Pine Hill, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pine Hill, Texas
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 Pine Hill, Texas
Location in Texas
Pine Hill, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Rusk |
| Elevation | 358 ft (109 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 430, 903 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1378869 |
Pine Hill is a small place in Rusk County, Texas. It is called an "unincorporated community." This means it does not have its own local government like a city or town. In 2000, only 49 people lived there. Pine Hill is part of the larger Longview, Texas area.
Contents
History of Pine Hill
Early Settlers and Nicknames
The area that is now Pine Hill was first settled in 1844. A man named Uncle Henderson Hillin was the first to arrive. The community was given the nickname "Rake Pocket." There are two stories about how it got this name. One story says a traveler felt he was charged too much at a local hotel. Another story claims that Hillin had to "rake his pockets" to find money to feed his animals. This happened while he was traveling through the area in an oxcart.
Growth and Post Office
Four years after settling, Hillin started farming. He encouraged his family members from Alabama and Georgia to move to Pine Hill. He worked as the town's main merchant for almost 50 years. A post office opened in 1847. James W. Clark was the first postmaster. The post office stayed open until after 1930. For a short time in 1856, mail came from Sharon. But it moved back to Pine Hill the next year.
Lumber and Fires
Pine Hill grew to be a regular-sized town even after the American Civil War. From 1909 to 1922, the Timpson and Henderson Railway helped Pine Hill become a major center for lumber production. A local newspaper, the Pinehill Times, started in 1913. Sadly, a fire destroyed ten businesses in 1916. Another fire hit the town in 1937.
Population Changes
In 1940, Pine Hill had five businesses and 250 people living there. Over the next ten years, the population dropped to 100. From 1968 to 2000, the number of residents went down to 49.
Geography of Pine Hill
Pine Hill is located where two roads meet: Farm to Market Road 348 and Farm to Market Road 1798. It is about three miles south of U.S. Highway 79. The community is about 11 kilometers (7 miles) east of Henderson. It is also about 15 kilometers (9 miles) west of Carthage. Pine Hill is in the far eastern part of Rusk County.
Education in Pine Hill
Today, students in Pine Hill attend schools in the Henderson Independent School District.
