Colfax is an unincorporated populated place in Van Zandt County, Texas, United States.[1] It is located at the headspring of the Neches River.[2]

Colfax, Texas
Unincorporated community
Colfax, Texas Location within the state of Texas Show map of Texas Colfax, Texas Colfax, Texas (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 32°30′37″N 95°43′58″W
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Van Zandt
Elevation	568 ft (173 m)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
GNIS feature ID	1378142[1]

History

The settlement was originally named "Cold Water", and began as a log house which was used for religious services.[2] An early settler, Elisha Tunnell, erected a church at that location known as "Tunnell's Chapel".[2] Another early settler named Kellam donated 5 acres (2.0 ha) of land, and on part of it a cemetery was established. The first burial, in 1884, was of Elisha Tunnell.[3] The donated land had also been the location of two local churches and three schools; one of the schools located in Tunnell's Chapel in the late 1870s.[2][3] The location was also the site of revivals and summer camp meetings.[3]

The settlement was renamed "Colfax" in honor of United States Vice President Schuyler Colfax.[2] The Colfax post office was located at the settlement in 1870.[4]

Colfax had a Masonic Lodge (number 904) in 1919.[5] During the 1920s, Colfax had a boys basketball team which competed against local teams.[6]

Colfax had a population of around 100 in the 1930s. It had declined to 35 by 2000.[2]

Notable people

• Vaneverie Bascom Cozby, mayor of Grand Saline, Texas for 30 years.[7]
• Brady P. Gentry, United States Representative; born in Colfax in 1896.[8]

References