Livingston

Moses Choate surveyed the townsite as Springfield in 1839, and the post office of 1847 took the name Livingston, after his Tennessee hometown, the Handbook of Texas says. The Houston, East and West Texas Railway arrived in 1880 and lumbermen built sawmills. In 1902 a fire destroyed much of the town during a dry-wet controversy, and the city was incorporated that October 2. Oil was discovered in 1932 at a field ten miles south, and by 1936 there were 93 producing wells. The telephone company dates from 1903 and a power plant from 1905.

What the plaque says

Livingston Seat of Polk County, founded in 1846; incorporated 1902. Named by Moses L. Choate, donor of its 100-acre townsite. It became vital trade, educational and social center for people of sawmills and boat landings on the Trinity River. General Sam Houston was among guests dancing at Old Andress Inn in the early 1850s. The only Indian reservation in Texas, for the Alabama-Coushatta tribe, is located near here. The economy is agricultural, based chiefly on ranching and timber. Since 1930 there has been major oil and gas development. Pine forest capital of Texas. (1966)

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Polk County, C. S. A. — steps away
• Polk County — steps away
• Chief John Blount — steps away
• Early Indian Trails — steps away