Stony is a ghost town in Denton County in the U.S. State of Texas.[1] The former town site is between Old Stoney Road and Farm to Market Road 2622 (FM 2622) in the western portion of Denton County.
Stony, Texas | |
|---|---|
| State | Texas |
| County | Denton |
| Named for | The rocky soil in the area. |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT |
| No map available. | |
Stony is one of the three ghost towns in Denton County, which also include Elizabethtown and Drop, and one of many ghost towns in Texas.
History
editStony was first settled in the late 1850s and was named for the stony, rocky area it resided in. The population started out at only around a couple people, but it never exceeded a population of over 50. Stony opened a post office in 1879, but it only lasted until 1918. The town had a rather small boom in the 1880s, and in 1884, the town opened a mill, a gin, four churches, two schools, and a population of around 130.[2]
The town remained as a local small community until the 1890s, but it did not last for long as the town had a very short history.
Decline
editStony started losing most of its population in 1890, when the population dropped back down to 50. However, in 1914, the population re-surged a bit and grew to 100 residents. The town now had a doctor, a blacksmith, and two more stores. But this didn't last for long as many of the original residents moved to Justin, about eight miles southwest of Stony.
From 1933 to 2000, the population was estimated to only be around 25, and around the same time, Stony was beginning to be removed off of most maps.
In 2004, a school building that still stands today, was turned into a local museum of sorts, and a restored log cabin dating back to 1839 was also open for the public.[3]
Current state
editStony currently resides as a ghost town, but it often attracts many history buffs and tourists. One citizen of Denton County, Bill Marquis, has made efforts in trying to restore Stony and enlighten people on its history and existence. He even opened his own store.[4]
Geography
editStony, Texas, resides in far-west Denton County near the Wise County line on FM 2622 and Old Stoney Road. The town currently is a ghost town, but as stated previously, there have been efforts in restoring it to its former glory. The zip code for the area is 76259. Nearby towns and cities include Justin, Ponder, Decatur, Krum, and Denton.
References
edit- ^ "Stony". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ "TSHA | Stony, TX". www.tshaonline.org. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ "Stony | TX Almanac". www.texasalmanac.com. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ Blakey, Katy (October 12, 2018). "Saving Stony, One Building at a Time". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved April 14, 2023.