Ben Hur

Ben Hur (Benhur) is near the intersection of Farm roads 339 and 2489, eight miles northwest of Groesbeck in western Limestone County. The area was first settled after the Civil War when Joseph Nussbaum started selling acreage to farmers. The town was originally called Cottonwood, but according to local legend the name was changed in 1895 to Ben Hur by A. T. Derden, a resident of the town who was an admirer of Lew Wallace's best-selling book of the same name. A school and a post office were established that year with James A. Parker as postmaster. In 1900 the town had a population of 127 and several businesses. Since it was located off the railroad, most of the business activity moved to nearby Mart. In 1906 the post office was closed. The population grew to about 200 by 1947 but declined again to 100 by the mid-1960s. The population decline forced the consolidation of the school with that of Mart in 1957. Subsequently, the remaining businesses and churches closed. The population of the community was listed as 100 in 1990 and in 2000.

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Ray A. Walter | © TSHA

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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

Ben Hur is part of or belongs to the following places:

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

Ben Hur is classified as a Town

Associated Names

  • (Cottonwood)

Location

Latitude: 31.51044830
Longitude: -96.72776430

Has Post Office

No

Is Incorporated

No

Population Count, 2009

42