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Kemp, Kemp, Texas

KEMP

Texas · Est. 1922
Shop the collection
The Kemp Collection

Made for Kemp. Printed to order.

Kemp, Texas gifts and souvenirs: 25 designs made from Kemp's own map, landmarks and history, from $16 to $95. Printed to order and shipped free in the USA.

PopularPrice
Kemp Hometown Ornament$23
Kemp Vintage Travel Posterfrom $40
Kemp Varsity Crewneckfrom $57
Kemp Est. Teefrom $33
Kemp Town Line Mugfrom $26
Kemp Market Tote$37
Kemp Hometown Ornament

Kemp Hometown Ornament

Ceramic keepsake, gold ribbon

$23
Kemp Vintage Travel Poster

Kemp Vintage Travel Poster

Its landmark photo in a classic travel-poster layout

from $40
Kemp Photo Art Print

Kemp Photo Art Print

A local landmark photo as a gallery print

from $40
Kemp “Greetings From” Poster

Kemp “Greetings From” Poster

Classic large-letter postcard art, filled with local photos

from $40
Kemp History Timeline Poster

Kemp History Timeline Poster

The town's story in dates, from its own records, for home or classroom

from $44
Kemp Varsity Crewneck

Kemp Varsity Crewneck

Heavy-blend fleece, street map printed on the back

from $57
Kemp Est. Tee

Kemp Est. Tee

Soft Bella+Canvas jersey

from $33
Kemp Est. Youth Tee

Kemp Est. Youth Tee

Kids' Bella+Canvas jersey, youth sizes

$30
Kemp Est. Toddler Tee

Kemp Est. Toddler Tee

Bella+Canvas toddler jersey

$29
Kemp Est. Baby One Piece

Kemp Est. Baby One Piece

Bella+Canvas baby bodysuit

$30
Kemp “Greetings From” Tee

Kemp “Greetings From” Tee

Large-letter postcard art filled with local photos

from $35
Kemp Town Line Mug

Kemp Town Line Mug

Glossy ceramic, dishwasher safe

from $26
Kemp “Greetings From” Mug

Kemp “Greetings From” Mug

Large-letter postcard art filled with local photos, 11 oz ceramic

from $29
Kemp Garden Flag

Kemp Garden Flag

Weatherproof, for the front walk

$31
Kemp Welcome Doormat

Kemp Welcome Doormat

24″×16″, printed coir-look fibers, rubber back

$66
Kemp Hometown Wood Sign

Kemp Hometown Wood Sign

12″×12″ printed wood, ready to hang

$48
Kemp Map Throw Pillow

Kemp Map Throw Pillow

Soft-touch, zip cover

$47
Kemp Landmark Photo Pillow

Kemp Landmark Photo Pillow

A local landmark photo with the town name, 18″×18″

$49
Kemp Market Tote

Kemp Market Tote

Sturdy all-over-print tote

$37
Kemp “Greetings From” Tote

Kemp “Greetings From” Tote

Large-letter postcard art on a sturdy tote

$37
Kemp “Greetings From” Trucker Cap

Kemp “Greetings From” Trucker Cap

Foam-front trucker, printed (not embroidered) with local photos

$33
Kemp Cork Coaster

Kemp Cork Coaster

Glossy top, cork back

$16
Kemp Street Map Throw Blanket

Kemp Street Map Throw Blanket

Soft fleece, 50″×60″

from $72
Kemp Est. Tumbler

Kemp Est. Tumbler

20 oz, double-wall stainless

$51
Kemp Sanborn Map Print

Kemp Sanborn Map Print

The town's earliest Sanborn fire-insurance map, drawn building by building and hand-coloured, from the Library of Congress

from $44

The community was named for Sara Kemp, mother of Levi Noble, the first postmaster, and was officially established when the post office opened in 1851. Kemp is the birthplace of Van E. Chandler, flying ace.

Since 1922

A short history of Kemp

The community was named for Sara Kemp, mother of Levi Noble, the first postmaster, and was officially established when the post office opened in 1851. The original townsite was located on present-day County Road 4023, 2 miles (3 km) south of present-day Texas State Highway 274. It grew slowly during its first 30 years. A Presbyterian congregation was organized in 1854, and the Kemp Academy of Learning began operation in 1867. After the Civil War, an increasing number of settlers moved to the community. In 1870, Dr. A. J. Still, hoping to profit from this growth and the possible construction of a railroad through the area, bought land just north of the community (where the current city sits) and after surveying, dividing the tract into lots, and platting it, persuaded the directors of the Southern Pacific Railroad to lay tracks across his property by offering the company a number of lots. Another early settler, Sam Parmalee, followed suit and offered the rail company right-of-way through his property. The mid-1880s witnessed the completion of the rail line through the community, the construction of a depot there, and the designation of Kemp as a terminus on the line.

The railroad attracted settlers to Kemp. Prospering with the surrounding cattle ranches and cotton farms, the community developed as a trade center for the lower part of the county. By the early 20th century, the population had reached 513, and the Methodist and Baptist congregations had established churches. Kemp also supported a local newspaper, the Kemp News. The paper was owned and edited by Mike S. Boggess. In 1926, the town had 1,200 people, 60 businesses, and two banks. By 1936, 46 businesses operated in Kemp. The population declined from 1,000 to 816 between the end of World War II and the mid-1960s. Businesses declined from 41 to 33. In 1965, Cedar Creek Reservoir was completed just south of the community. Kemp had a population of 1,184 and 75 businesses in 1990. Much of the land around town was still devoted to cattle production, and many residents commuted to jobs in the Dallas area. In 2000, its population was 1,133.

During the summer of 2011, the city received national attention due to its aging water utility system and complications resulting from the severe Texas drought of 2011.

Adapted (trimmed) from the Wikipedia article Kemp, Texas, revision 1378263391 by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

For local organizations

Are you with a Kemp historical society?

We share a part of every Kemp sale with local partners, and we'd love to print from your collection. Old photographs, maps and postcards make the best keepsakes.

Partner with us
Custom orders

Want something Kemp we don't make yet?

A favorite landmark, your street, a school or team, an anniversary gift, a different product. Tell us and we'll get back to you by email.

Free printables

Color Kemp

3 free coloring pages of Kemp, each traced from a photo of a local landmark. Print them at home, at school or for story hour.

Nearby

Neighboring towns

Sources

Kemp's population was 1,129 in the 2020 U.S. Census, down from 1,133 in 2000.