Turnersville, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Turnersville
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| Nickname(s):
Buchanan Springs
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 Turnersville, Texas
Location in Texas
Turnersville, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Coryell |
| Population
(2004)
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| • Total | approx. 350 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Turnersville is a small community in Coryell County, Texas, United States. It is an unincorporated area, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. In 2004, about 350 people lived there. Turnersville is part of the larger Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood metropolitan area.
Contents
The Story of Turnersville
How Turnersville Got Its Name
This area was first called Buchanan Springs. It was a popular spot because it was near important trails like the Bosque and Chisholm Trail. In 2004, a special landmark called the Lone Tree was still standing two miles east of the community. This tree helped guide early travelers and cowboys.
In the 1860s, the Lone Tree led people to a spring with fresh water. This spring was in a huge grassy area where many animals lived. You could find buffalo, deer, turkeys, horses, and longhorn cattle there.
A man named Cal Turner settled near this spring. He was a blacksmith, someone who works with metal to make and repair things. He would shoe horses and fix wagons for travelers. A small village slowly grew around his shop. That's how Turnersville got its name! His blacksmith shop was the very first business there.
Growing Up: Early Businesses and Life
In 1875, Turnersville got its own post office. Joseph M. Black was the first postmaster. He later gave five acres of land for a cemetery. By 1885, Turnersville was growing. It had about 300 people.
The community also had:
- Three churches
- A gristmill (a mill for grinding grain)
- A cotton gin (a machine that separates cotton fibers from their seeds)
- About eight other businesses
A Masonic lodge, a type of social club, was also started in 1885. The main products sold from Turnersville were cotton and grain.
Good Times and Changes
Turnersville was very successful from 1895 to about 1916. This was mostly because of the local cotton industry. In 1916, 162 people lived there. There were churches for Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, and Disciples of Christ. The community also had about ten businesses, including a newspaper called the Advance.
After the early 1900s, Turnersville's population slowly became smaller. The post office closed in 1987. But the community still built a new fire station in 1988. By 1989, Turnersville had 155 people and four businesses.
A group called the cemetery society was still active. They organized a yearly "homecoming" event in May. Turnersville also had a grain elevator, a community center, and a business that sold seeds and fertilizer. In 2004, the population grew again to about 350 people.
Where is Turnersville?
Turnersville is located in the northeastern part of Coryell County. You can find it on Farm to Market Road 182. It's about 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Gatesville. It's also about 40 miles (64 km) west of Waco.
Learning in Turnersville
The first school in Turnersville was in a Presbyterian church. This was in 1868. The school continued to operate in 1885. It finally closed in 1968. Today, students in Turnersville attend schools in the Jonesboro Independent School District.
Famous People from Turnersville
- Ewing Y. Freeland: He was born in Turnersville. He was famous for playing and later coaching football and baseball.
- Myrtis Coltharp: She was a nurse, worked for the government in other countries, and was a federal official.
