Dobbin is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

in Montgomery County,

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. According to the

Handbook of Texas The ''Handbook of Texas'' is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). History The original ''Handbook'' was the brainchild of TSHA President Wal ...

, the community had an estimated population of 170 in 2000, although some estimates place that figure at close to 300. Dobbin is part of the

Houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...

–

Sugar Land Sugar Land is the largest city in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States, located in the southwestern part of the metropolitan area. Located about southwest of downtown Houston, Sugar Land is a populous suburban municipality centered around ...

–

Baytown Baytown may refer to: * Baytown, Texas, a city in the United States near Houston, Texas *Baytown culture, an archaeological culture in the United States *Operation Baytown Operation Baytown was an Allied amphibious landing on the mainland o ...

Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...

Geography

Dobbin is located at (30.3654842, -95.7760598 ). It is situated at the junction of State Highway 105 and FM 1486, approximately 12 miles north of

Magnolia ''Magnolia'' is a large genus of about 210 to 340The number of species in the genus ''Magnolia'' depends on the taxonomic view that one takes up. Recent molecular and morphological research shows that former genera ''Talauma'', ''Dugandiodendro ...

History

In 1878, the

Central and Montgomery Railway Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

built a line from Montgomery to

Navasota Navasota is a city in Grimes County, Texas, Grimes County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,643 at the 2020 census. In 2005, the Texas Legislature designated Navasota as the "Blues Capital of Texas" in honor of the late Mance Lipscomb, ...

. Two years later, a post office was established in the community under the name Bobbin. It became a shipping point for cotton and lumber in the mid-1880s and had a population of 250 by the 1890s. That number had declined to 168 by 1903. A few years later, the

Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway The Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway of Texas came into existence on October 7, 1902, originally chartered to build a railroad from Johnson County to the Beaumont area near the Gulf coast. It took its name from the Trinity and Brazos rivers. I ...

built through Bobbin on its way to

Mexia Mexia ( ) is a city in Limestone County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,893 at the 2020 census. The city's motto, based on the fact that outsiders tend to mispronounce the name , is "A great place to live, no matter how you pronou ...

and

, making the community a railroad junction. In 1909, Bobbin's name was changed to Dobbin. Dobbin was home to 100 people and several businesses in 1915. By the late 1940s, the community had three churches, two schools, two sawmills, two factories, nine businesses, a railroad station, and a population of 175. The number of residents fell to a low of 106 by the mid-1960s, but rose to 170 in the early 1970s. The population remained consistent throughout the latter half of the twentieth century. Despite its unincorporated status, Dobbin continues to have a functioning post office (zip code: 77333).

Education

Public education in the community of Dobbin is provided by the

Montgomery Independent School District Montgomery Independent School District is a public school district based in Montgomery, Texas. The district's attendance zone includes the city of Montgomery and the surrounding unincorporated area of Montgomery County. For the 2018–2019 sc ...

, but used to be provided by the Dobbin Independent School District, that had only one operating school, first to fifth grade. In 1978, the Dobbin Independent School District was sold to the Montgomery Independent School District, for $150.

References

External links

* * {{authority control Unincorporated communities in Texas Unincorporated communities in Montgomery County, Texas Greater Houston