Milam
Milam, Sabine County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The first known description of Milam was given by Stephen Fuller Austin in his diary as he camped along El Camino Real de los Tejas in 1821. Because of the towns close proximity to the trail, Milam saw many explorers, veterans, and pioneers pass through the area. Milam, one of the oldest towns in texas, was originally known as Red Mound, and was attractive to settlers for its agricultural wealth. After the county seat was moved to Hemphill in 1858, the town of Milam slowly began to decline. The depression, closure of the school and a shift away from cotton farming led to the relocation of many milam residents. Recently, retirees have returned for recreational activities in the area. 175 Years of Texas Independence * 1836-2011
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
First described by Stephen F. Austin as he camped along El Camino Real de los Tejas in 1821, Milam is among the oldest towns in Texas, originally known as Red Mound and prized by settlers for its fertile land. Sitting close to the great road, it saw a steady stream of explorers, veterans, and pioneers before losing its county seat in 1858 and slowly fading.
Why it matters
Milam's rise and decline trace the path of the old Camino Real, the Spanish road that funneled the first settlers into Anglo Texas.
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Related people
- · Stephen F. Austin
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
Las Boregas Camp Site
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Las Boregas Creek marked the eastern edge of an 1794 Spanish land grant to Juan Ignacio Pifermo—the oldest grant in Sabine County—where El Camino Real, the main road into Spanish Texas, crossed the water. A well-used campsite grew up beside the creek, and around 1800 a Spanish army post was posted upstream to guard settlers and travelers. According to his journal, Stephen F. Austin, the 'Father of Texas,' spent his very first night in Texas near this creek in July 1821.
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