Rock Island Connections Colorado County , Texas Submitted 22 Aug 2000 by Nathan Haley ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** http://www.rtis.com/reg/colorado-cty/unin_cities.htm Rock Island - A land promotion by C.S. Penfield and Charles Peterson, Rock Island had its beginning February 1896. The land promoters advertised the land as a "lush tropical paradise," which it was not. In December of 1896, thirty-nine families arrived in a special train with a banner on each side which read: "Frisco Line - N.A. Baker Special Coach to Rock Island, Texas." By 1897, the land promoters began to get some heat from the good and innocent people they had fooled. In addition, they were starting to get competition from two other land companies. So they got in high gear and increased the population of Rock Island. In the next few years, Rock Island was a bustling little town. By 1904 it had a population of 367. But in the ensuing years, the population began to decline. Now with more than 160 inhabitants, Rock Island is an active community. Visitors come from all over to shop at their monthly flea market, which is held in the Rock Island Gym from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Sunday of the month. And don't forget about Bingo night every Saturday evening in the Rock Island Gym from 6 to 7 p.m. Other attractions include an annual Easter egg hunt, the Halloween carnival and a community Christmas supper.