The History of Waskom, Texas
Waskom sits right on the Texas–Louisiana state line in southeastern Harrison County, the last Texas town on Interstate 20 before you cross into Louisiana, about eighteen miles southeast of Marshall. Its history runs from a frontier settlement called Powell Town to a railroad stop, a timber and cotton town, and a 1920s oil boomtown on the border.
Here's how Waskom came to be.
From Powell Town to Waskom
The community was founded around 1850 as Powell Town, probably named for Jonathan S. Powell, who held a land grant in the area. Its post office operated under the name Powellton from 1850 to 1872, anchoring a small farming settlement in the rich, wooded country near the Louisiana line.
The railroad changed both the town's fortunes and its name. When the Southern Pacific Railroad came through in the early 1870s, the stop was renamed Waskom Station in 1872, and in 1881 the name was shortened to Waskom — honoring J. M. Waskom, a director of the Southern Pacific who was instrumental in bringing the railroad through the community. The new name stuck, and the railroad made the town a shipping point on the border.
Timber, Cotton, and the Rails
By 1884 Waskom had an estimated 150 residents, two Baptist churches, a school, a sawmill, and four steam gristmills and cotton gins — a working town built on timber, cotton, and the railroad. Around 1900 a branch of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad was built through the area, adding to its rail connections.
Through the early 1900s Waskom remained a steady farming and milling community. Frost Lumber Industries became a major economic contributor, and the town grew slowly on the strength of timber and agriculture, its location on the state line and the rails keeping it connected to markets in both Texas and Louisiana.
Oil, Incorporation, and the Modern Town
Everything changed in 1924, when oil was discovered near Waskom. The town's population, which had been a few hundred, jumped to roughly 1,000 by the mid-1920s, and by 1933 Waskom had a large timber mill and a brick plant. The 1940s brought gas and distillate producers, and oil and gas have remained part of the local economy ever since.
Waskom incorporated in 1941. In the decades since, its position on the border has shaped it as much as oil ever did — for years its gas stations have drawn drivers crossing from Louisiana, and today the Texas Travel Information Center on I-20 welcomes travelers entering the state. A quiet town of around two thousand, Waskom is known across East Texas for its powerhouse Wildcat football and its role as Texas's eastern gateway.
Timeline
c. 1850
The community is founded as Powell Town, probably named for landowner Jonathan S. Powell; its post office is called Powellton.
1872
The Southern Pacific Railroad arrives and the stop is renamed Waskom Station.
1881
The name is shortened to Waskom, honoring Southern Pacific director J. M. Waskom, who helped bring the railroad through.
1884
Waskom has about 150 residents, a sawmill, two churches, a school, and four steam gristmills and cotton gins.
1924
Oil is discovered near Waskom; the population climbs to roughly 1,000 by the mid-1920s.
1941
Waskom incorporates as a city.
Notable People
Jonathan S. Powell
The early landowner who held a grant in the area; the community's original name, Powell Town (post office: Powellton), is believed to honor him.
J. M. Waskom
A director of the Southern Pacific Railroad who was instrumental in bringing the line through the community; the town was renamed Waskom in his honor in 1881.
FAQ: History of Waskom
Waskom was renamed in 1881 for J. M. Waskom, a director of the Southern Pacific Railroad who helped bring the line through the community. The town was originally founded around 1850 as Powell Town, with a post office called Powellton, probably named for landowner Jonathan S. Powell.
Waskom was founded around 1850 as Powell Town. It became Waskom Station in 1872 when the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived, was renamed Waskom in 1881, and incorporated as a city in 1941.
Waskom grew on timber, cotton, and the railroad — by 1884 it had a sawmill, gristmills, and cotton gins. Oil discovered near town in 1924 brought a boom, and oil, gas, and lumber have shaped the local economy ever since.
Waskom sits right on the Texas–Louisiana state line, the last Texas town on Interstate 20 before Louisiana. The Texas Travel Information Center on I-20 there welcomes travelers entering the state, and the town has long been a border crossing point for drivers.
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