Tennessee Colony, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tennessee Colony
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 Tennessee Colony
Location in Texas
Tennessee Colony
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Anderson |
| Elevation | 364 ft (111 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 150 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
75861, 75880, 75884, and 75886
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| Area code(s) | 903, 430 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1348366 |
Tennessee Colony is a small community in Anderson County, Texas. It is not a city with its own government. In the year 2000, about 300 people lived there. It is part of the larger area around Palestine, Texas.
History of Tennessee Colony
Tennessee Colony was started in 1847. Settlers from Tennessee and Alabama moved there. They named the new place after one of their home states.
Large farms, called plantations, grew cotton. The Jackson Plantation was one of the biggest in East Texas at one time.
By 1884, Tennessee Colony had about 200 people. It also had three churches, a school, and a mill that used steam power to grind grain. There was also a machine to separate cotton fibers.
The number of people changed over time. It went down to 100 by 1914. Then it grew to 300 in 1927. But it dropped again in the 1930s. In 1941, 150 people lived there.
Since 1965, new state buildings have been built in the area. These buildings have helped the local population grow. In 2000, the community had 300 people again.
Where is Tennessee Colony?
Tennessee Colony is located in the northwestern part of Anderson County. It is along Farm to Market Road 321. The community is about 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Palestine.
Learning in Tennessee Colony
The first school in Tennessee Colony opened in 1851. It was a log cabin, and Mr. Grant Kersky was the teacher.
In 1869, a man named Seymour tried to start a school for African American children. But the white settlers did not want this to happen. They made him leave the community.
By 1884, Tennessee Colony had its own school. Today, students in the community go to schools in the Cayuga Independent School District.
Some schools in the area were called "outstanding." Teachers like Mr. Hooker and Professor Sydney Newsome taught there. Other nearby communities, like Palestine, also helped support these schools. The people who started Texas Christian University once went to school in Tennessee Colony.
