My daddy sang the wonders of old cow town, Silver haired and he's still there under a sky so warm and fair, I tell you friends there's a song in every town. -- From "Songs About Texas" by Pat Green.
Named for the daughter of a railroad magnate, Edna, Texas, is a tiny Southwest Texas town situated in the middle of wide swaths of fertile Gulf Coast farmland and brimming with a fascinating catalog of local history
My daddy sang the wonders of old cow town, Silver haired and he's still there under a sky so warm and fair, I tell you friends there's a song in every town. -- From "Songs About Texas" by Pat Green.
Named for the daughter of a railroad magnate, Edna, Texas, is a tiny Southwest Texas town situated in the middle of wide swaths of fertile Gulf Coast farmland and brimming with a fascinating catalog of local history. In the first half of the 19th century, the town of Texana was the county seat and commercial center of the region. When Texana citizens refused to pay railroad promoters a fee in 1880, the railroad bypassed Texana by 7 miles to the north, and the town of Edna was founded along the new route. Today, Texana is a lost ghost town, buried underwater by a man-made lake, and the residents of Edna have never lost the sense of opportunity upon which their town was founded.
Located an hour's drive from the Houston metropolitan area, Edna is still a community dominated by farming and small-town Texas traditions. Temperatures on the Gulf Coast stay temperate year round, so a move can be planned for any season. Average high temperatures reach the 90s in the hottest summer months and the 60s in the winter months. However, Edna is still chiefly an agricultural town, so consider the harvest cycle when relocating here. Cotton, wheat, and rice are the primary crops in the area, and at harvest time, local farmers have little free time for leisure, including showing rental properties.
You will have your pick of apartments and houses for rent in Edna. Although the town is small, there are multiple apartment choices at the north and southwest edges of town. Older ranch-style rental properties fill the neighborhoods North of Main Street, and more spacious but more expensive digs dot the landscape south of town. Wherever you choose to plant your roots, be prepared with a government issued ID, proof of income or employment, and a deposit. In some cases, you may need to provide the first month's rent as well. All utilities paid options are available in Edna, but they are sparse. Individual owners of houses and duplexes for rent will be the most flexible, so be sure to inquire with them about bill and payment options that may be a better fit for you.
The entire town of Edna hangs just south of Interstate 69 and is bisected by Main Street. This forms a rough division of two neighborhoods, but the spirit of the town is contiguous throughout.
North of Main Street: The homes here are a little older, mostly built in the 1950s and sit on small residential lots. They are primarily ranch style, but you will find some bungalows and a duplex or two for rent.
South of Main Street: Larger and more recent construction can be found on the south side of town. As the city streets spread out into the farmland, the homes sit on increasingly large plots of land.
You'll definitely want your own set of wheels if you'll live in Edna. This isn't Manhattan or Chicago, with dense amenities and extensive public transit. Edna has no public transportation system, but at only 3.9 square miles, anything with the city limits is walkable. For occasional shopping and entertainment, most locals head up Interstate 69 to Houston. Greyhound runs regular service between the two cities, but destinations in Texas can be spread over large distances, and you'll do much better in your own car. Edna has limited shopping, a library, museum, a golf course and country club, and a city park with a public swimming pool. For more specific shopping or for additional activities, you'll have to trek to the big city up the highway.
For weekend recreation a little closer to home, Lake Texana is a favorite fishing hole with the locals. This reservoir of the Navidad river provides irrigation water for the City of Edna and is host to ample populations blue catfish, largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, and sunfish. The lake is open year-round to anglers and aspiring anglers, but pick up a Texas fishing permit before heading out. On the weekend, you'll find plenty of farmers on the lake, blowing off some steam after a tough week in the fields. Edna is the well-preserved gem of the Texas Gulf Coast, where you can you catch some largemouth bass. You'll also catch some old-fashioned country living and a peek into Texas history!
