Historical Marker
Early Indian Trails
Livingston, Polk County · Texas
Erected 1968
The Coushatta Trace, opened in the early 1800s from the Coushatta's Sabine River village west toward La Bahia, crossed the Trinity at Battise Village in what is now San Jacinto County, the Handbook of Texas says. Spain posted Coushatta families along the river as sentinels and scouts who reported activity on the trace, and Indians, adventurers and smugglers later used it between Louisiana and Mexico. Ben-Ash is named as Battise Village's chief in the first half of the 1800s. The village now lies under Lake Livingston, whose dam was completed in 1969.
What the plaque says
Early Indian Trails From 1830 to 1840 five Indian trails (some several centuries old) crossed Polk County. The Coushatta and Alabama tribes started two trails and also traveled Long King's, Kickapoo, and Battise traces. These routes helped settlers map roads; modern highways follow the trails in places. (1968)
Where it stands
30.71081, -94.93718 · Directions
More markers nearby
- Chief John Blount — steps away
- Livingston — steps away
- Polk County, C. S. A. — 0.2 mi
- Polk County — 0.2 mi