Slocum, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Slocum
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 Slocum
Location in Texas
Slocum
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Anderson |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
75839
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| Area code(s) | 903, 430 |
Slocum is a small, unincorporated community located in southeastern Anderson County, Texas, in the United States. An unincorporated community means it's a place with a shared identity but without its own local government. In 2018, about 198 people lived there. Slocum is also part of the larger Palestine, Texas area.
Slocum is known for a difficult event that happened there in 1910. This event, called the Slocum massacre, involved an attack by a large group of white men on the community, which at the time had many Black residents. Many people were killed, and many more had to leave their homes.
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A Look Back in Time: Slocum's History
The name Slocum might have come from E.T. McDaniel, who opened the first shop and post office. He worked hard to get a post office for the community. When it was finally approved in 1898, people said it was a "slow come." Other ideas for the name include fortunes being slow to arrive or the town growing slowly.
Slocum became a place where many Black families settled after slavery ended. They built homes, started businesses, and farmed the land. After the sad events of 1910, many Black residents left to find safety elsewhere.
Over the years, Slocum's population changed. In 1914, it had 45 people and two general stores. By 1927, it grew to 200 people. The community rebuilt, and by 1939, it had eight new businesses. When oil was discovered nearby in the late 1950s, it helped the local economy. The population reached 200 again by 1964. It later went down to 110 in 1970 but grew to 125 by 1974. In 2000, it doubled to 250 people, but by 2014, it was back down to 175.
The Slocum Massacre of 1910
On July 29–30, 1910, a large group of armed white men attacked Slocum. They harmed an unknown number of African Americans. Historians have different ideas about what caused this terrible event. Early newspaper reports said between 8 and 22 Black people died. However, other information and stories from survivors suggest the actual number could have been much higher, possibly up to 200. Bodies were found in many different places, including fields.
Before this event, most of Slocum's residents were Black. During and after the attack, many Black families ran away to save their lives. They had to leave behind their homes, land, and belongings. Their property was taken, and they never received any payment from the county or state for their losses.
A special historical marker was placed in January 2016 to remember the massacre. It is located about half a mile south of Slocum, on FM 2022.
The Big Storm of 1929
In 1929, a powerful tornado hit Slocum. It destroyed most of the town, leaving only two houses standing. Eight people died, and 150 were hurt.
Many strange things happened during the tornado. A mule was lifted into a tree, and rescuers had to cut the tree down to get it back safely. A saw from a sawmill was also found stuck in a tree. One woman said her cousin's house was picked up and set down facing a different direction. A local door was found across the river. A wagon with horses still attached was found in a pasture after being swept away. One horse even survived with a piece of wood sticking out of its back.
After the storm, people rushed to see the damage. Clothes from a destroyed store were found stuck in trees, making it look like the town was decorated. Survivors used torn clothes as bandages for the injured. A little girl carried her dead brother's body two miles from her home, looking for help. Her birthday gifts from the day before were blown away and never found.
Where is Slocum?
Slocum is located about 12 miles southeast of Palestine. It sits in the southeastern part of Anderson County in East Texas. Farm to Market Road 2022 crosses Texas State Highway 294 right in Slocum.
Learning in Slocum
Slocum has its own school system, the Slocum Independent School District. Students attend Slocum High School and Slocum Elementary School. It's a small school, with about 300 students from kindergarten through 12th grade in 2016–2017.
The school recently built a new Slocum High School, which opened in 2016–2017. Even though the high school's track team didn't have a proper track, they still competed at the state level. They trained by running through pastures!
F. Ernest Day was a teacher and coach at the school. He was also a star pitcher for the community's baseball team in the early 1900s.
During the 1929 tornado, the school superintendent, Thomas Gatlin, told students to hide under their desks. The two-story school building was destroyed, but amazingly, none of the students were hurt or killed.
Helping the Community
Slocum has a volunteer fire department. This department holds an annual BBQ and school reunion to raise money for its needs. There's also a community-wide reunion held at the school's cafeteria on the Sunday before Mother's Day. Women who live in the community bring delicious homemade cakes and other treats.
