Zavala, Texas facts for kids

Zavala was a small town in Jasper County, Texas, that started in 1834. It was named after Lorenzo de Zavala, a special land agent called an empresario. The town was built on land owned by Thomas Huling, right by the Angelina River. About 30 to 40 families lived there, mostly working as farmers or loggers. Zavala was last mentioned as a community in 1878 and has been empty ever since. Don't mix it up with the city of Zavalla, which is about 20 miles away in Angelina County.

The Story of Zavala: A Texas Ghost Town

How Zavala Began

In 1829, the Mexican government gave land in eastern Texas to an empresario named Lorenzo de Zavala. An empresario was someone who helped bring settlers to Texas. This land included the area that is now Jasper County.

Later, in 1834, a man named Thomas Huling bought some of this land. He decided to start a town there. He named it Zavala, after Lorenzo de Zavala. The town was also sometimes called Muster Point.

On December 24, 1838, the Republic of Texas officially recognized Zavala as a town. A post office was set up in 1839, helping people send and receive mail.

Challenges and Changes in Zavala

The town faced a big challenge in the 1840s when a fire broke out. The fire destroyed a lot of the town. The courthouse, many homes, and most of the town's important records were lost.

In 1847, Thomas Huling sold a large part of the town. He also sold about 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) of land in Jasper County. He sold it to an Englishman named Jerich Durkee. The price was $1,000 and 5,000 "tin boxes of Green Mountain Vegetable Ointment."

Even though the post office closed in 1856, Zavala was still listed as a community in Jasper County until 1878. After that, the town was abandoned. Today, the only thing left of Zavala is a cemetery. There's a special granite marker there that reminds people the town once existed.

Where Was Zavala Located?

Zavala was located in Jasper County. It was about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of the city of Jasper. It was also about 85 miles (137 km) north of Beaumont. The town was positioned on a small hill near the east bank of the Angelina River.

Zavala was also along an old route called the Beef Trail. This trail was used to move cattle from Texas into Louisiana. The area around Zavala was very wooded. It had many loblolly pines, shortleaf pines, and oak trees.

Who Lived in Zavala?

At its busiest time, about 30 to 40 families called Zavala home. Jerich Durkee, who bought much of the town, hoped to bring more people to live there. However, he couldn't attract enough families. This made it hard for the community to keep going.

How People Made a Living in Zavala

Most people in Zavala were farmers. They grew crops to feed their families and sell. Others worked in logging. This meant they cut down trees. These trees would then be floated down the Angelina River to the Neches River. Their final stop was the city of Beaumont, where the wood could be used or sold. At one point, a railroad line either went through or very close to the town, which would have helped with trade and travel.