Winona, TX

Winona is a small town located in Williamson County, Texas. The population was 2,813 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Williamson County.

The town was founded in 1872 and named for Winona Lake, which was named for the daughter of General William S. Harney. The area around Winona had been settled by American Indians as early as 1820. In 1871, a group of settlers led by James A. Gardner filed a land claim on what is now known as the Square Deal Ranch near present-day Winona Lake Park. The town site was platted in 1872 and incorporated on February 9, 1886 with a population of about 100 people.

In 1889, the Southern Pacific Railroad reached Winona and began to develop it as a railroad town with businesses such as hotels, stores and restaurants catering to travelers on the line between Dallas and San Antonio. By 1900, Winona had a population of 1,500 people and boasted two banks (the First National Bank and Peoples State Bank), three churches (First Presbyterian Church, Second Baptist Church and St John's Catholic Church), four newspapers (the " Winona Daily News", "The Courier" newspaper owned by Jno Cushing Jr., "The Texan" published by Rufus Burdette & Co., and "The Advocate" published by Wm Hargrave) two cotton gins (the gin owned by Jno Cushing Jr., operated from his home) two cotton warehouses (owned by G W & R L King) an opera house/civic auditorium (built in 1902 at a cost of $50,000), five saloons/taverns ("Tommy Dolan's", "Doc's Place", "Dixie House", "Frankie's Place" & "Pegasus"), two hardware stores ("Harrison Hardware" & "Wright Hardware"), two blacksmith shops ("Smithy's Forge" & "Johnston Blacksmith Shop"), one lumberyard ("Lumberman's Mill") one wagon shop ("Wagon Works"), one bakery ("Bakeries"). There were also several doctors practicing medicine: Drs John Mclaughlin(1848-1911), James A."Jim" McGaha(1851-1927), Drs George Fenton(1859-1936)& Harry Sudduth(1868-1945).

In 1902 construction began on what would become Williamson County Courthouse which opened in 1904 at a cost of $100 thousand dollars ($1 million today). In 1907 construction began on the new jail which replaced an earlier structure that had been destroyed in a fire; it opened in 1908 at a cost of $60 thousand dollars ($720 thousand today). That same year saw completion of City Hall which served as both city hall and courthouse until 1974 when county offices were moved to new facilities built adjacent to the courthouse complex; City Hall continued to serve as city hall until 1991 when it was demolished to make way for new city hall facilities which opened in 1994

During World War II many residents worked in defense industries such as Boeing Plant No 1 or Lockheed Aircraft Plant No 1 located just outside town limits; other residents worked at nearby Fort Hood or served in the military In 1970 there were six schools serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade: Eastside Elementary School serving grades K-5; Westside Elementary School serving grades 6-8; Central Junior High School serving grades 7& 8; Williamson Junior High School serving grades 9& 10; Williamson High School serving grades 11&12.; There were also several private schools including: Trinity Christian Academy (previously known as Grace Christian Academy); Faith Christian Academy; Christ Lutheran College Preparatory School ;and Saint Mary’s Episcopal Day School .

In 1990 voters approved incorporation of Village Green Estates subdivision providing for limited development within established boundaries providing for preservation/ enhancement of natural features such as wetlands , creeks , woodlands , prairies . In 1995 voters approved incorporation of Northwoods subdivision providing for limited development within established boundaries providing for preservation/ enhancementof natural features such as wetlands , creeks , woodlands , prairies . These developments have helped make Winona more diverse while preserving its character Today there are several businesses including: Ace Hardware ; BJ’s Wholesale Club ; Dollar General Store ; Family Dollar Store ; Hobby Lobby Stores Inc.; Home Depot Inc.; McDonald’s Corporation USA ; Subway Restaurants USA Inc.; Wendy’s International Incorporated