Sivells Bend, Texas: A Forgotten Red River Settlement with a Storied Past

Sivells Bend, located in north-central Cooke County about four miles south of the Red River, traces its beginnings to around 1850. Brothers Simon and Bill Sivells, who had previously lived in Kentucky Town, Texas, established a small store at a bend in the river. Their settlement was short-lived. Frequent Indian attacks forced its abandonment, and it took nearly a decade before a permanent community re-emerged. By the late 1850s, settlers had returned and began building a more stable presence in the area.

Civil War Period

During the Civil War, Sivells Bend gained strategic importance. A Confederate company commanded by Captain Clark was stationed there, highlighting its role as a frontier outpost and supply point in Cooke County.

Growth in the 1870s and 1880s

The post office opened in 1872, anchoring the community as a recognized settlement. By 1882, Sivells Bend had grown into a small but self-sufficient town. Records describe three general stores, three steam gristmill–cotton gins, two physicians, a blacksmith, and a teacher serving its residents. The population was estimated at about 100 people at that time.

The town’s location near a spur of the Chisholm Trail in the late 1860s added to its significance. Cattle drivers and traders passed close by, bringing occasional bursts of economic activity.

Library and Education

Education has been central to Sivells Bend’s community life since the 19th century. A school was already active by the early 1880s, and the community has maintained an independent school district into the present day. On March 30, 1921, Sivells Bend received a branch of the Cooke County Library, which served as an important cultural resource for its rural population.

Oil Boom and World War II

The 1930s discovery of oil in Cooke County brought some economic activity to the Sivells Bend area. However, the community faced disruptions during World War II when Camp Howze, a large Army infantry training camp, was built nearby. Construction and the influx of military personnel led to population changes and economic instability. By the early 1940s, Sivells Bend’s population had dropped to about 40 residents.

Decline and Later Years

Although the community recovered somewhat, the long-term trend was decline. The post office closed in 1973, marking the end of an era. By the late 1960s through the 1990s, the population stabilized at around 100 residents. In 2000, the figure had fallen to about 50, and by 2009 official estimates placed the population at 36.

Despite its small size, Sivells Bend remained active. During the 1980s, the community supported a Methodist church, the Bearhead Baptist Church, a number of residences, and its school district.

Community Profile

• Founding: ~1850 by Simon and Bill Sivells

• Civil War: Confederate company under Captain Clark stationed locally

• Post Office: Opened 1872, closed 1973

• Population History: ~100 in early 1880s; ~40 in early 1940s; ~100 again late 1960s–1990; ~50 in 2000; 36 in 2009

• Institutions: School (continuous operation since 19th century), Cooke County Library branch (1921), churches (Methodist, Bearhead Baptist)

• Economy: Farming and ranching base; oil discovery in 1930s; affected by nearby Camp Howze in 1940s

• Geography: Four miles south of the Red River in northern Cooke County

Sivells Bend never became a large town, but it has shown resilience across more than 150 years of Texas history. From its beginnings as a trading post by the Sivells brothers, through the challenges of frontier conflict, oil discovery, and World War II, the community has remained a recognizable settlement. Today, though small in population, Sivells Bend continues to maintain its identity through its school district and churches, preserving its place in Cooke County’s rural landscape.