Tamina, Texas facts for kids
Tamina is a small community located in southern Montgomery County, Texas, United States. It is known as an unincorporated community, which means it's not officially a city or town with its own local government.
Tamina is situated near the Missouri Pacific railway line. It is about 1 mile east of Interstate 45 and 8.5 miles south of the city of Conroe. The community was named by James H. Berry, who was inspired by Tammany Hall in New York City. When the name was sent to the postal department, it was spelled "Tamina." Some older residents still pronounce the name "Tammany."
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History of Tamina
The story of Tamina began in 1871. At that time, freedmen (people who were formerly enslaved and became free) helped build the Houston and Great Northern Railroad in the area. The community officially became known as "Tamina" in 1897. This was when the name was submitted for the community's first post office.
Tamina's Lumber Industry Connection
In the early 1900s, Tamina mostly thrived because of the lumber industry. The Grogan-Cochran Lumber Company opened its Tamina Mill in 1917, providing many jobs. However, when the Tamina Mill closed in 1927, the number of people living there dropped to only 50.
Changes Over Time in Tamina
The community's post office closed in the late 1930s. Later, the local black school also closed in 1949. After that, students from Tamina attended the Booker T. Washington School in Conroe.
Public Services in Tamina
Over the last 50 years, the area around Tamina has grown a lot. Nearby cities like Shenandoah (in 1974) and Oak Ridge North (in 1979) became official cities. This meant Tamina became the only community nearby without modern city services. The biggest missing service was a public sewerage system.
Sewer Systems in Tamina Homes
Most homes in Tamina use septic tanks to handle their wastewater. A septic tank is an underground container that collects and treats sewage from a home. Some residents use a more expensive system called an aerobic treatment system. This system uses air to help break down waste.
Efforts to Get Public Sewers
There have been attempts to bring a public sewer system to Tamina. In the early 2000s, there was a plan with Oak Ridge North. However, this plan failed. Residents of Tamina did not agree to the terms of a loan from the Texas Water Development Board. The loan would have made Tamina give up some rights over its water use.
A second attempt began in 2006–2007 with the City of Shenandoah. The United States Department of Agriculture offered a loan to Tamina to build a sewer system. But Tamina needed a nearby city to treat the sewage. Shenandoah eventually pulled out of the deal. The loan had a rule that would stop Shenandoah from annexing Tamina until the loan was paid off. Annexing means a city takes over a nearby area. Shenandoah is not big enough to annex Tamina right now, but it might be by 2030.
Tamina's Population
Because Tamina is an unincorporated community, the United States Census does not collect specific population data for it. Instead, the Tamina area is split into three larger census tracts. A census tract is a small, local area used for collecting population data.
Because of this, estimates for Tamina's population vary. They range from about 200 to 1000 people. Tamina has a special history as a freedmen's town. This means most of its residents are African-American. Many families have lived in Tamina for many generations. Some can trace their family history back to when the community first started.
Education in Tamina
The schools in Tamina are part of the Conroe Independent School District.
Elementary Schools for Tamina Students
The area is divided between two elementary schools:
- Oak Ridge Elementary School
- Houser Elementary School
Middle and High Schools for Tamina Students
The following schools serve all students from the Tamina area:
- Vogel Intermediate School
- Irons Junior High School
- Oak Ridge High School
