Belleview

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Map of Rusk County

Pirtle is a farming community just east of U.S. Highway 259 ten miles north of Henderson in northern Rusk County. Before the Civil War it was known as Belleview or Bellview. Bellview, which had a post office as early as 1856, once boasted the biggest racetrack in Rusk County. A famous horse, Old Shiloh, sometimes changed color and names between races to Graham's Lake, which was a renowned courting ground during the 1890s. Charles E. Wood was appointed postmaster of Pirtle in 1884. The post office was discontinued in 1907, and mail was sent to Kilgore. From a population of 100 in the late 1890s, Pirtle declined when it was bypassed by both the railroads and the highways through Rusk County. Pirtle had eighty-two residents during the 1930s and forty residents during the 1940s. In 2000 the community included a church and a cemetery.

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Megan Biesele | © TSHA

Handbook of Texas Logo

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.

Belongs to

Belleview is part of or belongs to the following places:

Currently Exists

No

Place type

Belleview is classified as a Town

Associated Names

  • [Bellview]
  • (Pirtle)

Has Post Office

No

Is Incorporated

No