Temple Texas

Temple Texas has had numerous nicknames in its past. It was named Mudville for its thick blackland prairie soil; It was called Tanglefoot because of the mud and for its reputation as a wild and crazy frontier town. It was also called Ratsville due to the number of rats in town. However, the face of Temple Texas was soon to change. The railroad brought women, children, crystal, china, and all the influences of a growing society. Many families loaded their furniture, tools, animals and sometimes even themselves onto the trains and came to Temple Texas to settle. Temple Texas grew very fast, and became "Progressive Temple" and the "Prairie Queen." It also became known as the "City of Trees" because of Mr. Goodrich Jones, a resident who is the father of Arbor Day in Texas and the Texas Forestry Association.