Onlyinyourstate.com came up with a list of 15 odd named cities in Texas. Towns like Utopia, Lickskillet, Welfare, Cut and Shoot and Nameless can be found throughout the state. But how did some towns in East Texas get their names? Using information from the Texas State Historical Association, I picked a combination of ten well-known and odd named cities in East Texas to find out what's behind the name.

For the purpose of this article, I've given just a brief description of when the town got it's start and how it got it's name. If you click on the city name, I have provided a link to the full history of the city from the Texas State Historical Association.

Tyler

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Tyler became a city on April 11, 1846 and was named after President John Tyler in honor of his work to bring Texas into the United States.


Longview

Jason Eisenberg | TSM
Jason Eisenberg | TSM
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Longview was established in the early 1870's. It was established from land purchased from Ossamus Hitch Methvin, Sr. for Southern Pacific Railroad. It was given the name Longview because of the great view from Methvin's house which sat on what is now Center Street.


Jacksonville

Jason Eisenberg | TSM
Jason Eisenberg | TSM
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Jacksonville began as a settlement on Gum Creek in 1847. A gentleman by the name of Jackson Smith built a home and blacksmith shop there. Another gentleman, Dr. William Jackson built an office near the blacksmith shop. In 1850, Jackson Smith found an area for a town and town square. Dr. Jackson's office was inside that area and since he was the first to build in that area, citizen's gave it the name Jacksonville.


Athens

Athens started in 1850 and got it's name from Dulcina A. Holland who wanted the town to become a cultural center just like Athens, Greece.


Paris

Paris' roots can date back to 1824 but the town became official in 1844. The town got it's name from an employee of town founder George W. Wright, Thomas Poteet, who named the town in honor of Paris, France.


Gun Barrel City

Gun Barrel City has only been around since the 1960's. It got it's name from the town motto "We shoot straight with you" and it's rifle symbol. This symbol later changed to the twin six shooters crossing each other.


Daingerfield

Daingerfield can trace it's roots back to early European explorers camping in the area in 1740. In 1830, Captain London Daingerfield fought a battle against native Americans in the area. When the town began to be settled in the 1840's, and was named in his honor.


Nacogdoches

Used with permission by Nacogdoches CVB
Used with permission by Nacogdoches CVB
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Nacogdoches is the oldest city in Texas. Archaeological finds show Indian settlements as far back as 1250. Expeditions through the area date back to 1687 and housed missions in the 1770's. The town got it's name from the Nacogdoche Indians who were part of the Caddo Indians.


Elkhart

Elkhart goes back to 1851 when Daniel Parker led a group of pilgrims to the Boxy Creek area. With the help of a friendly Native American, Elkhart, the town began to flourish. The town was named in his honor.


Palestine

When Anderson county was established in 1846, there was no town in the center of the county, so Palestine became that missing town. It was named for Palestine, Illinois, which was where Baptist preacher Daniel Parker used to live and was one of the first to build a home in the area.

If you would like to look up the history of your town, you can click this link then just type in your town's name in the search bar.

For instance, my hometown is Lindale which started in 1873 and was originally spelled Lyndale. The "y" was changed to an "i" in 1874. It was also a hub for cotton and fruit distribution in it's early days.

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