Pontotoc, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pontotoc, Texas
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 Pontotoc, Texas
Location in Texas
Pontotoc, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Mason |
| Elevation | 1,558 ft (475 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
76869
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| Area code(s) | 325 |
| FIPS code | 48-58700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1365563 |
Pontotoc is a small community in Mason County, Texas, in the United States. It's located in the northeastern part of the county, right where Highway 71 and Ranch to Market Road 501 meet.
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Early Days of Pontotoc
The community and a nearby creek were named by M. Robert Kidd. He owned the first general store and came from Pontotoc, Mississippi. In 1859, Benjamin J. Willis was one of the first people to settle here. Pontotoc was an important meeting point for roads leading to San Saba from Fort Mason and Llano.
By 1878, more families had arrived, and the community grew. Pontotoc had a hotel, general stores, and businesses related to horses. Farmers grew cotton and pecans, and people also raised wool and cattle.
In 1887, a serious illness affected the town. This led to the creation of a second cemetery for the community.
People tried to make Pontotoc the main town of a new county called Mineral County in 1890. This new county would have been made from parts of McCulloch, Mason, San Saba, and Llano Counties. However, people from Mason County stopped this plan. There were also attempts to bring a railroad through Pontotoc, but these did not happen.
Pontotoc's Post Office
Pontotoc got its own post office on January 5, 1880. Benjamin J. Willis, one of the first settlers, became the first postmaster.
Pontotoc and San Fernando Academy
In 1883, a school called the Pontotoc and San Fernando Academy was started. It was recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1972. At its busiest, about 200 students attended the school. They could study for a general education or to become teachers. K. T. Hamilton and W. C. Roaten were the principals.
Sadly, the school closed in 1889 because many people in the area were affected by the illness in 1887. The school building was then sold to the Pontotoc public school system. It was used as a public school until 1927. In 2016, a storm caused the old academy ruins to fall apart. The closing of the academy also affected the local businesses and led to fewer people living in Pontotoc.
Pontotoc in the 20th and 21st Centuries
Pontotoc had its own newspaper in 1906. In 1914, the community got its first telephone. A mica mining operation began in 1924. By 1941, Pontotoc had seven businesses.
In 1947, a fire started in the local theater and spread through the town. Some buildings were rebuilt, but the burnt remains of others can still be seen today. Now, Pontotoc is a quiet rural community with a small number of residents.
A famous person, US Air Force General Ira C. Eaker, was born in Pontotoc.
Climate in Pontotoc
The weather in Pontotoc has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate. On climate maps, it's called Cfa.
