Riverside

Riverside, also known as Riverside Settlement, is a small incorporated city in Walker County, Texas, established as a railroad town in the late 19th century and serving as a shipping hub for cotton, lumber, and later fuller's earth. It replaced nearby river ports like Newport as transportation shifted from steamboats to railroads, and it remains a modest community today with a focus on rural living.

LocationRiverside is situated on the west bank of the Trinity River in northern Walker County, at coordinates 30°50′49″N 95°23′53″W (30.84694°N 95.39806°W). It lies on Farm-to-Market Road 405, east of State Highway 19, approximately 13 miles northeast of Huntsville, the county seat, and near the Trinity County line. The total area is 2.19 square miles (5.67 km²), with 2.02 square miles (5.22 km²) land and 0.17 square miles (0.45 km²) water (8.25% water). Elevation is 187 feet (57 m), and the climate is humid subtropical (Köppen "Cfa"), featuring hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters. The ZIP code is 77367, area code 936, FIPS code 48-62408, and GNIS ID 1383164.

Founding and Early Development: Riverside was founded in 1872 by the Houston and Great Northern Railroad (later International & Great Northern) as a station on its line. Local Walker County landowners donated earth, timber, and rock to support the railroad's construction in exchange for shipping facilities. On February 23, 1872, the post office was relocated from nearby Newport (6 miles southeast), where low Trinity River water levels had idled wharves. William D. Shaw served as the first postmaster. The town's location provided dual access to rail and river freight, initially surrounded by cotton fields. By the mid-1880s, the population reached 200, with a gristmill, two hotels, and two general stores. By 1894, infrastructure included three churches, two schools, two sawmills, a cotton gin, a saloon, and a restaurant. Lumber gradually replaced cotton economically but later declined, shifting focus to stock raising with stockyards.

Peak and Daily Life: Riverside's peak occurred in the early 20th century, with a population of 300 by 1933, supported by seven businesses, three churches, and two schools. The discovery of fuller's earth (a clay used to decolorize and purify oils) in 1920 led to two refining plants opening in the 1920s, boosting the economy. Daily life centered on agriculture (cotton, lumber, cattle), shipping via rail and river, and local businesses including stores, a blacksmith shop, livery stable, saloon, barber shop, two-story hotel, and cotton gin. The town featured a four-teacher school and churches as social hubs. In the 2000 census, median household income was $24,750, with 32.2% below the poverty line, reflecting a modest rural economy.

Decline
The population declined to 50 by 1914 after lumber resources waned, but rebounded with fuller's earth in the 1920s. It stabilized around 300 through the 1980s, with schools consolidating into Huntsville Independent School District (ISD) in the 1960s (old school building now a church).

Population fluctuated: 226 (1970), 425 (1980), 451 (1990), 425 (2000), 510 (2010), 522 (2020). While not a ghost town, it experienced modest growth and remains small.

Historical Recognition and Remnants:
Riverside incorporated in 1968 and organized a community fire department in 1973.

A Texas Historical Marker (erected 1972) at FM 980 near SH 19 and FM 980 commemorates the town: "Founded 1872 when Houston & Great Northern Railroad (later, International & Great Northern) was being built into the area. Walker County landowners gave earth, timber, and rock to the road in order to gain shipping facilities. Post office was moved here Feb. 23, 1872, from Newport (6 mi. SE), where wharves had become idle because of low water on Trinity River. Town developed churches, schools, stores, sawmills, cotton gin, blacksmith shop, livery stable, saloon, barber shop, 2-story hotel. It had 2 blocks of businesses. In 1920s, Fuller's Earth plants opened here."

Remnants include the old Riverside swing bridge (first turned 1904, damaged 1925) and the Riverside Cash Store (historical photos feature Mr. Homer and Mr. Jake).

Notable natives: singer-actress Jennifer Holliday (b. 1960, originated Effie in "Dreamgirls") and historian Eugene C. Barker (b. 1874, University of Texas at Austin affiliate).

The city is served by Huntsville ISD for education.

In 2000, it had five businesses; current status includes 228 households (2020) with diverse racial makeup (66.28% White NH, 13.41% Black NH, 12.07% Hispanic or Latino).


Riverside is on Farm Road 405 east of State Highway 19, thirteen miles northeast of Huntsville in Walker County. It was founded by the Houston and Great Northern Railroad in 1872 on the west bank of the Trinity River, and thus situated the community provided easy access for rail and river freight. A post office was moved from Newport to Riverside in 1872, and William D. Shaw was the first Riverside postmaster. Early in its history Riverside was surrounded by cotton fields; later, lumber gradually replaced cotton in economic importance but then eventually declined as well. Then stock raising became important, and the town provided stockyards. By the mid-1880s Riverside had a population of 200, a gristmill, two hotels, and two general stores. Ten years later it had three churches, two schools, two sawmills, a cotton gin, a saloon, and a restaurant. By 1914 its population had declined to fifty.The community received a boost in 1920 when fuller's earth was discovered in the area and two refining plants were established near the town. In 1933 Riverside had seven businesses, three churches, two schools, and a population of 300. The population remained at about that level until the 1960s, when the community schools were consolidated into the Huntsville system. In 1968 Riverside voted to incorporate, and in 1973 a community fire department was organized. Riverside reported five businesses and 451 residents in 1990. In 2000 the population was 425.  TSHA

Texas State Historical Association
https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/riverside-tx-walker-county

Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverside,_Texas

Texas Escapes
http://texasescapes.com/EastTexasTowns/Riverside-Texas.htm

TX Almanac
https://www.texasalmanac.com/places/riverside

Find a Grave
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2175842/riverside-pioneer-cemetery