Sebastopol, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sebastopol, Texas
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 Sebastopol, Texas
Location in Texas
Sebastopol, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Trinity |
| Elevation | 157 ft (48 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 430 & 903 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1380509 |
Sebastopol is a small, unincorporated community located in Trinity County, Texas, in the United States. An unincorporated community means it's a place with a shared identity but no official local government like a city or town. In 2000, about 120 people lived there. It's part of the larger Huntsville, Texas area.
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History of Sebastopol
Sebastopol has an interesting past, especially because of its location near the Trinity River.
Early Days as a River Port
The town was first settled in the 1840s or early 1850s. Back then, it was called Bartholomew. During the time before the Civil War, Sebastopol was a very important port on the Trinity River.
How Sebastopol Got Its Name
In the mid-1850s, some Russian traders moved to the area. They decided to rename the town Sebastopol. This new name came from a famous port city called Sebastopol on the Black Sea in Russia. These Russian traders bought cotton from nearby farms. They would then ship the cotton by barge down the Trinity River to the coast, and from there, it would travel to their home country.
Growth and Decline
A post office opened in Sebastopol in 1860 and operated until 1872, with a few short breaks. Before the Civil War, Sebastopol was quite busy, with about 500 residents. It had its ports, warehouses, and several shops. There was even a factory that made turpentine, a liquid used in paints and solvents.
Sebastopol continued to do well until the late 1860s. However, new railroads were built, which made it easier and faster to transport goods by train instead of by river. This caused river trade to slow down a lot. Many people started to leave Sebastopol in the late 1860s and early 1870s. By the early 1880s, only a store and a few homes were left.
Sebastopol Today
By 1936, very little remained of the old town. A historical marker was placed nearby to remember its past. In 1990, Sebastopol was a spread-out rural area with a population of 31 people. By 2000, the population grew to 120. A grocery and bait shop closed in 2010, but two new Dollar General stores have opened more recently.
Geography of Sebastopol
Sebastopol is located in the southwestern part of Trinity County, Texas.
Location and Nearby Areas
You can find Sebastopol along Farm-to-Market Roads 355 and 356. It's about 14 miles (23 km) southwest of Groveton. It's also 49 miles (79 km) southwest of Lufkin and 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Huntsville. The community is also close to Lake Livingston, a large lake popular for recreation.
Education in Sebastopol
Students in Sebastopol attend schools in the Groveton Independent School District. This district provides education for children in the area.
Notable Person from Sebastopol
- Cody Johnson, a well-known country music singer, is from this area.
