Jefferson

Duane's take

The way the marker tells it, here's the story of Jefferson, Texas. Founded in 1836, and named for President Thomas Jefferson himself. Now, you want to talk about a town that had its moment in the sun, Jefferson had more than a moment.

For a good stretch there, from 1846 to 1870, this was the chief river port of the entire state of Texas. The whole state. Not a small claim, and Jefferson wore it like a well-fitted coat.

Goods moving in, goods moving out, a prosperous ante-bellum city humming right along. Then the war came. Jefferson didn't sit idle.

The city became a Confederate Quartermaster Depot, and they got to work. Boots, shoes, iron goods, preserved meats, all of it produced here for the army. A town that knew how to keep things running when things needed running.

Now, the story doesn't stop with the war years. Fast forward to 1939, and somebody out near Jefferson hits something else entirely. An oil field, discovered right there in the nearby ground.

Jefferson, it turns out, had a few more cards to play. And through all of it, the fine old homes are still standing. Landmarks still holding their ground.

Some towns just refuse to be only one thing, and Jefferson, Marion County, is very much one of those towns.

What the marker says

Founded 1836. Named for President Thomas Jefferson. Chief river port of Texas, 1846-1870. This prosperous ante-bellum city became a Confederate Quartermaster Depot; produced boots, shoes, iron goods, preserved meats for army. Nearby oil field discovered in 1939. Many fine old homes and other landmarks.