History of Ginger, Texas: From Settlement to Brick Manufacturing


By: Claudia Hazlewood

Published: 1952

Updated: January 1, 1995

Ginger is on Farm Road 779 three miles southeast of Emory in eastern Rains County. It was first settled in the late 1870s and became a station on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas line in the early 1880s. The small community, near a large deposit of clay, was reportedly named for the color of the clay. A Ginger brick plant, established in 1880, made bricks for the courthouse in Emory. In 1905 the Fraser-Johnson Brick Company opened a factory at Ginger and began manufacturing and marketing "Ginger bricks." The company later shortened its name to Fraser Brick Company and began producing ceramic tile. It continued to operate until the 1940s, when the clay deposits were exhausted. A post office opened at the community in 1910, when Ginger reported a population of 100, two stores, two churches, and a school. In 1920 the population was estimated as 150. By 1930 the Ginger post office had been replaced by rural delivery from Alba. In 1947 Ginger reported two businesses and an estimated population of fifty. In 1990 it was a dispersed rural community with a population of ninety-six. The population remained the same in 2000.

TSHA is a proud affiliate of University of Texas at Austin

Places:

The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this entry.

Claudia Hazlewood, “Ginger, TX,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed March 09, 2026, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/ginger-tx.

Published by the Texas State Historical Association.

TID: HRG13

1952
January 1, 1995

Find out more about this place from our Texas Almanac.

Place
Ginger
Currently Exists
Yes
Place Type
Town
USGS ID
1378357
Town Fields
  • Has post office: No
  • Is Incorporated: No
Belongs to
  • Rains County
Coordinates
  • Latitude: 32.84984500°
  • Longitude: -95.71968370°
Population Counts
People Year
70 2014

Claim Your Piece of Texas History! Adopt a town, county, college, or lake and leave your mark on Texas, where people from all over will see it.

Become a part of Texas history by adopting a town, county, or lake through The Great Texas Land Rush! Whether you're honoring a loved one, celebrating a special event, or simply sharing your personal message, this unique opportunity allows you to leave your mark on the Lone Star State. Choose the location that speaks to you, customize your message, and showcase your support for Texas. Each adoption comes with a frameable certificate, so you can proudly display your connection to this great state. Adopt your piece of Texas today and help preserve its rich heritage!