Milam

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about Milam, in Sabine County. Now settle in, because this little town has been watching history walk right past its doorstep for a long, long time. The first known description of Milam was written down by Stephen Fuller Austin himself, in his diary, back in 1821.

He was camped along El Camino Real de los Tejas, that old road through the trees, and he took note of the place. That's your opening act right there. Stephen Fuller Austin, diary in hand, passing through what would one day be called Milam.

Because of the town's close proximity to El Camino Real, Milam saw explorers, veterans, and pioneers come streaming through the area. One of the oldest towns in Texas, they say. Originally it went by a different name, Red Mound, and settlers found it attractive for its agricultural wealth.

The land was worth something, and people knew it. Then 1858 arrived, and the county seat was moved to Hemphill. That's when the slow decline began.

You know how a town can feel a thing like that. The depression came along too, and the school closed, and cotton farming shifted, and a good many Milam residents picked up and relocated. Quiet settled over the place like dust on a windowsill.

But here's where the story takes a turn. Recently, retirees have come back, drawn by the recreational activities the area has to offer. The old town that Austin scribbled about in 1821, that once-bustling stop on El Camino Real, still has a pulse.

Some stories don't end. They just rest a while.

What the marker says

The first known description of Milam was given by Stephen Fuller Austin in his diary as he camped along El Camino Real de los Tejas in 1821. Because of the towns close proximity to the trail, Milam saw many explorers, veterans, and pioneers pass through the area. Milam, one of the oldest towns in texas, was originally known as Red Mound, and was attractive to settlers for its agricultural wealth. After the county seat was moved to Hemphill in 1858, the town of Milam slowly began to decline. The depression, closure of the school and a shift away from cotton farming led to the relocation of many milam residents. Recently, retirees have returned for recreational activities in the area. 175 Years of Texas Independence * 1836-2011