Alderbranch, Texas

Alderbranch is an unincorporated community in Anderson County, located in the U.S. state of Texas.[1] According to the Handbook of Texas, only 5 people lived in the community in 2000. It is located within the Palestine, Texas micropolitan area.

Alderbranch, Texas
Unincorporated community
Alderbranch Alderbranch
Coordinates: 31°41′20″N 95°27′29″W
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Anderson
Elevation	367 ft (112 m)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	430 & 903
GNIS feature ID	1379330[1]

History

A post office was established at Alderbranch in 1863, and remained in operation until 1913. Its name was divided into two words, Alder Branch, until it was eventually changed into one full word in the 1930s. B.F. Chambers established a sawmill in the community in the early 1880s. By 1884, there were water-powered sawmills, two churches, two general stores, and cotton gins in the community. In 1896, it had a Methodist and Baptist church, two sawmills, two cotton gins, a flour mill and gin, and one general store. Only one business was reported in the community in the 1930s, and a sawmill was located less than a mile east. Several scattered dwellings were in the community in 1982, and was listed on highway maps in 1985. In 1884, 40 people inhabited the community. It reached its population zenith of 60 around 1890, but it decreased to 30 in 1896. In the 1930s, 25 people lived in Alderbranch, and by 2000, only 5 people lived there.[2]

Geography

Alderbranch sits along Farm to Market Road 323 11 mi (18 km) southeast of Palestine, and is the Alder Branch of Squirrel Creek in southeastern Anderson County.[2]

Education

In 1884, Alderbranch had a district school, which disappeared by 1896.[2] Today, the community is served by the Slocum Independent School District.

References

1. "Alderbranch, Texas". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
2. Alderbranch, TX from the Handbook of Texas Online