A to Z Challenge: Mapping Texas: Bethlehem

Bethlehem, Texas Straight Ahead

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Driving northeast from Athens on Texas Highway 31-East, you will discover Bethlehem, Texas. Bethlehem is on Farm Road 1650 southeast of Gilmer in Upshur County.

The site was settled in the early 1850’s. A school began operating for the community  around 1900. In the mid-1930s the community had a church, a school, a store, a cemetery, and a number of scattered houses.

During the 1950s, Bethlehem and nearby Omega formed an independent school district with a high school. The school and church were later moved a mile south to New Bethlehem, and in 1958 the school was consolidated with the East Mountain school district. In the mid-1960s Bethlehem had a church, a cemetery, a store, and a few houses.

In 1990 the church and cemetery were still maintained, and Bethlehem reported a population of twenty-five. The population grew to seventy-five in 2000.

Today, the site is not on many maps, so like the Shepherds looking for the original Bethlehem, you might have to look for the bright star in the sky as there is not much happening in the quiet area around Bethlehem.

Traveling to Canadian tomorrow! Looking forward to the trip!!