What if I told you that a small Texas town played a part in thawing U.S.-China relations? That town is Simonton. Let’s step back in time and explore the story of Simonton.
Simonton sits at the crossroads of Farm Roads 1093 and 1489. This location is about fourteen miles northwest of Richmond. The first settlement happened in the early 1850s. James Simonton and his family moved from North Carolina. They wanted to establish a plantation by the Brazos River.
After the Civil War, things changed for the Simonton plantation. It was broken up and sold to new settlers. In 1888, the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway arrived. Simonton got a post office in 1894.
Then came John Spencer and Albert A. Mullins. They moved from Kansas to Simonton in 1905. They bought land to grow potatoes. By 1910, they shipped potatoes all over the United States. Simonton became a leading potato producer. The town had two general stores and a cotton gin. About 50 people lived here.
By 1925, Simonton grew. The population reached 100. The school district served many children. The town had a cotton gin, three general stores, and five other businesses. Simonton’s population stayed between 150 and 200 for years. Then, things started to grow in the 1970s.
In 1963, a popular indoor rodeo arena called the Round Up was built. In 1979, China’s Deputy Premier Deng Xiaoping visited the rodeo. This happened during his United States trip. That same year, Simonton became a city.
The population grew to 603 in 1980. By 2000, it was 718. In 2010, 814 people called Simonton home.
The Simonton family history is quite interesting. In the 1840s, James and Theophilus Simonton bought 4,000 acres. They built a plantation near the Brazos River. They grew cotton. The year 1850 marks the founding of Simonton. The US Census showed the Simonton family living on the property.
Before the Civil War, the Simontons owned a large plantation. They also held a significant number of slaves. They supported the Confederacy. After the war, they faced challenges. The Simontons resisted Reconstruction efforts.
The Simonton family’s influence faded over time. New immigrants arrived. The deaths of the Simonton brothers also played a role.
The railroad changed Simonton. It became a key watering stop for steam-powered trains. This brought people and opportunities. Simonton thrived as an agricultural community.
Simonton became known for red potato farming. D.H. Mullins started growing potatoes commercially in 1906. Simonton shipped potatoes across the country. Later, other crops and cattle ranching took over.
From 1898 to 1909, Simonton had a prison farm. Convicts cleared land for farming. Simonton had a busy downtown. It included general stores, hotels, and a blacksmith shop.
In 1979, Deng Xiaoping visited the Roundup Rodeo in Simonton. He wore a cowboy hat. This visit is seen as a turning point in U.S.-China relations. The photos of Deng in the cowboy hat made headlines. The hat is now in the National Museum of China.
Today, Simonton has a post office. The Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch Library is nearby. Simonton is part of the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District.
Simonton. It is a city with a rich past. It includes plantations, railroads, and even international diplomacy. This small town has a story to tell.