Seadrift
Seadrift, Calhoun County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Settlement here began in the 1840s when German immigrants disembarking at Indianola stayed in the vicinity. A post office was granted in 1888, its name inspired by debris that collected on the shore blown in by heavy storms from the Gulf of Mexico. In 1912 A. D. Powers founded the Seadrift Townsite Company, and the city was incorporated that December. By 1914 Seadrift had 3 churches, 2 banks, 4 hotels, factories, a telephone line, and a weekly newspaper called The Seadrift Success. Despite a severe 1919 hurricane, the city survived. Processing plants were established in the area beginning in the 1950s. The village of Seadrift continues to be a popular resort and recreation spot. (1998)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Settlement near this spot began in the 1840s when German immigrants landing at Indianola lingered in the area. A post office arrived in 1888, its name drawn from the storm-blown "sea drift" that piled on the shore, and by 1912 A. D. Powers had organized a formal townsite. Within two years Seadrift boasted churches, banks, hotels, and a newspaper, and it survived a punishing 1919 hurricane to remain a coastal resort town.
Why it matters
Seadrift shows how German immigration and Gulf Coast geography combined to build small Texas towns that clung on through storm after storm.
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Related people
- · A. D. Powers
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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