Tours, Texas

The Town was originally named St. Martinsville, after a wagon train arrived in the area on November 11, 1874 (Feast day of Martin of Tours) from Teutopolis, Illinois. A number of German Catholic men brought their families to the area, including Edward and John Deiterman, Frank Debbendener, George and John Schneider and Clemens Uptmor. Two single men, George Hirschfield and George Busker also accompanied them.[1]

When the community applied for a post office in 1891, they discovered that the name had been taken by a community in East Texas. They renamed the community Tours, after Tours, France, the town where St. Martin was bishop. The community featured a number of general stores, blacksmith shops, a saddle shop, two cotton gins and beer saloons and a grain mill. The local church was built in 1890, and the children of the community attended a free parochial school, operated by the Sisters of Divine Providence of San Antonio. The school was in operation until 1977, when the local children commuted to the West Independent School District.[2]

In 1896, the population was 45 and the post office ceased operations in 1905. The population rose to 150 during the 1940s, and has remained at roughly 100 since then.