Longpoint, Texas

Longpoint is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had a population of 80 in 2000. It is located within the Greater Houston metropolitan area.

History
Long Point was the spelling in use until the twentieth century. The hamlet was established in 1850, on land that originally belonged to Stephen F. Austin. From 1848 through 1874, botanist Gideon Lincecum resided there on his farm, Mount Olympus. Lincecum gave his plantation that name because of its elevated position overlooking the Yegua Creek valley, which came to a point where a live oak grove created a triangle shape. He was drawn to the area by the variety of plants there. Long Point became the name of the post office on February 19, 1851, according to Montville postmaster Wayne Bishop; it may have remained there. Long Point's community grew into a town. Texas was known for the cuisine of its Wood Hotel. At Long Point, Lincecum and his son Lysander had a medical practice. Chauncey B. Shepard of Long Point was chosen to serve in the Texas Senate's 21st District in 1856. In support of the county secession movement, Lincecum and fellow War of 1812 veteran Sam Lauderdale led the Long Point Minute Men on a march from Mount Vernon (Washington County) to Brenham in December 1860. To raise money for Texas soldiers, the Long Point Blacks held a Confederate ball in 1863. The town temporarily lost population and experienced economic disruption as a result of the Civil War and Reconstruction, but it quickly bounced back. By 1882, the community of Long Point had a church, a broom factory, a commercial district, and industries that processed cotton, corn, and lumber in the area. Early in the 1880s, Long Point flourished as a supply center for northwest Washington County, growing to a population of 500. The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway's construction hastened the town's demise. Long Point was replaced as the principal commercial and processing center in northwest Washington County by Gay Hill, a new regional distribution facility. By 1890, Long Point's population had reduced to 146, and by 1896, the quantity and variety of its processing industries had also diminished. In 1907, the town's post office was shut down. Although still significant in 1896, Long Point's commercial activities started to diminish by 1914. Early in the 20th century, Longpoint was a small town. Between 1890 and 1960, 146 people were thought to have lived there. The population was 80 from 1970 to 1990. Longpoint had two stores and greater business activity than Gay Hill did in 1988. The main economic activity was ranching. In 2000, the population was still 80.

Geography
Longpoint is located on Farm to Market Road 390 on Old Rocky Creek, 10 mi northwest of Brenham and 85 mi east of Austin in northwestern Washington County.

Education
Longpoint had its own school in 1882. Today, the community is served by the Brenham Independent School District.