Carlton, Texas

Carlton is an unincorporated community in Hamilton County, Texas, United States. It lies in the northeastern part of the county, and has an estimated population of 70.

History

Carlton was founded in 1877 by a man named H.H. Armstrong on land owned by two local settlers; rancher J. M. Evans and Dr. F. M. Carlton, the town's namesake. With growth stimulated by its location on the major area stagecoach line, Carlton prospered through the late 1870's and by 1878 possessed its own school and several churches. In 1879, the post office at nearby Honey Creek was moved to Carlton and renamed for its new location. In 1900 the community had a reported population of just over 160 and several business, including a cotton gin. By 1910, the Stephenville, North and South Texas Railway had reached town, and Carlton reached its peak population of 750 residents. During this time, two small weekly newspapers had served the area; the "Courier", which ran from 1907 to 1909, and the "Citizen", which ran 1910-1936.

Prosperity came to an end in the 1930's, however. Effects of the boll weevil blight of the 1920's and the Great Depression had dire effect on Carlton, and by 1940 the population had fallen to 400. The declining population led to the closing of the Carlton schools in 1969 and by 1980 the reported population had dropped to seventy, a figure it maintained through to the 2000 Census.

References

[http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/CC/hnc14.html Handbook of Texas Online entry for Carlton]