Overton, Texas gifts and souvenirs: 25 designs made from Overton's own map, landmarks and history, from $16 to $95. Printed to order and shipped free in the USA.
| Popular | Price |
|---|---|
| Overton Hometown Ornament | $23 |
| Overton Vintage Travel Poster | from $40 |
| Overton Varsity Crewneck | from $57 |
| Overton Est. Tee | from $33 |
| Overton Town Line Mug | from $26 |
| Overton Market Tote | $37 |
Ceramic keepsake, gold ribbon
Its landmark photo in a classic travel-poster layout
A local landmark photo as a gallery print
Classic large-letter postcard art, filled with local photos
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
Large-letter postcard art filled with local photos
Glossy ceramic, dishwasher safe
Large-letter postcard art filled with local photos, 11 oz ceramic
Weatherproof, for the front walk
24″×16″, printed coir-look fibers, rubber back
12″×12″ printed wood, ready to hang
Soft-touch, zip cover
A local landmark photo with the town name, 18″×18″
Sturdy all-over-print tote
Large-letter postcard art on a sturdy tote
Foam-front trucker, printed (not embroidered) with local photos
Glossy top, cork back
Soft fleece, 50″×60″
20 oz, double-wall stainless
Overton was originally intended to be a crossroads for two railroads. Landmarks include Farm to Market Road 1639 and Farm to Market Road 3053. Overton is the birthplace of Earle Bradford Mayfield, politician.
Population 2010: 2,554 → 2020: 2,275
From Wikidata (CC0).
It was known to the Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Creeks who lived in the area as Tiyuk Hekia (Standing Pine); many years later, when it was incorporated, it became known as Overton.
The town was named after Major Frank Overton, an early settler and landowner who donated some of his land for the town site. It was platted in 1873 and a post office was granted that year.
Overton was originally intended to be a crossroads for two railroads. In 1875, the Henderson and Overton Branch Railroad, 16 miles (26 km) long, was completed and was later joined by the International-Great Northern. When the nearby communities of Bellview, Jamestown, Rocky Mount, and Salem were all bypassed by the railroad, Overton gained the businesses and people who wanted to benefit from the railroad lines. The town offered lots for businesses to relocate, and many took the offer.
The Masons and Odd Fellows built the first school, and a church was constructed in 1875. By 1888 the population had increased to 500 and had all essential businesses, including a newspaper. Overton prospered as an agricultural community, and in 1904 the population had reached 568.
Oklahoman wildcatter C. M. "Dad" Joiner was drilling his third well in 1930, and the town of Overton helped raise the funds he needed to drill. When the well came in, Overton shared in Joiner's success, as churches, schools, and a refinery were built. Hubbard College was founded during this time as well. The town's once agrarian-based economy suddenly revolved entirely around the production of oil.
Overton's population skyrocketed from 426 in 1931 to 3,000 in 1933. By 1936 it was up to 4,500 and the town went through the Great Depression relatively unscathed. But by the end of World War II the population had declined by half—reaching just 2,000 in the 1950s and remaining at that level through the 1970s. In the 1980s Overton was Rusk County's "second city" with a population of 2,430 in 1983. By the 1990s Overton extended into neighboring Smith County.
In 2003, the City of Overton became home to the headquarters of only surviving faction of the Texan secessionist group, the Republic of Texas led by Daniel Miller. The group was founded on the belief that the United States never legally annexed the Republic of Texas and that Texas is therefore an independent nation, repudiating the Texas State Government and the federal government of the United States' authority over Texas.
The group was considered controversial by the residents of Overton, especially with the group's checkered past, which includes a week-long hostage situation after the incarceration of two members (leading to one death after the siege) with the hostages being called "prisoners of war". Another event occurred involving the arrest and conviction of two members who planned to assassinate then President, Bill Clinton, and other high-ranking officials. Both events are listen in the group's Terrorist Organization Profile. Although, Daniel Miller's faction was separated when these events occurred, there was still a stigma in Overton around the faction as they still retained the core beliefs that the other factions shared, including advocacy for illegal activities such as bank fraud and paper terrorism. The group is also accused of practicing white-supremacy.
The Republic of Texas also minted their own currency which included a one gram silver coin with a Texas star and the word "Overton" emblazoned around it, with members attempting to purchase goods with the currency instead of the United States dollar in Overton. Edward J. Williams, Overton's then chief of police, described several run-ins with the group, including a violent altercation between two members over an AR-15 automatic rifle, members using Republic of Texas passports instead of a driver's license; driving unregistered vehicles; and illegally redesigning license plates to show the original Republic of Texas' territorial claims prior to its annexation which includes territory in New Mexico and narrow strips of land in Oklahoma, Colorado and Wyoming. Diana Sieber, a resident and business owner in Overton, would comment: "No one really approves of them," and "They're not the best kind of publicity for our community."
The Republic of Texas operated in a former hospital within the city limits up until the headquarters mysteriously burned down on August 31, 2005; one person was moderately injured. This led to the group leaving Overton and rebranding as the Texas Nationalist Movement.
Adapted (trimmed) from the Wikipedia article Overton, Texas, revision 1380585417 by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
We share a part of every Overton sale with local partners, and we'd love to print from your collection. Old photographs, maps and postcards make the best keepsakes.
Partner with usA 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.
3 free coloring pages of Overton, each traced from a photo of a local landmark. Print them at home, at school or for story hour.
Overton's population was 2,275 in the 2020 U.S. Census, down from 2,554 in 2010.
A view of Overton
A view of Overton
A view of Overton