Learn More About Waskom, Texas
Waskom, Texas is a small city located within the southeastern corner of Harrison County and is nestled along the banks of the Red River. Founded in 1874, this town of 2,083 people is steeped in a long history of railroad building, oil production, and agriculture.
The city gets its name from the Waskom post office that was established in 1882. The name itself was derived from the Choctaw word Wasi’um meaning “river” or “stream”, an appropriate name considering the location of Waskom right along the Red River.
The city began to develop into what it is today in 1909, when the Houston and Texas Central Railway began to dig a railroad track that connected Kountze, Texas to Shreveport, Louisiana. This importance of the railroad was so vital in the early years of Waskom that it would soon be fondly referred to as the “79th Street Railroad Crossing”.
In the late 1920s, Waskom began to shift from an agrarian society to an economy driven by the discovery of oil around the area. This discovery blessed the city with new economic prosperity and caused many people to come to Waskom, in search of wealth and opportunity.
Today, the city of Waskom still boasts an abundance of natural beauty and various opportunities for a high quality of life. Home to hundreds of acres of dense forests that make up the southern edge of the Caddo National Grasslands, Waskom’s rolling hills, lush pine trees, and abundant wildlife make it the perfect spot to experience a different type of life.
In addition to experiencing nature, Waskom is home to several popular annual events like the Waskom Christmas Parade, Waskom Summer Splash and Shine Festivals, and the Waskom Rattlesnake Roundup. Waskom also is home to two festivals dedicated to the city’s uniqueness and history: the Waskom Market Days and the Waskom Reunion Festival, both of which are held in late June each year.
If you ever find yourself in the area, Waskom, Texas is a great place to go to experience nature or partake in a little bit of southern culture. Whether you’re looking for a place to relax, a place to discover, or a place to reconnect with your roots, Waskom is worth a visit.
