Due to the nature of the timber industry in Polk County, there were more than a normal number of small communities founded. Most were the site of a sawmill, and were abandoned when the timber played out. As time passed, more of the people either left the area totally or moved to more populated areas. Most communities had their own schools, these were either totally disbanded or incorporated into the schools of the nearest larger town.
The region along the Trinity River was mainly farming, with several large plantations, and those communities were set up for the farm workers/sharecroppers. As farming declined, even the owners left for better areas of the county or state. When the need arose for a reservoir and Lake Livingston was formed, several communities were destroyed, to be underwater for the remainder of time.
I well remember fifty years ago, being shown the remains of the sawmills as my grandparents would show me the different old town sites and share the stories of the goings on. They told tales of forest fires, floods, and other natural disasters, the havoc left behind each time as the people moved on to work at another farm or sawmill, being thankful they had survived. Our roots were very strong in Polk County, with relatives in many of the communities and buried in the cemeteries. (note by Lois Hardy Kennedy)
Ace (Smithfield)
Camden
