Almeda Plaza

Almeda Plaza is the little town that shaped Rockwall County. It is located just south of Rockwall, Texas. It was founded in 1892 on the railroad line which connected Dallas and Fort Worth. Almeda Plaza is located in unincorporated Rockwall County, although it is only 3 miles north of the city of Rockwall. For this reason, Almeda Plaza has been referred to as the little town that shaped Rockwall County. Now known as Almeda-Oak Point Historic District, this community spans 1½ square miles and has over 50 historic structures within its boundaries.

The Beginning Of Almeda Plaza

Almeda Plaza is located in the original home of the area that later became Rockwall County. The land where Almeda Plaza is now located was originally part of a 19th century Mexican land grant. In the 1880s, Almeda Plaza was just a few plots of land along the railroad that connected Dallas and Fort Worth. Eventually, the land along the railroad was reclaimed for development into the town of Rockwall that exists today.

Progress In Almeda Plaza

During the 20th century, Almeda Plaza experienced tremendous growth. The turning point for Almeda Plaza came in the 1930s when a tornado devastated most of the town. After the tornado, Almeda Plaza was rebuilt and became a major transfer point for produce, livestock and other goods coming from all over Texas. This growth continued until the 1940s, when the Great Depression had a devastating effect on the local economy. Look at this website.

The 1930s: Depression, Dust Bowl And Fallout Shelter

After the Great Depression and World War II, Almeda Plaza experienced a boom in population. Once again, the boom was short-lived, as it was during the Great Depression that Almeda Plaza became the location for a number of fallout shelters. This arrangement was unique to Almeda Plaza and Rockwall County. Almeda Plaza's location along the railroad made it a convenient place for local farmers with large amounts of produce to unload their crops. Almeda Plaza became the town that shaped Rockwall County because of the great importance it played in the history of the county.

Rockwall County's Historic Districts Register & Almeda Plaza's Future

From the beginning of Almeda Plaza until the present, Rockwall County has had many changes in its economy, demographics and population. The large-scale agricultural industry once so important to the local economy has slowly been replaced by service and manufacturing industries. Overall, Rockwall County's population has steadily increased since 1900, with the most recent census data showing a population of 89,510 in 2010. Although many of these changes have negatively affected Almeda Plaza, the town has maintained a strong identity and sense of community. Almeda Plaza has also fostered a strong sense of community amongst its residents. The Almeda Plaza Community Association was formed in 2000 to promote this goal. The association sponsors many worthwhile events throughout the year and has set as one of its goals the building of a permanent Old Spanish Trail Museum.

Conclusion

Almeda Plaza is the little town that shaped Rockwall County. It is located just south of Rockwall, Texas. It was founded in 1892 on the railroad line which connected Dallas and Fort Worth. Almeda Plaza is located in unincorporated Rockwall County, although it is only 3 miles north of the city of Rockwall. For this reason, Almeda Plaza has been referred to as the little town that shaped Rockwall County. Now known as Almeda-Oak Point Historic District, this community spans 1½ square miles and has over 50 historic structures within its boundaries.