The 1867 Settlement Historic District
The Settlement Historic District | |
 | |
  Settlement Historic District  Settlement Historic District | |
| Location | Texas City, Texas |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 29°22′57″N 94°58′39″W / 29.382617°N 94.977500°W |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000268 |
| Added to NRHP | May 17, 2010 |
The 1867 Settlement Historic District is a historic district located in Texas City, Texas, in Galveston County, Texas. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.[1]
History
The district was established in 1867 by formerly enslaved African Americans who purchased land from William Jefferson Jones of Virginia Point.[2] Founding families included Kneeland and Sylvia Britton, Albert and Priscilla Phillips, Calvin Bell, Thomas Britton, and David Hobgood.[3]
A church was organized in 1870 by Rev. Israel S. Campbell, and a sanctuary and school were built in 1871.[2] Residents worked in ranching, agriculture, and later in railroad and industrial jobs. An interurban rail line and Highland Station were added in 1911.[4] The area was known as Highlands and later La Marque before annexation into Texas City in the 1950s.[2]
Bell House
The Bell House, built in 1887 by Frank Sr. and Flavilla Bell, is the oldest surviving structure in the district. It is now a museum operated by the City of Texas City.[5]
References
- ^ Texas City Preservation Department, "1867 Settlement Historic District," accessed 2025.
- ^ a b c Texas State Historical Association, "1867 Settlement," accessed 2025.
- ^ Texas Time Travel, "1867 Settlement Historic District," accessed 2025.
- ^ Texas City Historical Archives, "Founding Families and Highland Station," accessed 2025.
- ^ Texas City Museum, "Bell House History," accessed 2025.