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History in a Pecan
Shell
Brothers Levi, Israel, Riley and Billy Harkey are credited with
founding the town in 1856 along Wallace Creek. With their parents and four sisters,
the initial population was just one short of the current population. In time the
family bought the land on which the town now sits. Harkeyville once challenged
San Saba
for the role of county seat but was defeated. It’s proximity to San
Saba
was the town’s curse.
The town once had all essential business and even
a racetrack. The first school opened in 1879. A fire destroyed the town’s gin
in 1920 and the racetrack was put out of business by a rival in San
Saba.
The school merged with San Saba
in 1929 but the town somehow managed to keep operating through the Great Depression.
The town was dealt the last blow in the early 50s when it was bypassed
by Highway 190. The population of the community was only 40 in 1949 and it declined
from there to 12 (1968-2000). The town received a historical marker in 1974. |
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| Harkeyville
historical marker | |
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