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​Overview

Scope and Content

Collection contains the minutes, correspondence of the Kleberg Town Council, planning and zoning documents, reports, and the original civil and criminal ordinances of the Town of Kleberg, Texas. 

The Dallas, Texas, neighborhood that is the site of the former town of Kleberg is located just south of Balch Springs, southeast of the intersection of the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway (Loop 635) and U.S. Interstate 175. It dates to the 1840s as a farming community but boomed after the Texas Trunk Railroad made it a stop in the 1880s. It was platted in 1899 and later served as a home to workers on the ill-fated attempt to build locks on the Trinity River. Kleberg’s population varied from a few hundred during most of its lifetime to 4,510 towards the end. 

The town finally attempted self-governance and was incorporated in 1956, providing water and fire to its citizens, but was hard-pressed to offer other services.  Kleberg also had the distinction of once being the largest town in Texas without a property tax.  After increases in rates for electricity and other services crippled the town, Kleberg was faced with the possibility of consolidation or annexation.

At a Kleberg City Council meeting in October 1977, the mayor voiced his support for consolidation. After citizens spoke both in favor and against, Councilman W. Reid Russell was reported in the minutes as saying, “We have a lot of people that want to be heard and the only way they can be heard is on the ballot.”  

The election was held on January 21, 1978, with a vote of 559 to 342 in favor of consolidation.  The town was merged with Dallas on April 3, 1978.

Despite Kleberg’s legal dissolution, its identity is still intact, as evidenced by such things as the Kleberg Neighborhood Alliance and the presence of a state historical marker.  Vestiges of Kleberg today include Kleberg Park, Jones-Bailey Cemetery, and Kleberg Road.

Organization

The collection is arranged by planning, minutes, ordinances, and elections.

Access

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from the Dallas Municipal Archives. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.  The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Citation

City of Kleberg, 1956-1978 (Box <x>, Folder <y>), Dallas Municipal Archives

Related Materials

Collection 1991-063—City of Fruitdale, 1937-1964
Collection 1991-087—City of Oak Cliff, 1891-1904, 1930
Collection 1991-108—City of Renner, 1953-1977
Collection 1992-015—Oak Lawn Heights and Related Annexations, 1929
Collection 1991-114—Town of Honey Springs, 1937-1947
Collection 1991-110—Town of Preston Hollow, 1939-1945

Index Terms

Annexation (Municipal government) -- Texas -- Dallas
Dallas -- Texas -- History
Kleberg (Dallas, Tex.)

Container List