Athens Weekly Review Centennial Edition Trinidad, 1950 Henderson Co. TX

Athens Weekly Review
Centennial Edition
Sept. 1950

Trinidad Retarded In Early Days By Location

Trinidad is now about 69 years old. It was located by the Cotton Belt Railroad when it first
went through Henderson County. It was named for the Trinity River, which for years was
called Trinidad.

The little town of Trinidad was for years almost isolated from the rest of the country because
of its location between the Trinity River and Cedar Creek, neither of which could be crossed
in high water except by boat.

In those days of limited engineering skill-and limited funds-only the streams could be bridged.
When the overflow water spread out over the wide bottoms, Trinidad became virtually
isolated, only boats being able to reach it.

Since the bottoms roads remained boggy and impassable for several months out of each
year, the area was kept retarded and in the background for many years.

As a consequence settlers shied away from it as though it were a rattlesnake. No one lived in
that part of the country prior to the railroad except a Mr. Burton, Zach Smith, Mr. Airhart,
the three Spivy boys- John, bill, and Elias; and a very few others.

In these early days some cotton was shipped by water from Trinidad. It was loaded on a
raft during high water and floated down the river to Galveston. But the method proved
impracticable and was soon abandoned.

With the advent of modern engineering skill, Trinidad's isolation was brought to an end by the
appearance of all-weather highways. The area between the Trinity River and Cedar Creek
began to fill up with settlers anxious to sink a plow in the rich farming lands there; and Trinidad
started to build and expand.

In the 1920's the huge Texas Power and Light Company Plant was located in Trinidad,
providing the town with a substantial payroll. Since that time the population of Trinidad has increased considerably,
multiplying itself several times over.

In addition to the benefits Trinidad derives from its industrial payroll, the town is also surrounded
by Henderson County's richest soil-soil unsurpassed in fertility by any in Texas, perhaps in the
whole nation. 1850-1950

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