White Oak

White Oak is on Farm Road 2152 near White Oak Creek nine miles northwest of Mount Pleasant in northwestern Titus County. It was originally a black farming community. Piney, two miles southeast of White Oak, was the first black settlement in the area. Gradually Piney became two communities, divided by Piney Creek. Those who lived east of the creek were considered to be part of the Piney community, and those who lived west of the creek were considered to be part of the White Oak community. George Baker, a prosperous landowner, was probably the first settler in what became White Oak. White Oak residents built their own church and school, so that they need not travel to Piney for education or worship. The school at White Oak was still open as an elementary school in 1964. In 1984 White Oak had two churches and a town hall. In 2000 the population reached 100.