Emory, Texas

Everything Emory is known for

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Music in Emory

Songs About Emory

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Artists From Emory

B
Billie Jo Jones
country Pop: 14

Rivers & Roads in Song near Emory

Songs written about the waterways and highways that run near Emory.

Sabine River 13 songs Interstate 20 13 songs Kickapoo Creek 4 songs

Musical Heritage

Kacey Musgraves RoadyGoat

Golden, Texas — population not much — put Kacey Musgraves on a stage before the world ever heard her. As a teenager she opened for Ray Wylie Hubbard at a little East Texas venue, which is about as real a country apprenticeship as it gets. Then she went and rewrote the rulebook. "Same Trailer Different Park" won a Grammy. "Golden Hour" won more. Her 2013 single "Follow Your Arrow" was a risky, controversial pick for country radio, and she put it out anyway. She picked up GLAAD's Vanguard Award in 2022. But the name's the tell, isn't it — the record that made her a superstar was called "Golden Hour," and the town that made her is just called Golden. Some things you don't have to spell out.

RoadyGoat → · 15.4 mi away

History of Emory

Emory, TX RoadyGoat

The city of Emory, nestled in Rains County, Texas, carries a name with a rich history. It was named after Emory Rains, a prominent legislator from the region. Rains was instrumental in crafting the Homestead Law of Texas, which served as a blueprint for homestead protection across the United States. The city, once known as Springville, and the county itself honor his legacy, with a special legislation that not only established Rains County but also mandated the county seat be named Emory in his honor.

RoadyGoat →

East Tawakoni, TX RoadyGoat

East Tawakoni was established on June 6, 1967, after an election in which 30 of 45 residents voted in favor of incorporation. The city is located on the east side of Lake Tawakoni, with its twin city West Tawakoni on the west side of the lake.

RoadyGoat → · 9.5 mi away

The Accidental Bass Paradise RoadyGoat

Just east of Alba lies a marvel of both engineering and accidental ecology: Lake Fork Reservoir. Construction started in 1975, and the Sabine River Authority closed the dam in February 1980. The purpose was purely practical — municipal and industrial water, with Texas Utilities and the cities of Dallas and Longview signing on to buy it. The engineering was massive, involving a two-and-a-half-mile-long earthen dam holding back some 27,000 acres of water. But the builders made a crucial decision. Instead of clear-cutting the entire reservoir basin, they left most of the timber standing. When the lake filled, these submerged forests of oak, hickory, and pine created the perfect, complex habitat for fish. Texas Parks and Wildlife then implemented a visionary program of Florida-strain largemouth stocking and restrictive harvest rules. The result? An unintentional, world-class bass factory that transformed Alba's economy from oil and agriculture to tourism and recreation.

RoadyGoat → · 12.4 mi away

Rains County Courthouse

1870

The community of Emory was once called Springville, part of Wood County. In 1870, the Texas Legislature created Rains County from portions of four other counties. Named for early Texas patriot Emory Rains, the county chose Springville as its center of government, renaming it Emory and choosing an existing public square for the site of the county courthouse. The first courthouse, a temporary log structure, served the county for nearly two years, when a two-room building was constructed. It and all the records housed within it burned in 1879, and the county returned to the log structure until a two-story, red brick courthouse was completed in 1884. It was gutted by fire in 1908, but the steel vault containing county records survived the fire. The Bryan Architectural Company of St. Louis, Missouri was selected to design a new courthouse, built around the steel vault still in its original location. Crushed brick from the 1884 building was used in the foundation. The Falls City Construction Company of Louisville, Kentucky served as builder, and the new facility opened in 1909. The courthouse exhibits a unique cruciform plan with projecting wings. The exterior is of ginger brick, produced at the Fraser Brick Co. in Ginger (3 mi. East); both the town and brick were named for the distinctive clay color. Designed in the Classical Revival style, the structure features pilasters and pediment-capped entries, as well as a central dome, reportedly not part of the original design. The courthouse square has long served as a social gathering place. Notable speakers on the square have included U.S. Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn and former president Lyndon Johnson. The site of community fairs, festivals, celebrations and parades, the square continues to be a focal point for Emory and Rains County. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2002

Historical Marker →

Rains, Emory

1839

Emory Rains, early legislator, was born in Warren County, Tennessee, on May 4, 1800, the son of John and Mary Ann Katie (Duncan) Emory. He came to Texas with his family in 1817, settling first at Nacogdoches and then moving to Shelby County. During his early years in Texas, he became a largely self-taught lawyer and began a career in politics. He represented Shelby County as senator in the Second and Third congresses of the republic and in the Convention of 1845 . Among Rains's most important legislative accomplishments was his sponsorship of the Homestead Law in 1839. After annexation he continued to represent Shelby County in the House of the Second, Fourth, and Fifth legislatures. Sometime before 1859 he moved to Wood County, and he represented that county in the Senate of the Eighth Legislature. When Texas seceded from the United States, Rains did not swear allegiance to the Confederacy or participate in the Civil War. During Reconstruction in 1869, he helped survey a new county from Wood County that was established in 1870 and named in his honor. The county seat town, first named Springville, was renamed Emory, also in his honor. Rains was married to Marana Anderson in 1822. The couple had twelve children. Rains died at his home in Rains County on March 4, 1878, and was buried in the City Cemetery at Emory.

Tsha Handbook →

Chicken Salad Case

1915

The "Chicken Salad Case" was involved in the impeachment charges against James E. Ferguson in 1917. On February 11, 1915, the Thirty-fourth legislature passed a deficiency appropriations act providing $2,000 a year for two years for expenses incurred by former Governor Oscar Branch Colquitt for fuel, lights, water, and ice for the governor's mansion, and for food, including "chicken salad and punch," automobile repairs, feed, and stationery for his private use. Although Attorney General Benjamin F. Looney ruled the appropriation invalid, Ferguson signed the bill. Representative W. C. Middleton of Rains County brought suit and on June 12, 1915, was granted a temporary injunction by Judge George Calhoun of the Fifty-third District Court, Austin, restraining comptroller Henry Berryman Terrell from issuing warrants on the state treasury to cover these expenditures. On appeal by Terrell to the state Supreme Court, transferred to the Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, Fourth District, San Antonio, Chief Justice William Seat Fly , on June 14, 1916, upheld the lower court, making the injunction perpetual in part. The court ruled that the legislature could appropriate for fuel, water, lights, and ice necessary for the Governor's Mansion , but not for groceries and other personal needs of the governor, which appropriation was held to be contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of 1876 on the governor's salary, casual deficiencies, and prohibition against appropriation for private purposes. Meanwhile, Ferguson continued to purchase groceries with state money under this appropriation. When questioned before the House Investigation Committee of the Thirty-fifth Legislature on charges of misappropriated funds, he testified under oath that he would repay the state if the Supreme Court decided against him. But in spite of the adverse decision he failed to do so. In September 1917 the High Court of Impeachment held that Ferguson was guilty of a misapplication of appropriations made by the legislature for fuel, lights, ice, and incidentals, in that he used the same in the purchase of groceries, feed, automobile tires, and gasoline for his private use, and that his refusal to repay these funds constituted a continued misapplication of the public funds of Texas.

Tsha Handbook →

Smyrna Union Church

1902

This house of worship is the site of the old school house in which, on Sept. 2, 1902, Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America (National Farmers Union) established its first local union. The stated purpose was "To secure equity, establish justice and apply the Golden Rule." The ten men who founded "Farmers Union" were residents of this area. The organization which they here established has become known and respected throughout the agricultural world. This tablet is erected to honor their names and memory. Jesse Adams, W. T. Cochran, Tom Donaldson, Newt Gresham, J. B. Morris, T. J. Pound, O. H. Rhodes, Dr. Lee Seamster, W. S. Sisk, and J. S. Turner; presented by James G. Patton, President, National Farmers Union, Denver, Colorado.

Historical Marker → · 3.7 mi away

Rains County

1840

One of the earlier areas of Texas to be settled. J. H. Hooker, first known settler, built a grist mill on the Sabine River here in the 1840s. Emigrants from the Old South came in after 1840, although the county was not created until 1870. The name honors pioneer Emory Rains (1800-1878). He served as Senator in 8th Legislature from district out of which this county was later carved and had a long public service career. Rains County is known as the birthplace of the Farmers Cooperative and Educational Union of America, founded in 1904.

Historical Marker →

Sports in Emory

🏆 STATE CHAMPIONS Class 3A · Softball · 2019–2021

Rains — UIL 3A Softball State Champions — 2 titles

Most recent: 2021 3A

The Emory community, nestled in the heart of East Texas, has a proud tradition of supporting its student-athletes, and the Rains High School Lady Cats softball program stands out. Competing in Class 3A, the team has achieved significant success on the state stage, bringing home multiple University Interscholastic League (UIL) state championships.

The Lady Cats have demonstrated consistent excellence, securing UIL 3A state titles in both 2019 and 2021. These championships reflect the dedication and hard work within the program, making Rains High School a notable name in Texas high school softball.

State titles
2 (2019–2021)
Most recent
2021
Class
3A
The moment

The 2021 UIL 3A state championship was a high point for Rains High School softball.

Sources: UIL State Championship Archives · SI High School (ScoreBook Live)

Everything Near Emory

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