Calvert
Cotton King Fallen
State: Texas
County: Robertson County
Founded: 1868
Abandoned: 1899 (cotton era)
Peak Population: 7,000
Calvert was once the largest inland cotton shipper west of the Mississippi. Victorian buildings lined Main Street, and 7,000 people called it home. When the boll weevil destroyed cotton crops and railroads rerouted, Calvert's economy collapsed. Today, fewer than 1,500 remain among remarkably preserved Victorian architecture.
Cotton Empire
In the 1870s and 1880s, Calvert was a cotton powerhouse. The railroad shipped millions of bales, and merchants built grand Victorian buildings.
Boll Weevil Devastation
The boll weevil arrived in Texas in the 1890s, destroying cotton crops. Calvert never recovered, and its economy froze in place.
Timeline
- 1868 - Founded Railroad reached the area
- 1880s - Peak Largest cotton shipper west of Mississippi
- 1899 - Decline Boll weevil and railroad rerouting
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Year-round
Difficulty: Easy
Time Needed: 1-2 hours
Quick Facts
- Remarkably preserved Victorian downtown
- Once had opera house and luxury hotel
- Now a Texas Historic District
Location
Address: Calvert, Texas
Coordinates: 30.9772, -96.6742