Burkett, Texas

Burkett is an unincorporated community in Coleman County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had a population of 30 in 2000.

History
The community was named for its postmaster, William Burkett, in 1886. Postal authorities rejected the name Pleasant Valley for the community. Cowboys of the nearby McClennan ranch were among the first settlers in the area. When H.H. Sackett moved to the area from Camp Colorado and opened a general store here, the cowboys bought land around it and set up the settlement. It soon expanded into a trading post. There were 200 people served by three churches and five businesses in 1940. It soon declined rapidly. Burkett had the post office, three churches, a community center, a gas station/grocery, and a cemetery in the 1980s. Its main industries were farming, ranching, and oil production. From 1980 through 2000, the community had a population of 30.

Though unincorporated, Burkett has a post office, with the ZIP code of 76828.

On May 7, 1995, an F0 tornado struck Burkett. Three homes were damaged and a barn was destroyed. On April 26, 2015, another F0 tornado struck Burkett and was reported by an emergency manager. On May 26, 2016, an F1 tornado struck Burkett. A few trees and tree limbs were snapped, and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. The community center in town sustained roof damage.

Geography
Burkett is located on Texas State Highway 206 in northeastern Coleman County.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Burkett has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated Cfa on climate maps.

Education
Burkett had its own school in 1940, which closed in 1957 and joined the Coleman and Cross Plains Independent School Districts.

Notable people

 * Robert E. Howard, pulp fiction author who created Conan the Barbarian.
 * Jack Martin, basketball coach for the Lamar Cardinals.