Reese, Texas
Reese is a rural unincorporated community in Cherokee County, in the U.S. state of Texas, situated in the East Texas region. Its population was last estimated at 75, but no current U.S. Census data is available.
Geography and topography
Reese is located at . The elevation of the area is 397 ft above sea level.The surroundings of Reese are made up of rolling hills of alternating pastures and hardwood areas, those consisting mainly of pine, oak, and pecan.
History, Economy and Infrastructure
At the present time, there are no direct economic factors contributing to life in Reese, although many influences have historically added to the business climate of the community. Among these have been general stores, a cotton gin, a sawmill, a candle factory, a fish farm, a Ford dealership, a mechanic shop, as well as agriculture.Reese had its own post office starting in 1895; Miss Angie Lane was the first postmistress there, and had the name "Andy" established initially at the settlement. The area had a post office until the mid-1900s, but since then residents have received rural route service from nearby Jacksonville; otherwise, letter drop service and stamps can be found much closer, at the post office in Cuney.
In 1902, a rail line with a switch came through, originally operated by the Texas & New Orleans Railroad, which later became part of the Southern Pacific Railroad. This rail line connected Dallas to Nacogdoches and was mostly treated as a freight railroad. The site of the switch was named for Reese Lloyd, a T&NO conductor. When it was made known about the naming of the switch, the next local postmaster had the name of the settlement changed to "Reese" from "Andy". For the first few years, passenger service was offered through the Reese station but eventually that was discontinued while freight runs would still pass through the area. As railroad companies were streamlining and restructuring in later years, some rail corridors proved to be too costly or were found obsolete, including the rail line through Reese. Southern Pacific abandoned the line in 1985, closing a chapter to the community's early economic prominence.
Even though Reese lost one connection, it still has another. The community is bisected west to east by U.S. Highway 175, providing residents with direct access to the nearby cities of Jacksonville, Cuney, and Frankston, as well as distant cities like Athens and Dallas, farther west. This access provides the current economic lifeline outside the community.
All utility services available to community residents come from outside of Reese.
| Type | Provider | Information, contacts |
| Electric | Cherokee County Electric Cooperative | |
| Gas | Atmos Energy | |
| Internet | CenturyLink, HughesNet, WildBlue From MyBlueDish Slipstream Broadband | , , |
| Satellite TV | DirecTV, Dish Network | , |
| Telephone | AT&T, Sprint, Verizon | , , , |
| Telephone | CenturyLink | |
| Water | West Jacksonville Water Supply Corporation | No website found; the firm can be contacted at POB 1245, Jacksonville, TX 75766 903/586-7063 |
Social life
Various forms of social activities and get-togethers have taken place in Reese over the years: ice cream socials with hand-cranked ice cream, trick-or-treating at Halloween, and Christmas caroling, to name a few. Occasionally, "dinner on the ground", a primarily outdoor event held usually in the afternoon, would take place outside the community church. Meals were similar to potluck dinners or covered-dish suppers and were a way for those of the church's congregation to be together outside of church services.The church, historically a Church of Christ for the most part, was a focal point in Reese over many decades. Baptisms would take place in nearby creeks or would be hosted by other area Churches of Christ until a building renovation in the 1970s would bring a baptistry, as well as indoor plumbing, central air conditioning, and much-needed extra space. By the 1990s, though, a majority of the church's congregation had either died or moved away from the community. Sadly, the decision was made to disband the congregation, most of whom found their way to churches in larger nearby towns. The building, alongside what had been the railroad through Reese, was sold and moved to another church group elsewhere in Cherokee County.
In the mid-1970s, it was decided to have a community center for the residents of Reese, and by July 1976, one was completed on the grounds of a former school. The Reese Community Center has played host to several parties, dinners, and receptions since. Several times a year, a hamburger supper takes place at the center; this acts as a fund-raiser for upkeep of both the community's cemetery and of the Community Center. Once a year, the Reese Reunion was held there and was a draw for many who called Reese home at one time or another. However, in early 2018, the Community Center was sold due to the cost of maintenance and its general disuse. The funds were added to the Reese Cemetery Association to provide for its upkeep. Future Reese Reunions have been reduced to every other year starting in 2019 and do not have a dedicated venue.