City of Bartlett
Bartlett, Bell County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Settlers began moving to this area in the 1830s, when Texas was a republic, but the town of Bartlett was not established until the 1870s. The founders were J. Edward Pietzsch and Capt. John T. Bartlett, for whom the community was named. In 1882 the railroad was extended to Bartlett, making the city a major regional cotton center. Incorporated in 1890, the city is located on the Williamson-Bell county line, which divides several homes and commercial buildings. Today Bartlett continues to serve as a trade center for the surrounding agricultural district. (1981)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Settlers first trickled into this area in the 1830s, when Texas was still a republic, but the town of Bartlett itself waited until the 1870s, founded by J. Edward Pietzsch and Capt. John T. Bartlett. The railroad's arrival in 1882 turned the town into a major regional cotton market, and it incorporated in 1890 astride the Williamson–Bell county line — a boundary that literally divides some of its buildings. It has remained a trade hub for the surrounding farmland.
Why it matters
Bartlett is a classic railroad-and-cotton town whose fortunes rose with the tracks, showing how rail lines conjured commercial centers out of the Central Texas prairie.
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Related people
- · J. Edward Pietzsch
- · Capt. John T. Bartlett
Themes & tags
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