Editing Sulphur Springs, Texas (section)

==History==

Sulphur Springs [''sic''] was named so because when the area was first settled, springs of [[sulfur]]ous water were abundant.

Eli Bib, one of the first European-American settlers, ran a store from his cabin, selling staples, [[whiskey]], [[persimmon]] beer, and slabs of ginger cake. In 1849, Dr. and Mrs. Davis moved into the area. Dr. Davis envisioned the spot as a future city. In 1850, the residents organized the area’s first [[church (building)|church]], the [[Methodist]] Episcopal. Construction of the church was completed in 1853. In 1852, the [[Presbyterian]] Church was organized. At that time, the population of the village was 441. To serve the growing population, commodities began to be brought in from nearby [[Jefferson, Texas|Jefferson]]. New stores were established.

The village became a city in 1854 when the first post office was established. The city’s name was originally “Bright Star”.<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Kelsey | first1 = Mavis Parrott | last2 = Dyal | first2 = Donald H. | last3 = Thrower | first3 = Frank | title = The Courthouses of Texas | publisher = Texas A&M University Press | year = 2007 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=U8Sp5VVR-_8C&pg=PP1 | pages = 142| isbn = 9781585445493 }}</ref>  Mail to and from the city was delivered by the [[Pony Express]]. On May 18, 1871, the legislature moved the [[county seat]] of [[Hopkins County, Texas|Hopkins County]] from Tarrant to Sulphur Springs, and the name “Bright Star” was removed from the postal directory.
[[File:SS Courthouse Veterans.jpg|thumb|left|Sulphur Springs Veterans' Memorial at the downtown courthouse]]

Local government organized slowly. The first known mayor was William A. Wortham. In 1854, Wortham had bought the ‘’Texas Star’’ press and moved to Sulphur Springs. His brother-in-law, Bill Davis, and he established the city’s first newspaper.
[[File:Building being rehabilitated to be the new City Hall.jpg|thumb|Building being rehabilitated as the new city hall]]
[[File:SS Amer Flag.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Hopkins County Courthouse (Sulphur Springs, Texas)|Hopkins County Courthouse]] in downtown Sulphur Springs]]
[[File:SS Courthouse Square.jpg|thumb|Courthouse Square - ground view of plaza]]

The county seat had numerous newspapers. Echo Publishing Company was founded in 1897. It was the first steam-powered [[printing press|press]] in Sulphur Springs. After the first plant was lost to a fire, a new plant was constructed that used [[gasoline]] as fuel. In 1884, the ‘’Sulphur Springs Enterprise’’ was founded. In the same year, [[James H. Davis (congressman)|James Harvey "Cyclone" Davis]], a Populist ([[People's Party (United States)|People's Party]]) US congressman, founded the ‘’Alliance Vindicator’’; it was published until 1901. John S. Bagwell bought the ‘’Hopkins County Echo’’ in 1916. In 1924, the ‘’Texas Star’’ was merged into the ‘’Daily News Telegram.’’ The ‘’Daily News Telegram’’ later was renamed the ‘’Daily Gazette’’ and still later the ‘’Weekly Gazette’’. Eventually, all these newspapers were merged into the ‘’Sulphur Springs News-Telegram’’ and the ‘’Hopkins County Echo’’, both of which still operate.

In 1857, the city set aside {{convert|10|acre|sqm|abbr=on}} of land for Bright Star University. The Sulphur Springs District Conference High School began in 1877, established on Bright Star University land on College Street. In December 1882, the school became known as Central College. It was owned by the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]]. It was later renamed Eastman College and Conservatory of Music and Art under a new charter and after the leading professor. Before 1900, the college burned and Professor Eastman left the area.

The First National Bank of Sulphur Springs received its national charter in 1855. It is now known as City National Bank.

In 1857, the area’s first steam-powered factory was established by the Bell brothers. In the same year, the Morro Castle was built on North Street. Its builders remain unknown.

C. Denton was elected to lead the new city government, which was incorporated during the [[Reconstruction Era]]. During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], the town had lost its [[municipal corporation|charter]] and had to be incorporated again by the state legislature.

In 1868, [[United States Army|federal troops]] moved into Sulphur Springs and occupied the city for two years during Reconstruction, in an effort to protect [[freedmen]] after emancipation. Upon their departure and the end of the [[military occupation]], A. J. Bridges was elected as mayor.

The construction of a [[railroad]] line from [[Mineola, Texas]], in 1872 stimulated growth in the city. Settlers were drawn by tales of the healing powers of the city’s sulfur baths. Due to population growth, the springs of sulfur were gradually covered. None is active today. A rail line was run from Jefferson to Sulphur Springs in 1879. The St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad (Cotton Belt) was built through Sulphur Springs in 1887 on its way to [[Commerce, Texas|Commerce]] and [[Sherman, Texas|Sherman]]. The next year, the line was completed to [[Fort Worth]], connecting the city to a major market. In 1891, the bankrupt railroad was sold to [[Jay Gould]] interests and renamed the [[St. Louis Southwestern Railway]].

An ice plant was built in 1887. The city’s [[courthouse]], which is still used today, was constructed in 1895. In 1904, [[water well|well]]s were dug to supply the city with water. In the same year, a long-distance telephone line was run to nearby [[Greenville, Texas|Greenville]]. In 1889, the City National Bank was organized.

After [[World War II]], the city adopted a new [[council-manager]] type of government. It stimulated new programs. Industrialization brought new plants and factories to the city. The population has grown as a result, to an estimate of more than  16,000 in 2016.<ref name="USCensusEst2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2016.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|website=Census.gov|access-date=June 9, 2017}}</ref>

The dairy industry was a major component of the local economy from the late 1940s through 1995. The [[Southwest Dairy Museum]] in the city features artifacts on the history of the dairy industry. The industry began to shrink largely because of declining milk prices, higher labor costs, and large corporations operating industrial-scale dairies.

Large industries in the area today include Pinnacle, [[Ocean Spray (cooperative)|Ocean Spray]], [[GSC Enterprises, Inc.|Grocery Supply]], Jeld-Wen, Clayton Home Mfg., [[Flowserve]], and others.