Guy, Texas

Guy, Texas
Unincorporated community

View is northwest on Highway 36 toward the intersection with FM 1994.
Coordinates: 29°20′39″N 95°46′59″W / 29.34417°N 95.78306°W / 29.34417; -95.78306Coordinates: 29°20′39″N 95°46′59″W / 29.34417°N 95.78306°W / 29.34417; -95.78306
Country United States
State Texas
County Fort Bend
Elevation 75 ft (23 m)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 77444
Area code(s) 979

Guy is an unincorporated community in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States. It is located on Texas State Highway 36 (SH 36) about 16 miles (26 km) south of Rosenberg, Texas. A trucking company, a Shell Oil Company filling station, a post office, and several homes are located near the intersection of SH 36 and Farm to Market Road 1994 (FM 1994). The community was established in 1890 and was served by a railroad between 1918 and the 1980s.

Geography

Guy is at an elevation of 75 feet (23 m) above sea level and the surrounding terrain is remarkably flat. The community is centered at the intersection of SH 36 and FM 1994. Needville High School is located on SH 36 1.9 miles (3.1 km) northwest on the outskirts of the city of Needville. The Guy Public Cemetery is found 1.6 miles (2.6 km) northeast on FM 1994 and Long Point is farther to the northeast. Damon in Brazoria County is located 4.7 miles (7.6 km) southeast on SH 36. The continuation of FM 1994 to the southwest is called Vrlla Road. To reach Boling to the southwest, one must take SH 36 northwest past the Needville High School and turn left on Farm to Market Road 442. All distances are measured from the intersection of SH 36 and FM 1994.[note 1]

History

The first Anglo settler in the area was Philip F. Ward in 1890. He was followed within the next four years by S. A. Beard, R. V. Board, J. G. and Frank Goth, H. Hoelewyn, R. G. Hughes, Dr. William Lowry, Sr. and Louis Wolf. A large influx of farmers into the area caused the first local school to be opened in 1897. A post office was established the next year and named for Una Guy Rowland, the disabled daughter of the first postmaster, Orr Rowland. The 1900 Galveston Hurricane caused widespread damage. The Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway extended a line south through Guy in 1918.[1]

The railroad line was located 0.5 miles (0.8 km) southwest of modern SH 36. It branched off the main line near the west side of Rosenberg and went south-southwest to Needville, Texas and then southeast to Guy.[note 2] The local businesses and school moved 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest from their former location to the railroad line. The old town site became known as Old Guy and was where a dance hall was located. By 1922, there were 82 white and four black children in two segregated schools. In that year, the settlement boasted a cotton gin, a garage and a general store with a post office. In 1932, SH 36 was built. Since the new road passed between Guy and Old Guy, the businesses and post office relocated northeast to the highway. The old dance hall was moved southwest to SH 36. At this time many residents worked in Damon, Texas to the south[1] where oil, sulphur and limestone were extracted from the Damon Mound salt dome.[2] In 1940, Guy's population reached 200.[1] In 1944, the railway discontinued service south to Damon and the line terminated at Guy.[2]

In 1946 the Guy School consolidated with the Needville Independent School District and by 1949 the Guy School closed. The community's population went into a slow decline from 150 in 1945 to 100 in 1966. By 1972 only 25 persons lived in Guy. In 1980, the dance hall was purchased by the George Foundation and moved to the George Ranch. The 1980s also saw the discontinuation of rail service. In the 1990s the local population stabilized around 60. Guy had 13 businesses in 2000.[1]

Politics

According to unofficial returns, Precinct 1068 located in Guy had the distinction of having the highest percentage (90.5%) of votes for Mitt Romney of any Fort Bend County precinct in the 2012 election. Romney captured 238 votes for president while 25 residents voted for Barack Obama.[3]

Education

Guy is located in the Needville Independent School District. Needville High School serves the community.

Gallery

References

Footnotes
  1. ↑ Distances and elevations were calculated from Google Earth.
  2. ↑ The old railway right-of-way can be observed on Google Earth.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 Beard, Esther. "Handbook of Texas Online: GUY, TX". Texas State Historical Association.
  2. 1 2 Damon, Chris. "Handbook of Texas Online: DAMON, TX". Texas State Historical Association.
  3. ↑ "Precinct Report - Unofficial General Election November 6, 2012" (PDF). Fort Bend County Elections.
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