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A History of The Colony TX authored by
Don Beckel, Alyce Rufi and The Colony TX History Committee

By Don Beckel and Alyce Rufi

Long Time Residents of The Colony Texas

Revised April 06, 2008

The Colony Texas: Young City with Deep Roots

The City of The Colony Texas was created as a living monument to the spirit and courage of the settlers who moved to Peters Colony Texas from 1841 thru 1848. Peters Colony was named after William S. Peters, Kentucky businessman and musician, who obtained a contract from the Republic of Texas to survey and promote settlement on 16,400 square miles of land that included Denton County and all or part of 25 other North Texas counties. The contract was modeled after the Mexican impresario free land program and authorized Peters Colony to give settlers up to 320 acres of free land. Peters Colony is credited with recruiting 2200 families who were known as Peters Colonists. Ten Peters Colonist families settled on land that is now The Colony Texas.

Dallas Founder: Peters Colony is credited with many historical settlers moving to North Texas including John Neely Bryan considered the "founder" of the City of Dallas.

The Colony TX is located on the site of Bridges Settlement, established in 1843, and named after the family of John and Mildred Bridges family and their sons William and David. The settlement became the first stop for Peters Colonists in 1844 when another Peters Colony investor Willis T. Stewart, opened the company's headquarters and a small general store here. He hired Henry O. Hedgecoxe to manage the office and be the company's chief surveyor. Hedgecoxe was a good administrator however his poor people skills provoked a great deal of mistrust regarding the company's surveys. This ultimately led to disgruntled land speculators raiding and burning the company office on July 15, 1852. This event is noted in Texas history as the Hedgecoxe War.

Prior to the development of the city of The Colony Texas, the area was the location of several small settlements and communities. In addition to Bridges Settlement there was Stewartsville (1844), Camey (1852), Stewarts Creek (1859) and Camey Spur (1896).

The Camey Spur Settlement appears to have been the most successful when it was established in 1896 by several area farmers who donated land to build a loading pen along a new railroad line. The community became the site for two general stores, a post office, grain elevator, railroad shipping dock and office, cotton gin, church and a four room school. It had a population of 47 in the 1930's before it faded away during World War II.

The Colony TX is also the site of several historical events:

The City of The Colony Texas, a lake side community on the eastern shore of Lake Lewisville, began in 1973 as a 2500 acre master planned community developed by Dallas homebuilder Fox and Jacobs. During October, 1974, the first 20th century suburban residents reestablished this area as a community. History seems to have repeated itself when The Colony's first businesses, a Fox and Jacobs sales office and a Stop and Go convenience store were similar to the Peters Colony land office and general store in Bridges Settlement. The Colony's first fire station opened in 1975. The first school, Camey Elementary opened in 1977. The Colony had a population of approximately 5,000 when it incorporated in January 1977. The population continues to grow with an estimated build out population around 60,000 residents.