Vashti, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vashti, Texas
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 Vashti, Texas
Location in Texas
Vashti, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Clay |
| Elevation | 1,083 ft (330 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 940 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1370596 |
Vashti is a small, unincorporated community located in southeastern Clay County, in the big state of Texas, USA. An unincorporated community means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. In 2000, about 80 people lived here. Vashti is also part of the larger Wichita Falls metropolitan area.
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Welcome to Vashti, Texas!
Vashti is a quiet community in Texas. It's known for its friendly atmosphere. Even though it's small, it has an interesting past.
A Look Back: Vashti's History
Vashti was founded by a man named Dave Taylor. This happened sometime between 1880 and 1891. In 1891, a post office was opened. Dave Taylor named it after his favorite niece, Vashti Strahan. She even became the first postmistress!
In the 1920s, Vashti was a busy place. About 264 people lived there. The community had many businesses. These included a cotton gin (a machine that separates cotton fibers), three general stores, and a pharmacy. There was also a blacksmith shop, where people made things from metal. Vashti also had six churches and two social groups called fraternal orders.
Vashti stayed pretty steady through the 1930s and 1940s. But in the 1950s, things started to change. Farming became harder, and new roads made it easier for people to travel to bigger towns. The post office closed after 1930.
By the mid-1950s, about 140 people lived in Vashti. This number stayed about the same until the late 1980s. In 1956 and 1957, Vashti had five businesses. But by the late 1980s, none of them were left.
The main jobs in the area involved farming. People grew fruit and raised dairy cows. They also made pottery and raised cattle. In the 1980s, the Vashti community center was a very important place. It was where people gathered for social events.
The population of Vashti changed over time. In 2000, it was 80 people. By 2009, it was estimated to be 70. Then, in 2010, it went up to 100 people. But by 2019, it was back down to 70.
Where is Vashti?
Vashti is located in southeastern Clay County. You can find it where two roads meet: Farm to Market Road 174 and Farm to Market Road 1288. It's about 18 miles (29 kilometers) southeast of Henrietta. It's also about 4 miles (6 kilometers) south of Bellevue.
Learning in Vashti
Education has always been important in Vashti. In 1904, Vashti had its own school. There were two teachers and 69 students. Today, students from Vashti attend schools in the Bellevue Independent School District.
