Crosby

What secrets does Crosby, Texas hold? Crosby is more than just a town. It’s a story etched in time, a tapestry woven with threads of resilience, tragedy, and unexpected humor. Crosby is one of the oldest settlements in Texas, possibly the thirteenth oldest. Its story begins in 1823 with Humphrey Jackson, an Irish immigrant with aristocratic roots and a connection to President Andrew Jackson. He built a log cabin near the San Jacinto River, dreaming of a new settlement in East Harris County. Crosby was once the land of the Akokisa and Karankawa Indians, who had roamed these lands for thousands of years. Their history mingled with the arrival of settlers like Jackson. Tragedy struck early when Jackson’s wife died in 1824, followed by Jackson himself in 1833, killed by a falling tree. His gravestone in Crosby, shared with his wife, is considered the oldest marked Anglo grave in Harris County, a poignant reminder of the town’s beginnings. Crosby, originally known by various names like Jackson’s Settlement or Jones’ Crossing, gradually grew to encompass areas like Dunman’s Settlement and Baker’s Mill. The arrival of the Texas & New Orleans Railway in 1860 brought a new name, Gentry, after the railroad president. The railroad, completed just before the Civil War, played a vital role in transporting Confederate soldiers and supplies. Crosby also witnessed a unique tragedy in 1863 when a brutal winter storm killed several Union POWs, who were fortifying the railroad bridge, along with a local guard and possibly his enslaved companion. This makes Crosby one of the few Texas locations where both Union and Confederate soldiers perished. The railroad, damaged during the war, reopened in 1876. Crosby acquired its current name in 1877, honoring Josiah Frazer Crosby, the post-Civil War head of the railroad. The town blossomed into a regional shipping hub and agricultural powerhouse, attracting immigrants from Sweden and Czechia. Crosby’s past is filled with quirky anecdotes. In 1953, the town briefly changed its name to Hope as a publicity stunt aimed at Bing Crosby by comedian Bob Hope. The town has produced Grammy winners, Tony Award recipients, Emmy winners, athletes, and rodeo stars. Crosby even holds a national meteorological record. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey dumped over 60 inches of rain on the town, breaking the US record. From a population of 50 in 1884, Crosby is now experiencing a residential boom, expected to reach over 80,000 residents.