The History of Troup, Texas
Troup straddles the line between southern Smith and northern Cherokee counties in the rolling hills near Tyler, and its history is the story of a true railroad town — one that was platted by a rail company, nearly burned to the ground, and then rebuilt and revived by East Texas oil. From its origins as the post office called Zavala to its heyday as a busy rail and oil town, Troup has shown a knack for renewal.
Here's how Troup came to be.
From Zavala to a Railroad Town
The land around Troup was part of the Eason Gee survey and was settled as early as 1848 by Southerners — predominantly Virginians — though a real community didn't take shape until the railroad arrived. When a post office opened in January 1873, it was named Zavala; it became Troup in 1877.
The turning point was 1872, when the International Railroad Company opened its Palestine-to-Troup line and surveyed and laid out the town's streets. Troup was platted in 1872–1873, taking its name — most accounts say — from a Georgia governor or county. Dr. James Rountree raised the first building in town that same year, a two-room structure moved over from Knoxville. A railroad town was born.
Fire and Rebirth
Troup's young life was nearly cut short on July 22, 1880, when a fire swept through and almost totally destroyed the town. For a frontier community built largely of wood, such fires were a constant danger and often a death sentence.
But Troup's townspeople refused to let the fire end their town. They immediately set about rebuilding, and the burned district was soon covered with even more substantial buildings than before — and a second fire in November 1881 that destroyed the entire southern portion of the business street was met the same way. That determination to rebuild bigger and better became part of the town's character, and the new construction gave downtown Troup a sturdier, more permanent form that carried it into the next century.
The Oil Boom Era
Troup's greatest prosperity came with oil. The discovery and development of the vast East Texas Oil Field in the early 1930s — one of the largest oil fields in the world — transformed the whole region, and Troup, sitting on the rails amid the boom, became an important rail town for moving the field's enormous output.
The oil era brought jobs, business, and activity to Troup during the Depression years, cementing its role as a commercial center for the surrounding area. As the boom faded, Troup settled back into life as a small, close-knit town, but it kept the strong sense of history and community pride that those formative decades instilled. Today Troup remains a tight-knit town anchored by its 'Tiger' schools and its historic downtown.
Timeline
1848
Southerners, predominantly Virginians, settle the area, part of the Eason Gee survey.
1872
The International Railroad Company opens the Palestine–Troup line and surveys the town; Dr. James Rountree builds the first structure, moved from Knoxville.
1873
Troup is platted, taking its name from a Georgia governor or county.
1880
On July 22, fire nearly destroys Troup; townspeople rebuild with more substantial buildings (a second fire follows in November 1881).
1930s
The East Texas Oil Field boom makes Troup an important rail town and brings prosperity during the Depression.
Notable People
Dr. James Rountree
Raised the first building in Troup in 1872 — a two-room structure moved over from the older community of Knoxville — as the railroad town took shape.
FAQ: History of Troup
Troup grew up as a railroad town. Though the area was settled as early as 1848 (its first post office, in 1873, was called Zavala), the community took shape in 1872 when the International Railroad Company opened the Palestine–Troup line and surveyed the town. Troup was platted in 1872–1873.
Most accounts say Troup was named for a Georgia governor — George Troup — or possibly a county in Georgia, when the railroad surveyed and laid out the town in 1872. Its first post office, opened in 1873, was called Zavala; the name changed to Troup in 1877.
Nearly. On July 22, 1880, a fire almost totally destroyed Troup. But the townspeople immediately rebuilt, and the burned district was soon covered with even more substantial buildings than those that burned. A second fire in November 1881 destroyed the southern part of the business street, and the town rebuilt again.
The East Texas Oil Field boom of the 1930s — one of the world's largest — transformed the region, and Troup, sitting on the rails amid the field, became an important rail town for moving oil. The boom brought jobs and prosperity during the Depression years.
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Troup 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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