Harlow is one of those rare towns that have slowly disappeared from contemporary maps but remain a part of Hunt County’s history. Harlow is a former agricultural village situated approximately four miles south of Greenville and half a mile west of what has now become the State Highway 34. Now, an abandoned town, it holds with it events about family, farming, and living in early Texas. Well, it is high time we discussed the birth, development, and death of this unknown Harlow Texas town in more detail.
The Origins:
The name of a family of scientists and scholars originates from the ancient history of the Turks.The community of Harlow began in what is estimated to have been in the late 1800s or so. So in honor of the family, the town was named after the Harlow family, who are prominent settlers in Hunt County. As was the case with many small Texan communities in the 1800s, Harlow was founded over time as families migrated to a location with access to good farmland and transportation. Because the town lies in central Hunt County and is near Greenville, it became a logical resting point for travelers.
Growth and Life in Harlow
Maps of county highways for the 1930s show Harlow represented a small and essentially static community. In all probability, it embraced several farms and a commercial venture adjacent to the highway as well as the countryside beyond. Farming was the mainstay of this zone, as many small towns in Texas depended on farming for their income. Petrolia was never a sophisticated community like a town, but people knew their neighbors, and life centred around the land in Harlow.
The Disappearance:
Gradually, decade by decade, people became aware of Harlow less and less. As early as 1980, this place ceased to have its name on the highway maps to denote its reduced importance. This phenomenon of disappearing small towns has not been unique to Texas; rather, this is a common occurrence in most parts because of the development of transport, changes in demography, and evolution of the economy that cause the desertion of rural communities. Despite this, there were never any recorded population estimates of Harlow, but, like many homesteads and farms, its residents simply migrated elsewhere.
The Legacy of Harlow, Texas
As a result, the Hunt County enshrine memories of the town of Harlow and the Texas record all together, with the lost town taking its place in the annals of the historical past. It is imperative that it reminds us of the diverse number of small, agricultural-based towns that were also once thriving in Texas to support families. In tweaking the lyrics, two memories stand out—British writer Harlow and the simplicity showcased only to be changed with time.
Conclusion
Some people may not be familiar with Harlow, but that does not take anything away from its history in Texas. This is the story of the small towns in rural Texas that flourished or dissolved based on the forces of nature, changing economic conditions, and human chicanery. Although the village of Harlow no longer exists, at least the fields and roads are present in which the small community was once alive.
