Center Point is an
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a parcel of land that is not governed by a local general-purpose municipal corporation. (At p. 178.) They may be governed or serviced by an encompassing unit (such as a county) or another branch of the state (such as th ...
in
Kerr County,
Texas
Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
, United States.
History
In the mid-1850s, as Kerr County was establishing a new county seat, a small community to the south was being established as a major trade area between
Comfort
Comfort is a state of physical or psychological ease, often characterized by the absence of hardship. Individuals experiencing a lack of comfort are typically described as uncomfortable or in discomfort. A degree of psychological comfort can b ...
and Kerrsville (later changed to
Kerrville) and
Bandera
Bandera - from a Spanish word meaning - may refer to:
Places
* Bandera County, Texas, U.S.
** Bandera, Texas, its county seat
*** Bandera High School
** Bandera Creek, a river, with its source near Bandera Pass
** Bandera Pass, a mountain pa ...
and
Fredericksburg.
On November 25, 1859, the first
post office
A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letter (message), letters and parcel (package), parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post o ...
was established and called Zanzenberg after the ancestral home of the town founder Charles Ganahl. Originally opened in the home of Ganahl, the post office stayed there until 1872, when it was moved to the south side of the
Guadalupe River, where a sizable community was being built. When the post office was reopened, it was called Center Point due to its location on the trade routes.
Founded largely by settlers from western
Tennessee
Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...
, the community continued to grow as relatives and neighbors from Tennessee converged on the banks of the Guadalupe to call Zanzenburg/Center Point their new home. On September 1, 1857, the first native of Center Point, Daniel C. Nowlin, was born to James Crispin Nowlin and Ann Gathings Nowlin. Daniel served as Kerr County Surveyor, sheriff of
Lincoln County, New Mexico
Lincoln County is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,269. Its county seat is Carrizozo, while its largest community is Ruidoso.
History
Prior to the creation of Lincoln County, the Mescal ...
, and then to
Wyoming
Wyoming ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States, Western United States. It borders Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho t ...
where he was a prominent
sheep rancher
Sheep farming or sheep husbandry is the raising and breeding of domestic sheep. It is a branch of animal husbandry. Sheep are raised principally for their meat (lamb and mutton), milk (sheep's milk), and fiber (wool). They also yield sheepskin an ...
until his death on February 5, 1925.
The first attempt at incorporating Center Point came on August 9, 1889, for "school purposes".
At the turn of the 20th century, Center Point was a thriving trade center and remained so until, like so many communities in America, it became the victim of new
highway
A highway is any public or private road or other public way on land. It includes not just major roads, but also other public roads and rights of way. In the United States, it is also used as an equivalent term to controlled-access highway, or ...
s passing it by. Once again, on March 1, 1913, Center Point voted itself an incorporated city, appointed a
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...
,
city clerk
A clerk (pronounced "clark" /klɑːk/ in British and Australian English) is a senior official of many municipal governments in the English-speaking world. In some communities, including most in the United States, the position is elected, but in ma ...
, commissioners’ health officer, and then, in October of the same year, dissolved itself by a popular vote of the people. It remained unincorporated until the mid-1990s, when voters once again approved incorporation. Within less than two years, it was once again voted that the incorporation should be dissolved. As such, Center Point remains one of the largest unincorporated communities in the state of Texas.
Demographics
Center Point first appeared as a
census designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
in the
2020 U.S. Census.
[
]
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,263 people, 624 households, and 544 families residing in the CDP.
Climate
Center Point experiences a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and a generally mild winter. Temperatures range from in the summer to during winter.
Notable people
* Catherine "Sara" Haden, actress, born in Center Point on November 17, 1898.13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators was an American rock band from Austin, Texas, United States, formed by guitarist and vocalist Roky Erickson, electric jug player Tommy Hall, and guitarist Stacy Sutherland. The band was together from 1965 to 1969, an ...
, is buried in Center Point Cemetery.
* Edwin Walker
Edwin Anderson Walker (November 10, 1909 – October 31, 1993) was a United States Army major general who served in World War II and the Korean War. Walker resigned his commission during 1959, but Eisenhower refused to accept his resignation and ...
, United States Army officer, was born in Center Point.
Education
The Center Point Independent School District serves area students.
Photo Gallery
Image:Downtown Center Point Wiki (1 of 1).jpg, Downtown Center Point
Image:Center Point Depot Wiki (1 of 1).jpg, Center Point Depot
Image:Center Point School Wiki (1 of 1).jpg, Center Point School
Image:Center Point Building Wiki (1 of 1).jpg, Old building in Center Point Historical Park
References
Much of the information above was gleaned from "Kerr County Texas 1856-1956" by Clara Watkins revised edition of Bennett Book.
External links
Center Point Texas Handbook of Texas online
*
{{authority control
Unincorporated communities in Texas
Unincorporated communities in Kerr County, Texas
Populated places established in 1859
Populated places on the Guadalupe River (Texas)
1859 establishments in Texas