The community was named for James Appleby, a former auditor of the Houston, East and West Texas Railway.
- CountyNacogdoches County
- Population552 (2020 U.S. Census)
- Historic places1 on the National Register
Appleby, Texas gifts and souvenirs: 17 designs made from Appleby's own map, landmarks and history, from $16 to $95. Printed to order and shipped free in the USA.
| Popular | Price |
|---|---|
| Appleby Hometown Ornament | $23 |
| Appleby Varsity Crewneck | from $57 |
| Appleby Est. Tee | from $33 |
| Appleby Town Line Mug | from $26 |
| Appleby Market Tote | $37 |
Ceramic keepsake, gold ribbon
The town's story in dates, from its own records, for home or classroom
Map of local landmarks, washable fabric
Heavy-blend fleece, street map printed on the back
Soft Bella+Canvas jersey
Kids' Bella+Canvas jersey, youth sizes
Bella+Canvas toddler jersey
Bella+Canvas baby bodysuit
Glossy ceramic, dishwasher safe
Weatherproof, for the front walk
24″×16″, printed coir-look fibers, rubber back
12″×12″ printed wood, ready to hang
Soft-touch, zip cover
Sturdy all-over-print tote
Glossy top, cork back
Soft fleece, 50″×60″
20 oz, double-wall stainless
The community was named for James Appleby, a former auditor of the Houston, East and West Texas Railway.
Population 2010: 474 → 2020: 552
From Wikidata (CC0).
The site of present-day Appleby was originally a Caddo village, and white settlers began arriving in the surrounding area in the 1820s. The community developed in the early 1880s after the Houston, East and West Texas Railway was built through the area and platted a town named for James Appleby, a former railway auditor. By 1885, Appleby had a reported population of 100, a general store, and two cotton gins. A post office opened in 1889, and by World War I, Appleby had grown to nearly 1,000 residents. At its peak, the town boasted four churches, two gins, four sawmills, two hotels, and several drugstores. The Appleby school, founded before 1900, became the first independent school district in Nacogdoches County. By the mid-1920s, the population had fallen to 500, and by the early 1950s, it had declined to 250. The post office was discontinued in 1958, and the last store closed by 1964.
Appleby was incorporated around 1970, even as its population continued to decline. In the early 1980s, Appleby began to gradually revive as retirees and others from nearby Nacogdoches began building residences in the area. The population grew from 280 in 1970 to 453 in 1980, and by 2024 it was estimated at 554, about half of its World War I peak.
During the East Texas tornado outbreak of January 4–6, 1946, Appleby was in the path of a deadly F4 tornado that caused major damage and fatalities in the Nacogdoches–Appleby area. On July 8, 2024, Appleby was among the parts of Nacogdoches County most affected by Hurricane Beryl, with local officials reporting that numerous homes and at least one business were severely damaged. An EF1 tornado associated with the storm formed southeast of Appleby and tracked through the city, causing additional damage.
Adapted (trimmed) from the Wikipedia article Appleby, Texas, revision 1380389014 by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Appleby's population was 552 in the 2020 U.S. Census, up from 474 in 2010.