City Cemetery (Old Livingston Cemetery)

This historic graveyard began in 1840 with the burial of four-year-old Josephus Choate, son of Moses Livingston Choate (1794-1867) and Ursula Choate (1807-c. 1880). Early pioneers from Kentucky, the Choates moved to Texas and received a league of land while this area was still a part of Mexico. On his land, Choate established a town he called Springfield. After Polk County was created in 1846, Moses Choate donated 100 acres of his land near Springfield for the county seat and changed the name of the town to Livingston. A one and one-half block section of land, which included the Choate family cemetery, was set aside for religious and educational purposes. A Masonic lodge (with a schoolroom) and a church were built on that property in the 1850s; after those institutions relocated later in the century, the cemetery expanded over this entire block. By 1906, burials in the Old City Cemetery had almost ceased, and the last interment took place in 1940. At least 25 Republic of Texas citizens, two Mexican War veterans and 30 Civil War veterans are buried here. A few memorial markers stand to honor persons interred elsewhere. There are 167 visible tombstones and at least 65 unmarked burials, with more than 70 grave sites destroyed over the years. As a reminder of the early heritage of Texas and Polk County, the Old City Cemetery is an important cultural resource for the community. (2001)

City Cemetery (Old Livingston Cemetery) is a historical marker in Livingston, Polk County, dedicated in 2001. It is one of 50 historical markers documented in Polk County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 138 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 30.7114, -94.9302 near Livingston. The nearest cataloged historic site is Old Livingston Founders (cemetery), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Central Baptist Church, Polk County Enterprise, and Polk County, C. S. A..

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5373012558. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.