St. Paul (1993)

The town of St. Paul began in 1910, the result of a land promotion operation by developer George H. Paul and the Shary Land Company. George Paul purchased 70,000 acres of land from local rancher J.J. Welder and divided the acreage into farm lots. The townsite of St. Paul was platted in December 1910, and Adolph, Robert, and John Shary formed the Shary Land Company to promote the new town. Agents representing the development team worked throughout the midwest to publicize the new community and excursion trains departed Kansas City twice a month bringing prospective settlers to Texas. The town grew quickly, with the construction of homes, the three story shary hotel, retail stores, schools, and churches. The George H. Paul company operated a huge company farm that employed as many as 300 workers, as well as the largest store in town, the George H. Paul farm store, which also housed a post office (established in 1910), telephone exchange, and a bank. By the 1920's prosperous cotton gins were in operation to process farmers crops, and eight trains a day came through the busy St. Paul Depot. The town declined after World War II as many people moved to larger cities. 1994

St. Paul is a historical marker in St. Paul, San Patricio County, dedicated in 1993. It is one of 35 historical markers documented in San Patricio County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 59 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 28.1006, -97.5536 near St. Paul. The nearest cataloged historic site is St. Paul (cemetery), about 0.7 miles away. Others within a short drive include Eternal Rest, Plymouth Oil Company and Plymouth Oilers, and San Patricio County Courthouse.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5409005068. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.