Pine Springs, Smith County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pine Springs, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Smith |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 150 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
75708
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| Area code(s) | 903 |
Pine Springs is a small, unincorporated community in central Smith County, United States. It is located just north of Tyler, Texas, on U.S. Highway 271. In the year 2000, about 150 people lived there. This community is also sometimes called Fruit.
Contents
History of Pine Springs
Early Settlers and Community Life
The first people to settle in the Pine Springs area arrived in the 1840s. One of the earliest families was the Shamburger family. In 1881, two people named E. S. Cook and Perry Ray bought land for the Pine Springs community. They built a special building that was used as both a school and a church.
Naming the Community
The church members built their own building, the Pine Springs Baptist Church, in the early 1890s. A man named John Demas Ray gave the settlement its name. He chose "Pine Springs" because there was a large spring surrounded by pine trees near the school.
From Fruit to Roses
For many years, farmers in Pine Springs grew a lot of fruit. In 1891, the Smith County Canning Company even built a factory there to process the fruit. In 1894, a post office opened in the community. It was called "Fruit," and Thomas A. Shamburger was the first postmaster.
However, the fruit farms faced some tough times. Many businesses and people left the area. In 1900, the post office moved to Tyler. After the canning factory closed, the farmers in Pine Springs started growing roses instead of fruit. Several people from the community became important leaders in the famous Tyler rose industry.
Schools and Community Center
In 1903, there were two schools in Pine Springs. Later, the schools in the area joined together to form the Pine Springs Independent School District (ISD). In 1956, this school district became part of the Tyler Independent School District. After 1963, the very first school building was reopened and became the Pine Springs Community Center.
Pine Springs Today
By the 1960s, Pine Springs had a school, a church, a cemetery, and homes. Maps from 1981 showed about ten businesses along Highway 271. There was also a church, a cemetery, and the community center located north of the highway near Ray's Creek.
