The History of Quitman, Texas
Quitman is the seat of Wood County, set in the gently rolling Piney Woods of Northeast Texas about ten miles north of Mineola. Its history runs from a slow-growing frontier county seat to the early home of a future Texas governor, shaped by farming, the railroad it turned away, and the oil and lakes that came later.
Here's how Quitman came to be.
A Frontier County Seat
Quitman was established in 1850 as the seat of the newly created Wood County, which was organized that same year from Van Zandt County. The town took its name from John A. Quitman, a governor of Mississippi and a prominent figure in the Mexican War, while the county honored George T. Wood, an early governor of Texas.
Growth came slowly in the early years, largely for lack of transportation. By 1870 Quitman had a population of only about 320. It was a small courthouse town serving the farmers of the surrounding fertile country — a quiet seat of county government waiting for the changes the rest of the century would bring.
The Railroad Quitman Turned Away
One of the most consequential moments in Quitman's history was a fight it won but arguably lost. In 1872 the Texas and Pacific Railway, building west from Longview, demanded $100,000 in county bonds to help finance the line. A young newcomer named James Stephen Hogg — just beginning his political career in Quitman — led the fight to deny the company its subsidy.
Hogg won, and the railroad chose the site of Sodom, later called Mineola, for its depot instead. Without the rails, Quitman grew slowly while Mineola boomed as a junction town. Hogg, meanwhile, went on to become the first native-born governor of Texas, and his years in Quitman left a legacy the town still honors today.
Oil, Lakes, and the Modern Town
Quitman remained a regional service center for area farmers through the early 1900s, its population climbing from about 368 in 1904 to roughly 950 by 1930. The discovery of oil around Quitman in 1941, together with the wartime economy, reversed Depression-era decline and brought new prosperity.
The opening of recreational lakes in the area in the late 1950s and 1960s spurred further growth, drawing anglers and weekenders. By the 1980s the town topped 1,800 residents and supported banks, a hospital, a library, and a weekly newspaper. Today Quitman is a steady county seat of around 1,900 people, anchored by its historic courthouse square, its 'Bulldog' schools, and its claim as the early home of Governor Jim Hogg and the hometown of actress Sissy Spacek.
Timeline
1850
Wood County is created and organized; Quitman is established as the county seat, named for John A. Quitman of Mississippi.
1870
Quitman's population stands at only about 320, its growth slowed by a lack of transportation.
1872
James Stephen Hogg leads a successful fight to deny the Texas and Pacific Railway a county subsidy; the depot goes to Mineola instead.
1874
Hogg marries Sallie Stinson at the Stinson home near Quitman.
1941
Oil is discovered around Quitman, reversing Depression-era decline.
1980
Quitman's population reaches about 1,893, reflecting growth tied to oil and area lakes.
Notable People
James Stephen Hogg
The first native-born governor of Texas began his political career in Quitman, where he led the 1872 fight against the railroad subsidy and married Sallie Stinson in 1874. The Governor Jim Hogg City Park preserves his early home.
Sissy Spacek
The Academy Award–winning actress is a native of Quitman, where she grew up before her film career; she remains the town's most famous modern daughter.
FAQ: History of Quitman
Quitman was established in 1850 as the seat of Wood County and named for John A. Quitman, a governor of Mississippi and a prominent figure in the Mexican War. The county itself was named for George T. Wood, an early governor of Texas.
James Stephen Hogg, who became the first native-born governor of Texas, began his political career in Quitman. He led the 1872 fight against a railroad subsidy and married Sallie Stinson there in 1874. The Governor Jim Hogg City Park preserves his early home and the Stinson house.
In 1872 the Texas and Pacific Railway demanded $100,000 in county bonds, and young James Stephen Hogg led a successful fight against the subsidy. As a result, the railroad located its depot at the site of present-day Mineola instead, and Quitman grew more slowly without the rails.
Yes. The Academy Award–winning actress Sissy Spacek is a native of Quitman, where she grew up before launching her film career. She is the town's most famous modern resident.
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