Austonio
Austonio, on State Highway 21 fourteen miles southwest of Crockett in western Houston County, was established before 1900 and named Pearville. In 1930 the community sponsored a contest to choose a new name. The winning entry came from Ruth Tucker, who suggested the name Austonio, a combination of Austin and San Antonio. A consolidated school serving Austonio, Ash, Mapleton, and Creek opened in 1931, and a post office was established the following year. The community prospered in the years just before World War II, and in 1940 it reached a peak at a population of 150 and four stores. After 1945, however, the town began to decline. The school was consolidated with the Lovelady school in 1964, and the post office was discontinued in 1971. Most of the businesses had closed by the late 1980s. In 1990 Austonio had a population of thirty-seven, which remained the same in 2000.
Eliza H. Bishop | © TSHA
Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.
- ✅ Adoption Status:
Belongs to
Austonio is part of or belongs to the following places:
Currently Exists
Yes
Place type
Austonio is classified as a Town
Associated Names
- (Creek)
- (Georgia Camp)
- (Pearville)
Location
Latitude: 31.18573820Longitude: -95.63856000
Has Post Office
No
Is Incorporated
No
Population Count, 2009
37