The History of Frankston, Texas
Frankston sits in far northeastern Anderson County, where U.S. Highway 175 meets State Highway 155, within about twenty-five miles of Tyler, Jacksonville, Palestine, and Athens and just southwest of Lake Palestine. Its history is a classic East Texas story — an old settlement that picked up and moved when the railroad came through, a town named for the young woman who gave land for its park, and an economy built first on timber and cotton, then on peaches, tomatoes, and the lake.
Here's how Frankston came to be.
From Kickapoo to the Railroad
Before there was a Frankston, there was Kickapoo, a community about two miles to the southeast on the site of an old Native American battleground — the same vicinity where, in October 1838, Gen. Thomas J. Rusk learned that hostile bands had gathered as he marched toward Fort Houston. When the Texas and New Orleans Railroad was built through the area at the turn of the century, the future of the settlement lay along the new line.
Frankston was established in January 1902, and most of its first residents simply moved over from Kickapoo to be near the tracks. The railroad gave the new town a reason to exist and a way to ship its goods to market — the pattern that built so many East Texas towns in the early 1900s.
How the Town Got Its Name
The town and its post office were originally called Ayers. The name that stuck, though, honors Miss Frankie Miller, a young woman who donated land for the downtown city park when the townsite was laid out. In her honor the community became Frankston. (An alternate account credits a landowner named Frank Miller, but the gift-of-land story for Frankie Miller is the more widely accepted one.)
The railroad depot that served the town became part of its identity, too. After passenger service ended, the old Southern Pacific depot was converted into Frankston's public library — a fitting second life for the depot that was once the center of town activity.
Timber, Cotton, and the Lake
Lumber was Frankston's first industry, and some lumber businesses were still operating into the 1980s. By about 1925 cotton was the basis of the local economy, and alongside cotton, peaches and tomatoes were raised extensively in the surrounding country well into the early 1950s. The town grew into a full-service community, with a bank, a medical clinic, a newspaper, a funeral home, and churches.
Later the economy leaned increasingly on fishing and tourism after Lake Palestine was completed on the Neches River in 1962 just to the northeast. Today Frankston is a small, steady town of roughly 1,100 to 1,200 people, anchored by its schools and its place at the gateway to the lake.
Timeline
1838
Gen. Thomas J. Rusk, marching toward Fort Houston, attacks and defeats hostile bands gathered at Kickapoo, near the future Frankston.
1900–1902
The Texas and New Orleans Railroad is built through the area, and Frankston is established in January 1902.
1902
Most early residents relocate from nearby Kickapoo; the town, first called Ayers, is renamed for Frankie Miller, who donated land for the city park.
1925
Cotton becomes the basis of the local economy, with lumber still important.
1950s
Peaches and tomatoes are raised extensively in the surrounding country into the early 1950s.
1962
Lake Palestine is completed on the Neches River just northeast of town, helping shift the economy toward fishing and tourism.
Notable People
Frankie Miller
The young woman for whom Frankston is named; she donated the town square for the downtown city park when the townsite was laid out.
Frank Beard
Drummer for the rock band ZZ Top and a 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee; he was born in Frankston and grew up in Irving, in the Dallas area.
Herbert H. Reynolds
Educator who served as the 11th president of Baylor University, born in Frankston in 1930.
FAQ: History of Frankston
Frankston, first called Ayers, was renamed for Miss Frankie Miller, a young woman who donated land for the downtown city park when the townsite was laid out around 1902. The town became Frankston in her honor.
Frankston was established in January 1902, when the Texas and New Orleans Railroad was built through the area. Most of its first residents moved over from the older community of Kickapoo, about two miles to the southeast, to be near the new rail line.
Kickapoo was an older settlement about two miles southeast of Frankston, on the site of an old Native American battleground. When the railroad came through around 1900–1902, most of Kickapoo's residents moved to the new town of Frankston along the tracks.
Lumber was Frankston's first industry, lasting into the 1980s. Cotton was the basis of the economy by about 1925, and peaches and tomatoes were raised extensively into the early 1950s. The economy later shifted toward ranching and tourism, helped by nearby Lake Palestine.
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Frankston in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
A Brief History of East Texas
From Caddo settlements to the oil boom and beyond, discover how centuries of history shaped East Texas communities like Tyler, Kilgore, and Henderson.
Read Guide →Best Day Trips from Tyler and East Texas
Drive-time guide to day trips from Tyler: state parks, small towns, museums, and lakes within about 30 minutes, an hour, and up to three hours.
Read Guide →East Texas Festivals and Annual Events
Season-by-season guide to East Texas festivals and events — Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas Rose Festival, the Yamboree, Wonderland of Lights and more, checked against each host's own site.
Read Guide →East Texas State Parks Guide
Twelve East Texas state parks from TPWD: Tyler, Caddo Lake, Atlanta, Lake Bob Sandlin, Tawakoni, Purtis Creek, Cooper, Martin Dies Jr. and more. Camping, cabins and passes.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
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