Pidcoke, Texas

Pidcoke is an unincorporated community in Coryell County, in the U.S. state of Texas. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had a population of 30 in 2000. It is located within the Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood metropolitan area.

History
Pidcoke was named for English settler Rev. Richard Burton Pidcocke and his family. They immigrated here with a group of other settlers in 1850 and founded the community. The site on which the community stands on Cowhouse Creek. Their agent thought the area was too hilly, so Pidcocke's eldest sons, Hartley and Reginald, bought land near this area in 1857 and founded Pidcock ranch. A post office was established in 1875 and remained in operation until 1944, with Thomas Williamson as postmaster. Its name was changed to Pidcoe in 1882, then Pidcoke that next year. More settlers occupied the area because of livestock, an abundance of water, fertile soil, and lumber to build homes and fences and use for firewood. Other crops grown in Pidcoke were cotton, corn, and grain. W. H. Belcher donated land for a church to be built on. It then had two churches and several businesses. There were two gristmills and cotton gins, another church, and 150 residents in 1844. The population dropped to 65 in 1914 with seven businesses, then grew to 200 in 1940. It began its decline two years later. The last store closed in 1983 and by the end of the decade, Pidcoke had 25 inhabitants, a few vacant buildings, and an abandoned gin. The community's local churches currently host the Methodist and Baptist congregations and continued to supply hay for livestock. Residents commute to Fort Hood and other neighboring towns for work. The population was 30 from 1990 through 2000.

On April 19, 1996, an F0 tornado struck Pidcoke, destroying several barns.

Geography
Pidcoke is located on U.S. Highway 84 West and Farm to Market Road 116, 15 mi southwest of Gatesville, 51 mi southwest of Waco, 45 mi northwest of Temple, 26 mi northeast of Lampasas, and south of Cowhouse Creek in southwestern Coryell 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 system, Pidcoke has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Education
The first school in Pidcoke was built on land donated by W.H. Belcher in 1884. In 1942, Fort Hood took over much of the district and kids were sent to school in nearby Gatesville. Today, the community is served by the Gatesville Independent School District.