Old Salem is an
unincorporated community in
Bowie County
Bowie County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. Its legal county seat is Boston, though its courthouse is located in New Boston. As of the 2020 census, the population was 92,893. Bowie County is part of the Texarkana metropolitan s ...
, in the
U.S. state of
Texas.
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 a population of 50 in 2000. It is located within the
Texarkana metropolitan area.
History
The area in what is known as Old Salem today was said to have first been settled by farming families during the second half of the 19th century. The oldest graves in the community's cemetery, located next to the local
Baptist church
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...
, date back to 1880. There were several scattered farms and homes in the community in the 1930s. It then grew to have cattle operations during the rest of the 20th century. Its population was 50 in 2000.
Geography
Old Salem is located near the intersection of
Interstate 30 and Farm to Market Road 1840, southwest of
New Boston and west of
Texarkana in west-central Bowie County.
It is also located southeast of
DeKalb and south of
Idabel, Oklahoma.
Education
Old Salem had its own school in the 1930s.
Today, the community is served by the
Simms Independent School District
Simms Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Simms, Texas, Simms, Texas (United States, USA).
The district has three campuses - James Bowie High (Grades 9-12), James Bowie Middle (Grades 6-8), and James ...
.
References
Unincorporated communities in Bowie County, Texas
Unincorporated communities in Texas
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