Lying in the far northernmost corner of Coryell County, Prairie View had rich productive soil. The school district was named Weeks, but the school and church were called Prairie View.

The old Ross School was located south of Oglesby near the Leon River on land donated by F.G.Ross. The school was in use until the building burned in 1930.

Slater community is about 20 miles southwest of Gatesville, between King and Izoro, primarily a ranching area. There were churches, school, cemetery and blacksmith shop, today only the cemetery remains.

Station Creek had a school, called Alexander, Methodist Church and cemetery. Only the cemetery remains, the last burial there being in 1906.

Straw's Mill was built on the Leon River about 4 miles south of Gatesville and was a water powered corn mill. There was a Post Office, a flood on the river washed the mill away in 1908. From the 1892 "Gazateer" had population of 85, received mail semi-weekly. G. W. Straw General store; H. F. Straw flour mill.

Once known as Morrison Grove, the Grove is located 19 miles southeast of Gatesville, just off of the Temple highway. The Grove is an agricultural community. In 1869 it had two general stores, two wagon shops, a mill, a gin, a Post Office and 4 churches. By 1900 it was one of the largest towns in the County with 4 doctors, 3 general stores, a school, a cafe, shoe shop, lumber yard, blacksmith, two barber shops, a dentist, a coffin maker, a candy factory and a mattress factory. There also was a mule barn. It later had a bank, service station and lodges. Today there is no business open, but some of the buildings remain. from the 1892 "Gazateer" had a steam flouring mill & a cotton tin; ships cotton, hides and grain. Population 300, daily mail. W. J. Collins physician; C. A. Ender blacksmith; W. J. Graham general store;J. D. Jefcoot blacksmith; C.M. King flour mill & gin; Nubenhagan & Fikes cotton gin; C. T. Osmun cotton gin; C. a. Polinick general store; Re. J. T. Dean (Baptist), P. R. Hobin Notary; E. R. La;yne physician; John Mitchell hotel, flour mill and gin; J. W. Owen flour mill & gin; W. H. Snell flour mill & gin; W. B. Williams & Co. drugs & groceries.

Topsey is about 20 miles southwest of Gatesville, by 1900 there was a general store and by 1901 a Post Office. It once had a cotton gin and a school, several churches and a small graveyard.

Located a little over a mile northwest of Copperas Cove near the headwaters of Ripstein Creek, Twin Mountain was settled by German Lutherans. Once having church, school, and Post Office, today is noted for the large white cross erected high on the mountain above, built in 1939.

Located about 6 miles northwest of Gatesville, at the foot of Hard Bargain Mountain, lies Union Valley. There was a school, first a tabernacle, then a church. Today nothing remains to mark the spot.

Located about 9 miles north of Gatesville, White Hall once had a school, church and store. Today only the church remains in service.

Located 25 miles south east of Gatesville and almost on the McLennan Co. line was the community of Whitson. It boasted a Post Office, gin, mill, general store, barber shop, doctor's office, blacksmith shop, Woodmen of the World Hall, feed mill, whiskey still, church and school. Nothing of this community remains today. From the 1892 "Gazateer" contained J. C. Holt General Store; J. Lynn cotton gin; M. Whitson & Son, mill and gin.

In 1984 Copperas Cove became the largest city in Coryell County, lying 25 miles south southwest of the County seat in Gatesville. Until World War II Copperas Cove was on it's way to extinction, but being on the south western edge of Ft. Hood, it has become a busy business and military housing town.

At one time consisting of a large mercantile store, 3 grocery stores, 2 doctors' offices, barbershop, drug store, garage, blacksmith shop, feed store, butcher shop, school, churches, lodges, steam powered gin, mill and Post Office. Many of the downtown stores were built of rock. Today Coryell City is a sleepy town of homes and churches. from the 1892 "Gazateer" - Population 200, has Telegraph, Western Union, Express, W. F. & Co.; H. S. Arnold general store; W. J. Bashaw carpenter; G. C. Bennett land agent & notary; F. T. Carpenter carpenter; J. S. Clements constable; Eli R. Goodson & Bro lumber; Gotcher Bros blacksmiths; H. Gotcher & Co hardware; Hoard & Robinson cotton gin; A. C. Howard railroad, express & telegraph agent; g. W. Luster Physician; J. P. McCowen flour mill and gin; J. F. McWherry barber and grocer;S. a. Andrews Drugs; A. J. Bellamy carpenter; Rev. R. H. Castleman (Presbyterian); C. J. Crow physician; A. T. Perkins physician; M. W. Saddler hotel; Saddler & Rees general store; W. J. Swife blacksmith; J. R. Waller carpenter; T. A. Warren woodworker; R. Woods shoemaker.

Evant had it's beginnings about 1/2 mile south of the present town in a town called Langford Cove and the first Post Office was in the name of Cove. In 1885 the name of the Post Office was changed to Evant. Evant lies in the westernmost point of Coryell County, it's school district containing 238 square miles of Coryell, Hamilton and Lampassas Counties. The downtown square of Evant consists of many native rock buildings with businesses including Bank, Lodges and shops. There are stations, grocery stores, churches and many homes in the Evant area.

This community is 13 miles south of Gatesville on the Temple highway. It was originally called Mesquite Flat, but due to another town of that name the Post Office was named Flat. At one time Flat was home to many businesses, but being on the eastern edge of Ft. Hood today Flat is a quite town with churches, homes, and a Post Office.

Established as a Fort about midway between Fort Croghan on the south and Fort Graham on the north. Later becoming the first town and the county seat of Coryell County until 1854 when it was moved to Gatesville. Is south on Hwy.36 and Ft. Gates is now being annexed into Gatesville.

The county seat of Coryell County with a population today of over 11,000. Gatesville has diversified retail businesses, is an agricultural area, and, with several Texas Criminal Justice men's units, it is also the home to the entire Texas Women's Criminal Justice system. There are large consolidated school systems, many churchs, County and City Police Departments, District and County Court systems, and City Management Services.

On the Hamilton County line, north west of Gatesville, first known as Jones' Mill is Jonesboro. The first Post Office was approved in the name of Jones Mill, being changed soon after. Jonesboro suffered from Indian raids in 1869 and again in 1871. Today Jonesboro has 12 grades in school and a service station, convenience store, and several churches. From the 1892 "Gazateer" - Settled in 1866, stages daily to Hamilton and Gatesville; fare 10 cents per mile. Population 700, mail daily. Beaver & Bly livery; Bly & McKowan saloon; J. H. Conley general store; T. J. Hamilton corn mill & gin; Harbison & Bartlett blacksmiths & hardware; Hibits & Lawrence Druggists; Jones Bros grocers; Jones & Short Physicians and druggists; W. H. Langdon general store; Lawrence Overton barber; R. J. Pope physician; Riden & Buckels billiard ;hall; Wm. Sauler furniture & hardware; B. J. Smalley physician; J. H. Strickney deputy sheriff; Wallis & Overton general store; J. L. Woodall shoemaker; W. H. Woodall blacksmith.

About 15 miles south east of Gatesville, lies Leon Junction in a valley nearly at the foot of Breadtray Mountain near the Leon River. It once had 4 stores, 2 churches, an I.O.O.F. Hall (shared by the Masons) a large school, known as New Olive, a cotton gin, and 2 blacksmith shops. The Junction (as often called) was on the Cottonbelt Railway and a station agent was on hand at all times. Today, as many other towns, the railway is gone and the town has dwindled to mostly homes. From the 1892 "Gazateer" - Population 25, mail daily S. P. Brock general store; N. Davis general store; J. G. Laughlin Justice; J. H. McGee saloon; M. A. Taylor blacksmith; P. L. Whittenberg general store.

Levita once had a Post Office, several grocery stores, 3 Doctor's offices, gin, flour mill, grist mill, feed store, barber shop, lodges, filling stations, and school. Levita also suffered from the loss of the railway. Today only churches and families remain. From the 1892 "Gazateer" - Population 80, mail tri-weekly; James Brown physician; J. D. Chambe blacksmith; C. B. Coleman grocer; James Coleman shoemaker; Jefferson Davis constable; A. M. Gilbert livestock; Jones & Woods mill & gin; Walter Miles blacksmith; R. T. Nash physician.

The Mound community is 12 miles south east of Gatesville, named for the school, White Mound School. One of the oldest communities in Coryell County. It also suffered from the loss of the railway. Today the school has consolidated with Gatesville. There is a lot of rich farm land around Mound, it lies very close to the Leon River. From the 1892 "Gazateer" - Population 13, Express, Pacific, Mail daily. C. M. King flour mill & gin; H. C. White general store.

Oglesby began because of the railway and was first called Hilltop, due to the fact that it was the highest point on the Cottonbelt Railroad. During it's golden age Oglesby had 3 doctors, 3 drugstores, 7 grocery stores, 3 barber shops, two tailor shops, a bank, theater, Post Office and Railway agent. The school in Oglesby is still through 12 grades. from the 1892 "Gazateer" - Population 80, mail daily. D. R. Boone general store; E. A Culpepper constable; C. Franklin blacksmith; M. B. Hitt railroad, express and telegraph agent; Hitt & Norton cotton gin. John E. Lawrence drugs; Maggie Magown schoolteacher; Jrv. J. W. Norton (Baptist); W. C. Norton hotel and notary; S. C. Paiine blacksmith; Rape & Jordan Physicians; F. G. Ross justice.

Osage community is on the eastern edge of Coryell County, where this county joins with McLennan County. Osage, named after the apples from the bodarc tree, is today a sleepy country town comprised of family homes. from the 1892 "Gazateer" Stages daily to Crawford and Coryell City, population 72. M. Armstrong physician; A. J. Baird physician; Baird & Riley mill & gin. J. B. Bennett constable; Thomas Brown general store; T. J. Campbell blacksmith; R. E. Edwards justice; A. S. Fouts general store & livestock; J. J. P. Fouts general store; J. S. Paschal physician; Reeves & Brown general store; John W. Wright drugs.

Originally known as Wayback, Pearl is 22 miles west of Gatesville. When they applied for a Post Office it was in the name of Swayback, for the Swayback Mountain, but a clerical error entered it as Wayback, changed to Pearl in 1890. Today Pearl is a community of homes, churches and the old school buildng is used by the community as a center. From the 1892 "Gazateer - Population 125 mail stage to Gatesville tri weekly fare $1.00. L. Beavers justice; John Conner gin; E. P. Davenport & Co. general store; J. H. Harrison bee gum factory; T. F. Pace constable; John Warren corn mill; Rae Wright blacksmith.

Known as Pidcoke Ranch when it got it's Post Office in 1875, this community is 15 miles south, southwest of Gatesville. Today the activities are centered in it's churches and cemetery association. 1892 "Gazateer" population 50, mail tri-weekly; J. C. Baird physician; E. A. bean real estate; V. Fry carpenter; R. b. Garrett carpenter & wagonmaker; Rev. Heiser; J. T. Meek general store; E. A. Mosley county commissioner; R. S. Roger grist mill; S. W. Sanders physician; J. W. Seay grist mill & gin; J. W. Warren blacksmith.

Today there are two Purmelas, old Purmela and new one called South Purmela. The Post Office was applied for in the name of Furmela, but came through as Purmela. This community once had stores, churches, and a school. From the 1892 "Gazateer" population 15, mail tri-weekly. dr. T. P. Gray drugs; Hall & Son general store & gin; Thomas Ogden blacksmith.

One known as Buchannan Springs this community is 15 miles north of Gatesville, Due to the extensive growth of cotton in the area, this was a bustling village for several years, having 2 grocery stores, 2 general stores, 3 cotton gins, a newspaper, 2 doctors, 2 banks, a drugstore, a hotel, 2 blacksmith shops, telephone office, photographic studio, grist mill, and a millinery shop. Today the activity is centered in the Fertilizer store, a very active community center and a cemetery association. From the 1892 "Gazateer" population 250, mail daily. Wyatt Barnett chair manufacturer; Mrs. E. E. Bates general store; J. S. Cagle blacksmith; J. P. Calloway physician; J. M. Cox justice; H. N Davis general store; P. R. Hobin notary; E. R. Layne physician; John Mitchell hotel, flour mill and gin; J. W. Owen flour mill and gin; W. H. Snell flour mill & gin. W. B. Williams & Co. drugs & groceries.

All of the above information taken from the "Coryell County Families" book, with permission.

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Copyright 1998 by Bobbie Ross