City of Princeton TX

Government AdministrationTexas, United States51-200 Employees

In 1881 the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad Company extended its line from Greenville to McKinney.The name Wilson’s Switch was commonly used to designate the area. When residents applied for a post office branch, they learned that the name Wilson was already being used in the state of Texas. The community then submitted the name Princeton in honor of Prince Dowlin, a landowner and promoter of the town. This name was accepted, and a post office was established in 1888.Princeton was incorporated in May of 1912.

Located in the rich agricultural region of the Blackland Prairie, Princeton quickly became a retail and commercial center for area farmers. In addition to providing mills and grain elevators for wheat, corn, onions, and sorghums, the town also housed a lumber factory that became the state’s largest producer of bois d’arc lumber. By the mid-1920’s the town provided electricity, water, natural gas, and paved roads for 500 residents. 
In 1940, the migratory camp was built west of Princeton where the Community Park is now located. It was built for the people who moved into the area to work during the onion and cotton seasons. It was estimated that there were 300-400 migrants at the camp during this period. Also, 76 cabins were built out of California redwood with shingle roofs and concrete floors. Each cabin was equipped with two beds, oil cook stove with oven, oil heater, and four chairs. In February of 1945, the camp was turned into a prisoner of war camp for Germans captured during World War II. The city employed the prisoners to make improvements, including enlarging the public park. This operation was continued for eight months. When it was no longer used for prisoners of war, it once again became a migratory camp.

 In 1990 the population was 2,321. The population was 3,477 in 2000. In the 2010 Census the population had reached 6,924. In the 2020 Census, the population has grown to 17, 027.

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