historic marker at site of a former hotel
