"Keeweechic's Athens, TX" Athens by keeweechic

Athens Travel Guide: 47 reviews and 108 photos

Athens is 73 miles south east of Dallas and is the largest city and county seat of Henderson County. It was established in 1850 on just a one sq mile piece of land. They say that Athens ‘never moved a peg’ until 1900. There were no improvements to the square, roads or even the houses.. life went on as it did in the towns early days. The early years brought about industry such as a cotton gin, cottonseed oil mill, a compress, newspaper, pottery and brick plant and of course the Railway. Cotton was the major agricultural crop right up until the 1930’s. When the Great Depression struck, farmers then had to shift to livestock and vegetable production. In 1928 oil and gas exploration in the area began.

Indians inhabited the area during prehistoric times. Over time, fossil remains of extinct horses and camels have been unearthed as well as pottery and remnants of an aboriginal culture which existed along the Trinity River thousands of years ago. The first Europeans arrived in the sixteenth century. The Caddo Indians were living here at that time and had the highest cultural development of any Texas Indians. They were agriculturalists and were into raising vegetables, sunflowers and tobacco. Apparently the Spanish and French explorers described this tribe of Indians as friendly.

Athens became the known as the ‘Black-eyed Pea Capital of the World’

Photos which are taken by myself and all headings are copyright and digitally marked. Please do not use them without permission. Thanks. (c) keeweechic 2001 - 2006 (copyright)

Last visit to Athens: Dec 2003
Intro Updated Aug 2, 2006
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Reviews (33)

Getting There Transportation (1)

By Car : If you are travelling from Dallas you can take I-45 south through Ennis to Corsicana, then take Hwy 31 into... more travel advice

Palestine Off The Beaten Path (7)

Palestine is around 34 miles to the south of Athens. The town has an abundance of historical building and homes, over... more travel advice

Corsicana Off The Beaten Path (7)

Corsicana is about 37 miles west of Athens on Hwy 31. Corsicana was known to have the first oil discovery west of the... more travel advice

First Tree Was A Magnolia Things to Do (15)

The garden first began in 1993 with the purchase of the land. The very first tree planted there was a 40ft Magnolia.... more travel advice

Travelogues (1)

Written Jun 8, 2005

8 photos

Athens

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Comments (4)

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bugalugs Apr 16, 2006 at 12:57 PM

Hamburgers were founded here! Fossilised camels found here! In Texas!!!! Just think John Wayne could have been coming to someones rescue riding up on his camel - lol
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Hosell Feb 11, 2004 at 11:58 AM

Another interesting place to visit.I didn't know that you got another Athens in Texas also!!! Great page+ photos!!!
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acemj Feb 8, 2004 at 7:07 PM

Home of the hamburger . . . of course, it had to be in Texas! Great page, as always.
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dr.firas Feb 5, 2004 at 2:23 AM

I am the first, it is so rare when I'm the first to see your pages, Great new page dear Keewee, Athena in Greece is one of my dream trips, and chose honey moon location! but this one seems also like a future plan to visit after the honey moon LOL