Monthalia, Texas

Monthalia is a small unincorporated rural community upon Gonzales County Road 143 joining US 90A and FM 466, as a bridge across the Guadalupe River; acting as a bypass of neighboring Belmont, Texas. At its north end, it connects directly to the ghost town Oak Forest as well as "MA Wade Dam."

Monthalia, Texas
Unincorporated community
Location in the state of Texas
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Gonzales
Government
• Type	Unincorporated community
Elevation	393 ft (120 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	65
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	78614
Area code(s)	830
GNIS feature ID	1378699

The community had only 65 people as of the 2000 census. It is primarily home to livestock ranchers and has no schools or businesses. As a testament to its livestock ranching, Nolan Ryan Beef operates several ranches in the area raising cattle. It is located 14 miles (23 km) from Gonzales, Texas.

Geography

Monthalia is located at 29°28′08″N 97°36′31″W and sits at an elevation of about 400 feet (120 m). The Guadalupe River borders it to the north. The vegetation of the area consists of Bermuda grass pastures, stands of post oaks, and dense fields of mesquite.

History

Monthalia was first settled in 1846. It progressed to have a church and masonic lodge by 1868 and a post office was established in 1893.[1] The community later built a school and even an auto shop and butcher. The town declined and many functions were later operated as a co-op with the residents. The school closed in 1948 and the post office was closed in 1968; both were moved a short distance to neighboring Cost, TX.[2]

Notes

1. Schmidt, Walter G. (1993) An Encyclopaedia of Texas Post Offices, p. 149, Chicago, Illinois: The Collectors' Club of Chicago.
2. Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "," http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hnm58 (accessed March 30, 2008).