Rockwall, Texas
History of Rockwall
In the days before Rockwall’s founding in 1854, the records show that a number of pioneer families had settled the Blackland territory drained by both the Trinity and the Bluff Fork of the Sabine. Some came by oxen drawn wagons while others came by emigrant trains from the East. In all 240 settlers came to build a life in the area that was to become Rockwall.
During these days, the town of Jefferson, Texas was the local market place. Here settlers purchased salt, coffee, ammunition, tools, and the like. Lumber was also a big item as it was transported by ox wagon from Jefferson to Dallas. Around this time, in 1854, Elijah Elgin platted a forty acre tract of the B.F. Boydstun survey in what was then Kaufman County, thereby establishing the original town-site of Rockwall. The community took its name from the extensive, wall-like, underground formation discovered by Terry Wade in 1852. The stone wall was discovered while Wade was digging a well just outside the present square of Rockwall. Since then many additional outcroppings of the wall have been discovered in the area, looking strangely man-made, but probably being of geologic origin.
During the early years, Rockwall consisted of little more than a post office, blacksmith, grinding mill, church, and general store. In 1836, Rockwall was part of Nacogdoches County. In 1845, when Texas entered the Union, it was considered to be in Henderson County and two years later, when Kaufman County was formed, it was placed in that county. It wasn't until 1873 that the County of Rockwall was established in an effort to settle a dispute between residents of Terrell and Kaufman Counties who were wanting a new county seat location. Today, Rockwall County remains the smallest county in Texas, but one of the five fastest growing counties in the United States.
The town of Rockwall grew to a population of 600 as both the new county seat and a center of business. In 1886, when the M.K.& T. railroad was built through the city, growth continued and the farming business prospered with the availability of newly opened market places for local produce. Wells College, a junior educational system, was organized in 1893 by Professor J.K. Wells. The school operated until 1912 by which time Rockwall had grown to 1100 people, with the latest in utilities, a telephone system, new schools, churches, businesses, and automobiles
In 2006, the city of Rockwall consisted of almost 30,000 residents.
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