Waterville, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waterville, Texas
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 Waterville, Texas
Location in Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Wharton |
| Elevation | 80 ft (20 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
77488
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| Area code(s) | 979 |
Waterville was a ghost town in Wharton County, Texas. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, leaving empty buildings. Waterville was located near Water Hole Creek. It was also close to Preston, which is another ghost town.
During the Civil War, Waterville sent soldiers to fight for the Confederate States Army. It also had a local defense group called a Home Guard. Waterville had a post office for a while between 1859 and 1880. People tried to reopen the post office in 1883, but it closed for good the next year.
Contents
History of Waterville
How Waterville Started
The town of Waterville grew up along Water Hole Creek. This area was known for a spot called Will's Water Hole. In January 1859, the community got its first post office. Waterville was located in southeastern Wharton County, close to Preston.
The town was on an important travel route. This route connected Matagorda on the Gulf of Mexico to San Felipe on the Brazos River.
Waterville During the Civil War
During the Civil War, Waterville played a part in the conflict. The town formed a group of soldiers called the "Rough and Ready Mounted Rifles." Captain C. F. Whittington led this group for the Confederate Army. In 1861, there were 27 men in the unit. By the next year, the number grew to 39 soldiers.
In 1862, Waterville was also the main base for Colonel Reuben R. Brown's 33rd Texas Cavalry Regiment. The town also had a local Home Guard unit. This group had 49 men in 1862. However, 18 of these men did not have any firearms. The weapons they did have were a mix of nine rifles, 12 shotguns, and five pistols.
The Post Office and Waterville's End
The post office in Waterville stopped working in 1867. It reopened in 1872 but closed again in 1880. In 1883, people tried once more to get postal service back. But it seems there were not enough people living there. In August 1884, the post office closed permanently. It never reopened after that.
Where Was Waterville Located?
Finding Waterville on a Map
In 1883, the application for the post office described Waterville's location. It said the town was on a straight line between Wharton and Pledger. Waterville was about 10 miles (16 km) from Wharton. It was also about 8 miles (13 km) from Pledger.
If you draw a straight line between Wharton and Pledger on a map, Waterville would be about five-ninths of the way along that line. This spot is very close to Farm to Market Road 1096 and Water Hole Creek today. There are also turf farms in the area nearby.
