Mars, Texas
Ghost town in Van Zandt County, Texas, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mars is a ghost town in Van Zandt County, Texas, United States.[1]
Once a retail center for the surrounding community, all that remains of the settlement is a church.
History
Mars was settled by brothers John and Henry Marrs.[2]
The settlement was a retail trading center, and had two mercantile stores, a blacksmith shop, and a cotton gin and grist mill.[2][3][4]
The Pleasant Ridge Church and school were established in 1871.[4] In 1916, the school consolidated to form the Clower Common School District (Clower is located approximately 15 mi (24 km) north of Mars).[4][5][6]
In 1891, a post office was established, originally called "Acme". The name was changed to "Mars" seven years later. The post office closed in 1907.[4][7]
The population of Mars was over 100 in 1915, and had declined to 50 in 1945.[2]
The Pleasant Ridge Church is all that remains of the settlement.[2]
