Sherwood, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sherwood, Texas
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Unincorporated community
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The 1901 Irion County Courthouse in Sherwood
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 Sherwood, Texas
Location in Texas
Sherwood, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Irion |
| Population
(2000 est.)
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| • Total | 73 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 325 |
Sherwood is a small, quiet place in Irion County, Texas, United States. It's called an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own city government like a big city does. For many years, Sherwood was the main town, or county seat, for Irion County. But in 1939, another town nearby, Mertzon, took over that important role.
Contents
A Look Back: Sherwood's Story
Sherwood started as a town in 1886. Just a few years later, in 1889, Irion County was officially set up. Sherwood became the county's main town, also known as the county seat. This meant it was where the local government met. A courthouse was built there for this purpose.
Early Days and Growth
The town got its own post office in 1881, even before it was officially founded. William S. Kelly was the first person to run it. By the year 1900, Sherwood was growing! More than 300 people lived there.
The Railroad Changes Everything
In 1910, a new railway line, the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway, was built across the county. However, this railway did not go through Sherwood. Instead, a new town called Mertzon was created along the railway line.
When towns were bypassed by railways back then, it often meant big trouble for them. Businesses and people started moving to Mertzon because it was easier to get goods and travel from there.
Losing the County Seat
Because of the railway, Sherwood slowly became less important. In 1939, the county government officially moved from Sherwood to Mertzon.
Sherwood Today
Today, Sherwood is a very small community. About 73 people live there. The old Irion County Courthouse, which was built in 1901, is still standing. It's now used as a community center for the people who live in Sherwood. The post office in Sherwood closed its doors in 1974.
