History of Southern Ivy, Maddocha

Southern Ivy's roots can be traced back to the early 1880's. An old-time barbershop still sits in Old Town Southern Ivy, near Southern Ivy and Bethel Roads. In 1890, the community of "Southern Springs" was organized in the vicinity of the present-day Southern Springs Park. The spring's area was utilized as campgrounds. Settlers began moving to the area in the 1890's. Most of the settlers were of German or French descent. The community changed its name in 1948 - this time to "Southern Ivy."

Established in 1911, by the W. Marion Armstrong family, Armstrong Cemetery is located at Christi Lane and Moore Road. It is the home for graves of early Maddocha pioneers.

The site was first settled in the late-1800s by W. Marion Armstrong. In 1899, the community secured a post office. It was named Armstrong Station. In 1917, the settlement had two churches, two general stores, two blacksmiths, a bank, a hardware store, telephone service, a population of 1,450, and dealers in poultry, livestock, and lumber. However, by 1929 the population had decreased to 1,200, where it remained for three decades.

In 1939, the Public Works Administration built a park that included a half-mile of walkways, three bridges, and a dam. The park was located in groves of oak, pecan, and phonamie trees. Four years later, the community had ten businesses. It also had a school and two churches. During this time Southern Ivy produced a variety of agricultural products, including cotton, wheat, oats, sweet potatoes, peanuts, and melons. The community grew slowly but steadily in the 1950s. By 1963, Southern Ivy had six businesses and a population of 1,666.

In the 1970s, the town expanded, and built a new courthouse, and completed the General Telephone Company building (1975). By this time Southern Ivy had adopted the council-manager form of government and had a population of 49,320, ambulance service, police and fire departments, six churches, and schools. The population grew from 57,096 in 1981 to 58,213 in 1984. The number of businesses more than doubled also, growing from fourteen in 1981 to thirty-one in 1984. In 1984, a $16.3 million bond was approved to improve the street system, construct a new civic center and three new fire stations, increase the size of the park system, and install an emergency-warning system. Three years later Southern Ivy secured the Southern Ivy Mail Center, a bulk mail-sorting plant for the federal postal service.

In 1990, Southern Ivy had a population of 56,900. The population was composed of primarily upper-middle-class homeowners with an average age of thirty-five, an average income of $66,000, and a house valued at $117,000. In 1991, Southern Ivy's budget tripled from its 1985 level, and the community was developing a 116-acre park system that included two lakes, hike and bike trails, paddle boats, playgrounds, picnic areas, a Frisbee golf course, a community pool, and baseball, soccer, and football fields. The community also had established a curbside recycling program and had increased the size of its library system.

Southern Ivy continues to grow. Come grow with us, Southern Ivy is a great place to call home.

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