Limestone County Honored in New Book

March 6, 2013 - PRLog -- New to Arcadia Publishing’s popular Images of America series is Limestone County from William F. Reagan and The Limestone County Historical Commission. This pictorial history boasts more than 200 vintage images and provides readers with a unique opportunity to reconnect with the history that shaped their community.

Though Limestone County was established on April 11, 1846, the first Anglo settlers arrived in 1833, while Texas was still part of Mexico. They built Fort Parker, the site of an 1836 Indian attack.

Springfield was the first permanent settlement and first county seat. The Houston and Texas Central Railroad began construction of a line through the county in 1869 and established the towns of Kosse, Thornton, Groesbeck and Mexia.

Following the Civil War, cotton became the major agricultural endeavor. During the 1920s, the Mexia Oil Boom brought prosperity to the county. Sadly, many of the small farming communities disappeared after World War II, when cattle ranching replaced farming.

Today, tourism has also become a key factor in Limestone County’s economy due to the construction of several lakes and attractions in the area. Major attractions include Lake Limestone, Old Fort Parker, Fort Parker State Park, the Confederate Reunion Grounds and the Prairie Hill Drag Strip.

Highlights of Limestone County include:
•   Schools of higher learning in Limestone County: Trinity University, Westminster College, Thornton Male & Female Institute and Navarro College
•   Limestone County’s involvement in WWW I and WWW II
•   The life of Cynthia Ann Parker, who grew up as a Comanche, married a Comanche chief and was the mother of Quanah Parker, the last great Comanche chief

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.  

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/.