Luella, Texas
Encyclopedia
Luella is an unincorporated community
in Grayson County
, Texas
, United States
. According to the Handbook of Texas
, the community had an estimated population of 639 in 2000. It is part of the Sherman
–Denison
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
reached the area. Businessman J.L. Hughes built a general merchandise store combined with a railroad station. He applied for and established a post office branch under the name Luella, after his oldest daughter. Soon after, Luella boasted a number of businesses as well as a public school that also functioned as a community center. Besides freight, the railroad – also known as the Cotton Belt Line, ran a daily passenger trolley from Sherman (through Luella) to Commerce and back. By 1914, the community was home to around fifty people. Luella remained small and went into decline in the 1920s. The post office closed in 1924 and train service was discontinued in the early 1950s. Grayson County purchased the railroad right-of-way and the dirt lane next to the tracks became Farm to Market Road 1281.
(ETJ). After Sherman began drilling several wells in the Luella area, rumors of an impending annexation spread throughout the community. There were fears that annexation into the city would not bring the level of city serves to Luella that were enjoyed by other Sherman residents. A movement to incorporate
Luella was initiated and on April 11, 1978, an election was held to determine the community's future status. Of the 99 votes cast, 89 were cast in favor of incorporation. Residents also elected a mayor, J.C. Rich, and a five-member town council. In the 1980 census, Luella's population was 371.
After incorporation, the town government was able to provide basic services, such as road maintenance. As the years passed, however, the funds needed to properly run Luella weren't sufficient and road conditions in the town declined. The lack of funds came to a head when school bus drivers who carried students from Luella to Tom Bean
refused to cross Watkins Road Bridge due to its poor condition. When heavy rains fell, it swelled the waters of Cedar Creek and flooded the bridge. School district officials knew that if it rained during the day, it would be impossible to return the children to their homes without detouring a long way around. Negotiations with the county to replace the bridge were unsuccessful. A grant from the state looked like a better deal, with an eighty-twenty percent split. But the construction costs ran over, and delays stretched the timetable far beyond its projected end. By the time it was finished, Luella was close to bankruptcy, and there were other bridges needing repair.
Mayor Dolores Bernhardt introduced a proposed tax increase that would have provided the necessary funding to maintain the roads, but it didn't guarantee any other services.
Today, the former town exists as an unincorporated, bedroom community for nearby Sherman. Luella had an estimated population of 639 in 2000. The Luella Special Utility District provides water service to approximately 1,000 homes in the area.
http://www.tombean-isd.org/. Zoned campuses include Tom Bean Elementary School (grades K-5), Tom Bean Middle School (grades 6-8), and Tom Bean High School http://hs.tombean-isd.org/ (grades 9-12).
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Grayson County
Grayson County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 110,595 people, 42,849 households, and 30,208 families residing in the county. The population density was 118 people per square mile . There were 48,315 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. According to the Handbook of Texas
Handbook of Texas
The Handbook of Texas is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association .-History:...
, the community had an estimated population of 639 in 2000. It is part of the Sherman
Sherman, Texas
Sherman is a city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The city's estimated population as of 2009 was 38,407. It is also one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
–Denison
Denison, Texas
Denison is a city in Grayson County, Texas, United States. The population was 22,773 at the 2000 census; it is estimated to have grown to 24,127 in 2009. Denison is one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Sherman-Denison metropolitan area
The Sherman–Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of one county – Grayson – in North Texas, anchored by the cities of Sherman and Denison. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 110,595...
.
Geography
Luella is located along State Highway 11 in central Grayson County, approximately four miles southeast of Sherman.Early years
Luella's history dates back to the 1880s. In 1888, the tracks of the St. Louis Southwestern RailwaySt. Louis Southwestern Railway
The St. Louis Southwestern Railway , known by its nickname of "The Cotton Belt Route" or simply Cotton Belt, was organized on January 15, 1891, although it had its origins in a series of short lines founded in Tyler, Texas, in 1870 that connected northeastern Texas to Arkansas and southeastern...
reached the area. Businessman J.L. Hughes built a general merchandise store combined with a railroad station. He applied for and established a post office branch under the name Luella, after his oldest daughter. Soon after, Luella boasted a number of businesses as well as a public school that also functioned as a community center. Besides freight, the railroad – also known as the Cotton Belt Line, ran a daily passenger trolley from Sherman (through Luella) to Commerce and back. By 1914, the community was home to around fifty people. Luella remained small and went into decline in the 1920s. The post office closed in 1924 and train service was discontinued in the early 1950s. Grayson County purchased the railroad right-of-way and the dirt lane next to the tracks became Farm to Market Road 1281.
Revitalization
In 1964, the Luella Water Supply District was created by fifty area residents who each contributed $50 to the project. This infrastructure improvement revived the once declining community and its status as a lightly populated area near Sherman made the area attractive to developers. Four subdivisions – Luella Heights, Chamberlain Ridge, Golden Acres, and Highland Meadows, were constructed in the Luella area during the 1970s. Each subdivision offered country-style living and homes on large lots.Incorporation
Although Luella was an unincorporated community, it was located in Sherman's Extraterritorial jurisdictionExtraterritorial jurisdiction
Extraterritorial jurisdiction is the legal ability of a government to exercise authority beyond its normal boundaries.Any authority can, of course, claim ETJ over any external territory they wish...
(ETJ). After Sherman began drilling several wells in the Luella area, rumors of an impending annexation spread throughout the community. There were fears that annexation into the city would not bring the level of city serves to Luella that were enjoyed by other Sherman residents. A movement to incorporate
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
Luella was initiated and on April 11, 1978, an election was held to determine the community's future status. Of the 99 votes cast, 89 were cast in favor of incorporation. Residents also elected a mayor, J.C. Rich, and a five-member town council. In the 1980 census, Luella's population was 371.
After incorporation, the town government was able to provide basic services, such as road maintenance. As the years passed, however, the funds needed to properly run Luella weren't sufficient and road conditions in the town declined. The lack of funds came to a head when school bus drivers who carried students from Luella to Tom Bean
Tom Bean, Texas
Tom Bean is a city in Grayson County, Texas, United States. The population was 941 at the 2000 census.Tom Bean is part of the Sherman–Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Tom Bean is located at ....
refused to cross Watkins Road Bridge due to its poor condition. When heavy rains fell, it swelled the waters of Cedar Creek and flooded the bridge. School district officials knew that if it rained during the day, it would be impossible to return the children to their homes without detouring a long way around. Negotiations with the county to replace the bridge were unsuccessful. A grant from the state looked like a better deal, with an eighty-twenty percent split. But the construction costs ran over, and delays stretched the timetable far beyond its projected end. By the time it was finished, Luella was close to bankruptcy, and there were other bridges needing repair.
Mayor Dolores Bernhardt introduced a proposed tax increase that would have provided the necessary funding to maintain the roads, but it didn't guarantee any other services.
Disincorporation
On May 1, 1993, 213 of the 312 registered voters in Luella turned out to again determine the future status of their town. 128 people (60.1%) voted in favor of ending Luella's fifteen-year status as an incorporated community, while 85 (39.9%) wanted to remain incorporated.Today, the former town exists as an unincorporated, bedroom community for nearby Sherman. Luella had an estimated population of 639 in 2000. The Luella Special Utility District provides water service to approximately 1,000 homes in the area.
Education
Public education in the community of Luella is provided by the Tom Bean Independent School DistrictTom Bean Independent School District
Tom Bean Independent School District is a public school district based in Tom Bean, Texas .In addition to Tom Bean, the district also serves the community of Luella.In 2009, the school district was rated "recognized" by the Texas Education Agency....
http://www.tombean-isd.org/. Zoned campuses include Tom Bean Elementary School (grades K-5), Tom Bean Middle School (grades 6-8), and Tom Bean High School http://hs.tombean-isd.org/ (grades 9-12).