Purdon, Texas
Unincorporated community in Navarro County · Not an incorporated municipality
About Purdon
Purdon is an unincorporated community in Navarro County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 133 in 2000.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How Purdon is governed
Purdon appears to be an unincorporated community or a census-designated place, so it may have no city government of its own — services usually come from Navarro County and its elected officials. The chart below is a generic template; readers can correct it if Purdon does have local officials.
Form of government not yet listed.
0 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of Purdon
Registered voters elect the officials below.
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Mayor
Executive
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The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
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City Manager / Administrator
Executive
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The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
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Police Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the police department.
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Fire Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the fire and emergency services department.
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Public Works Director
Administration & departments
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Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
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Finance Director
Administration & departments
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The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
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Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
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Land use, zoning, building permits.
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Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
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Parks, programs, and public facilities.
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City Council
Legislative
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The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
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City Clerk
Administration & departments
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Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
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City Attorney
Administration & departments
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The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
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Boards & Commissions
Legislative
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Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
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Municipal Court
Judicial
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Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
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Municipal Judge
Judicial
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Presides over the municipal court.
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History
The earliest named settlement near what later became Purdon was a community called Belle Point. It was originally settled by Captain J. A. Harrison. In the early 1880s, the St. Louis Southwestern Railway (also known as the "Cotton Belt") was built two miles south of Belle Point and lots were soon platted around the rail stop. The new community was named Purdon. Credit for the name is given to a railroad man named Harris, who was attracted to a cashier where he brought supplies – Miss Ada Purdom. By an inadvertent spelling mistake at the general office, the town became Purdon. A post office was established in 1881. Purdon became a thriving community with most of the blackland in the area used to raise cotton, corn, and other feed grains. By 1896, around 80 people lived in the community. In 1912, a new two-story brick school was completed. According to 1920 Census figures, Purdon had a population of 346. With the coming of school buses in 1928, Belle Point, Jester, and Silver City schools were consolidated with Purdon. The population began to steadily decline, falling to 308 in 1930, and to 262 by 1940. The decline accelerated after World War II, when many residents left the area in search of job opportunities in larger cities. Purdon's school was consolidated with nearby Dawson in the fall of 1959. As of 1960, Purdon recorded 151 inhabitants, less than half of the population at its peak in 1920. During the remainder of the 20th century, the population hovered around 133. Today, most residents travel to either Corsicana or Dawson for groceries, banking, doctors, and employment.
On October 14, 2014, the "news" site National Report reported that a family of five had contracted the Ebola virus. This was quickly distributed through social media as fact.
Although Purdon is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 76679.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.