Mule Creek

Product photo
Promotion: Nearby

Map of Gonzales County

Harwood, on the Southern Pacific Railroad and U.S. Highway 90 one mile north of Interstate Highway 10 in northern Gonzales County, was founded in 1874 during the westward expansion of the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway. The town was named for Thomas Moore Harwood, who moved to Texas in 1850 and began a law practice in Gonzales in 1853. He worked with Thomas W. Peirce in the acquisition of land and the development of the railway.

Harwood was in a local census area of Gonzales County known as Mule Creek, after a local stream. At the time the community was founded a general store-post office was in operation on Mule Creek a mile west of the present townsite, on the stagecoach and cattle trail connecting Gonzales to Lockhart and Austin. The trail joined the main Chisholm Trail. The proprietor of the store and postmaster at Mule Creek was Alfred House. A Mule Creek post office operated from 1872 until 1874, when a post office was opened in Harwood. In 1880 Harwood had a population of 155. By 1892 it reached a high of 350 but declined thereafter. In 1913 the town was incorporated, apparently to prevent the opening of a saloon that was opposed by the majority of the voters. At the time of incorporation there was an election of a mayor and commissioners; there is no record, however, of any subsequent election or any activities of a town government. In 1915 Harwood had 300 residents.

Continue Reading

Frank M. Townsend | © 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

Mule Creek is part of or belongs to the following places:

Currently Exists

No

Place type

Mule Creek is classified as a Town

Associated Names

  • (Harwood)

Has Post Office

No

Is Incorporated

No