Merryville, Louisiana
Home of the Merryville High School Panthers
As of the 2000 Census, there were 1,126 people, 418 households, and 300 families residing in the town. There were 482 housing units with a racial makeup of the town being 82.06% White, 15.19% African American, 1.24% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.46% of the population.
There were 418 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.10.
The population of Merryville is spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years.
The median income for a household in Merryville was $22,500, and the median income for a family was $30,962. Males had a median income of $30,250 versus $18,672 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,055.
There were 418 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.10.
The population of Merryville is spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years.
The median income for a household in Merryville was $22,500, and the median income for a family was $30,962. Males had a median income of $30,250 versus $18,672 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,055.
Site of an 18th century Coushatta Indian village, Merryville lies along the old Sabine Trace that connected the Spanish colonial provinces of Texas and Louisiana. After the Louisiana Purchase of 1802, it was in disputed territory until 1819 when Spain and the United States settled all their conflicting territorial claims in North America.
With ownership of the land no longer in doubt, the first American settlers arrived in the 1840's settling about 15 miles south of what is now Merryville. With the growth of lumber mills and steamboat travel on the Sabine River, Hall City came into existence during the early 1900's when Mr. Hall built a planer for finishing lumber. Other establishments boosted the growing settlement and soon there was s buggy road connecting Hall City with the Wingate Community, believed to have been the first road in this vicinity east of the Sabine River. Two hand-pulled cable ferries was the only transportation between Louisiana and Texas until in 1906 the Jasper and Eastern Railroad was constructed through the community. In 1908 after final arrangements had been made for the post office , prominent citizens met at the general store - they ate, drank and were merry. Finally one tossed his hat in the air and yelled "aren't we having a merry time!" Other agreed, thus the merry time in the village was translated into Merryville.
By 1908, Merryville boasted of 1,500 citizens and was incorporated in 1913. It reached its zenith in 1928, with 3 sawmills in operation and a population of 2,636. But by 1933, only 500 souls remained and all mills were silent, the timberland had all been cut over. As of the 2000 census, there were 1, 126 citizens of Merryville.
Still proud of their pioneer heritage, the people of Merryville refuse to let their town die. This rural community once scarred with stumps, has had a rebirth of second-growth forest lands. If you have not visited Merryville, the residents say to stop in and enjoy their hospitality!
With ownership of the land no longer in doubt, the first American settlers arrived in the 1840's settling about 15 miles south of what is now Merryville. With the growth of lumber mills and steamboat travel on the Sabine River, Hall City came into existence during the early 1900's when Mr. Hall built a planer for finishing lumber. Other establishments boosted the growing settlement and soon there was s buggy road connecting Hall City with the Wingate Community, believed to have been the first road in this vicinity east of the Sabine River. Two hand-pulled cable ferries was the only transportation between Louisiana and Texas until in 1906 the Jasper and Eastern Railroad was constructed through the community. In 1908 after final arrangements had been made for the post office , prominent citizens met at the general store - they ate, drank and were merry. Finally one tossed his hat in the air and yelled "aren't we having a merry time!" Other agreed, thus the merry time in the village was translated into Merryville.
By 1908, Merryville boasted of 1,500 citizens and was incorporated in 1913. It reached its zenith in 1928, with 3 sawmills in operation and a population of 2,636. But by 1933, only 500 souls remained and all mills were silent, the timberland had all been cut over. As of the 2000 census, there were 1, 126 citizens of Merryville.
Still proud of their pioneer heritage, the people of Merryville refuse to let their town die. This rural community once scarred with stumps, has had a rebirth of second-growth forest lands. If you have not visited Merryville, the residents say to stop in and enjoy their hospitality!
Hall City & Merryville: The Facts
There have been some discussion over the years about Hall City and Merryville - so I am presenting you with facts backed up by reputable sources. The fact is, Merryville was a settlement long before Hall City was ever thought about. The proof is in maps of the area printed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. In the year 1888, the Cram's Standard American Railway Atlas was published with a map of Imperial Calcasieu Parish. The town of Merryville is clearly listed along with a settlement called “Loretta” where the Junction area is located today. There is also a map from 1880 listing Merryville as “Merry V”. Now for the facts on Hall City:
The idea of “Hall City” was first conceived by the Chicago-Texas Lumber Co. which had bought-up over 16,000 acres of pine forests with the hope of building a large sawmill on a plot of land near present day Merryville. The plan was to create their own town and it was to be called "Hall City", named in honor of the company's president who lived in Chicago.
One of the first ever mentions of “Hall City” was in a newspaper article from the Lake Charles newspaper dated February 17, 1905. The article described the anticipated new town of Hall City. It stated that the town was to be built "..at a point 17 miles southwest of DeRidder and almost coincident with the present settlement of Merryville, the company [Chicago-Texas Lumber Company] has platted a town to be called Hall City. it is their intention to make it not merely a milling point, but a fine business point for all the northwest portion of the parish."
The article goes on to say, "The new town site…is located…on higher ground in the pine lands, several miles from the river. The location is a very pretty one.”
So with these facts, we can deduce that sometime after February 1905, a railroad depot was built along with a mercantile and the Hall City Hotel… there were a few other buildings but that was about it. The anticipated new town never came to fruition due to issues and a bit of corruption with the company and its owners. As a side-note, the Hall City Hotel burned to the ground at 12:30AM on the morning of November 9, 1908.
So here we have a map from 1888 showing the town of Merryville. Hall City did not appear on maps until 1908 that I could locate. If anyone can produce a map showing Hall City prior to 1908, I would be interested in seeing it. I hope this can finally answer the questions we’ve all wondered about concerning these two settlements.
By: Joe Williamson
SOURCES:
Cram's Standard American Railway Atlas, 1888
Lake Charles newspaper article dated February 17, 1905
Lake Charles newspaper article dated November 9, 1908
Rand McNally map, 1900
Crowell Map, 1905
Karte Von Louisiana Map, 1908
The idea of “Hall City” was first conceived by the Chicago-Texas Lumber Co. which had bought-up over 16,000 acres of pine forests with the hope of building a large sawmill on a plot of land near present day Merryville. The plan was to create their own town and it was to be called "Hall City", named in honor of the company's president who lived in Chicago.
One of the first ever mentions of “Hall City” was in a newspaper article from the Lake Charles newspaper dated February 17, 1905. The article described the anticipated new town of Hall City. It stated that the town was to be built "..at a point 17 miles southwest of DeRidder and almost coincident with the present settlement of Merryville, the company [Chicago-Texas Lumber Company] has platted a town to be called Hall City. it is their intention to make it not merely a milling point, but a fine business point for all the northwest portion of the parish."
The article goes on to say, "The new town site…is located…on higher ground in the pine lands, several miles from the river. The location is a very pretty one.”
So with these facts, we can deduce that sometime after February 1905, a railroad depot was built along with a mercantile and the Hall City Hotel… there were a few other buildings but that was about it. The anticipated new town never came to fruition due to issues and a bit of corruption with the company and its owners. As a side-note, the Hall City Hotel burned to the ground at 12:30AM on the morning of November 9, 1908.
So here we have a map from 1888 showing the town of Merryville. Hall City did not appear on maps until 1908 that I could locate. If anyone can produce a map showing Hall City prior to 1908, I would be interested in seeing it. I hope this can finally answer the questions we’ve all wondered about concerning these two settlements.
By: Joe Williamson
SOURCES:
Cram's Standard American Railway Atlas, 1888
Lake Charles newspaper article dated February 17, 1905
Lake Charles newspaper article dated November 9, 1908
Rand McNally map, 1900
Crowell Map, 1905
Karte Von Louisiana Map, 1908
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