Zephyr, Texas
Encyclopedia
Zephyr is an unincorporated community
located in Brown County
, Texas
, United States
. According to the Handbook of Texas
, the community had an estimated population of 198 in 2000.
in southeastern Brown County, approximately 12 miles east of Brownwood
and 54 miles southwest of Stephenville
.
. In 1863, the Lazarus Vann family arrived in the vicinity. They were joined by other families over the next few years. A school was founded in 1876. Zephyr's first store opened in 1878 and a post office was established the following year. In 1885, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway
completed a line from Brownwood
to Lampasas
that missed Zephyr by approximately a mile. Store owner J.M. Wilson moved his store and the post office one mile east to its present-day site. The community would later become a station on the railroad. On May 30, 1909, an F4
tornado struck Zephyr, killing 34 people and injuring 70. Most of the deaths occurred in residential areas on the south and eastern sides of the community. To date, Zephyr tornado remains one of the deadliest tornadoes in the state's history. The community rebuilt and experienced a long period of growth. By 1940, the population stood at approximately 750. A new high school was constructed that same year. Zephyr's economy was dependent on cotton, but a boll weevil
infestation and deteriorating market conditions caused the community's last gin to close in the early 1940s. The population had fallen below 300 during the 1960s and remained at that level into the 1970s. During the final decades of the twentieth century, Zephyr was home to around 198 people. That figure remained constant through 2000.
Although it is unincorporated, Zephyr has a post office with the zip code of 76890.
. The district has one campus that includes both Zephyr Elementary School (grades K-6) and Zephyr High School
(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...
located in Brown County
Brown County, Texas
Brown County is a county in West Central Texas. As of 2000, the population was 37,674. Its county seat is Brownwood. Brown is named for Henry Stevenson Brown, a commander at the Battle of Velasco...
, 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 198 in 2000.
Geography
Zephyr is located at 31°40′34"N 98°47′41"W (31.6759884, -98.7947697). It is situated along U.S. Highway 84U.S. Route 84
U.S. Route 84 is an east–west United States highway. It started as a short Georgia-Alabama route in the original 1926 scheme, but now extends all the way to Colorado. The highway's eastern terminus is a short distance east of Midway, Georgia, at an intersection with I-95. The road continues...
in southeastern Brown County, approximately 12 miles east of Brownwood
Brownwood, Texas
Brownwood is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, Texas, United States. The population was 18,813 at the 2000 census.-History:The original site of the Brown County seat of Brownwood was on the east of Pecan Bayou. A dispute arose over land and water rights, and the settlers were forced...
and 54 miles southwest of Stephenville
Stephenville, Texas
Stephenville is a city in and the county seat of Erath County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,921 at the 2000 census. Founded in 1856, it is home to Tarleton State University. Stephenville is among several communities that calls itself the "Cowboy Capital of the...
.
History
The community was initially located on the banks of Blanket Creek in 1850. The name Zephyr, meaning soft, gentle wind, was first used by land surveyors who were trapped in the area during a blue northerCold wave
A cold wave is a weather phenomenon that is distinguished by a cooling of the air. Specifically, as used by the U.S. National Weather Service, a cold wave is a rapid fall in temperature within a 24 hour period requiring substantially increased protection to agriculture, industry, commerce, and...
. In 1863, the Lazarus Vann family arrived in the vicinity. They were joined by other families over the next few years. A school was founded in 1876. Zephyr's first store opened in 1878 and a post office was established the following year. In 1885, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway
Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway
The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway was a subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in eastern Texas and to Purcell, Oklahoma.- Nineteenth Century :...
completed a line from Brownwood
Brownwood, Texas
Brownwood is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, Texas, United States. The population was 18,813 at the 2000 census.-History:The original site of the Brown County seat of Brownwood was on the east of Pecan Bayou. A dispute arose over land and water rights, and the settlers were forced...
to Lampasas
Lampasas, Texas
Lampasas is a city in Lampasas County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,786 at the 2000 census. It is the seat of Lampasas County.Lampasas is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
that missed Zephyr by approximately a mile. Store owner J.M. Wilson moved his store and the post office one mile east to its present-day site. The community would later become a station on the railroad. On May 30, 1909, an F4
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
tornado struck Zephyr, killing 34 people and injuring 70. Most of the deaths occurred in residential areas on the south and eastern sides of the community. To date, Zephyr tornado remains one of the deadliest tornadoes in the state's history. The community rebuilt and experienced a long period of growth. By 1940, the population stood at approximately 750. A new high school was constructed that same year. Zephyr's economy was dependent on cotton, but a boll weevil
Boll weevil
The boll weevil is a beetle measuring an average length of six millimeters, which feeds on cotton buds and flowers. Thought to be native to Central America, it migrated into the United States from Mexico in the late 19th century and had infested all U.S. cotton-growing areas by the 1920s,...
infestation and deteriorating market conditions caused the community's last gin to close in the early 1940s. The population had fallen below 300 during the 1960s and remained at that level into the 1970s. During the final decades of the twentieth century, Zephyr was home to around 198 people. That figure remained constant through 2000.
Although it is unincorporated, Zephyr has a post office with the zip code of 76890.
Education
Public education in the community of Zephyr is provided by the Zephyr Independent School DistrictZephyr Independent School District
Zephyr Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Zephyr, Texas . Located in Brown County, the district extends into a small portion of Mills County and a very small portion of Comanche County....
. The district has one campus that includes both Zephyr Elementary School (grades K-6) and Zephyr High School
Zephyr High School
Zephyr High Schoolis a 1A high school located in Zephyr, Texas . It is part of the Zephyr Independent School District located in eastern Brown County...
(grades 9-12).