​What was the first name of our town?

• It was Gibbs.

• Apparently, the name came from Barnett Gibbs, a popular politician among farmers and who had served as Lieutenant Governor of Texas.
• Prior to Gibbs, the community was known as Grapevine Springs.

Where does the name Coppell come from?  

• We know for sure that the railroad opened its first depot here and named it Coppell in 1890.
• There was always a rumor that Mr. Coppell was the name of the engineer who drove the train through Coppell.  

• In 2014, after decades of uncertainty, we have identified the man for whom our town was named; at  least we are reasonably sure.  George Coppell was an extremely wealthy investor and financier in New York, and he specialized in dealing with railroads that went bankrupt. Our railroad, which was opening through our town in 1890, went bankrupt and was reopened under new ownership the next day. The legalities were handled, in part, by George Coppell.  

• The railroad company, not necessarily intending to change the town’s name but wanting to honor one of its dignitaries, assigned the name Coppell to its new depot.  
• There are several factors which may have contributed to the renaming of the town from Gibbs to Coppell in 1892.
  • In 1887, when the town was named Gibbs (after Barnett Gibbs) when W.O. Harrison established a post office in his general store:
    • ​He championed farmers’ interest;
    • He had served as city of Dallas attorney and as the lieutenant governor; however,
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    • Public opinion had turned against his support for the railroad workers Knights of Labor Union;
    • He was a staunch anti-Prohibitionist.  Many in Coppell at the time may have supported prohibition.
    • Learn more:  here
  • After the railroad depot was named Coppell in 1890, people started referring to the town as Coppell rather than Gibbs.
  •  In 1891, Gibbs had supported the Farmers' Alliance which led to him leaving his party and becoming a populist.  You can read more about him here.
  • Since there was another post office named Gibbs in Texas at the time, that may have contributed to the name being changed.
    

​When did our town get started?

• The first known settler to the area was James Parrish, and he established a homestead along present Moore Road in 1848.
• Coppell requested an election to be incorporated on November 18, 1955.  See the request here.
• The Town of Coppell became the City of Coppell on March 6, 1965.  See the ordinance here.
• See a list of people who have served as mayors of Coppell here.

What is the background on Grapevine Springs Park?  

• The area was always popular, even back when roaming tribes of Indians camped there, probably drawn to the place by the spring water that bubbled up through the ground.  
• In 1843, Sam Houston, President of the Republic of Texas, anticipating approaching statehood and wanting to promote settlement, traveled to Grapevine Springs to sign the first of many treaties with the violent Indian tribes in North Texas. Some of the most violent tribes, like the Comanche, would not cooperate, however, and Houston left the springs after six weeks of waiting.  His agents eventually signed the treaty at Bird’s Fort, which was a small fort near present Six Flags Over Texas.  Houston also signed the treaty, and the original document is held in Texas state archives.  
• The area was a popular stop-over for travelers, and there were a number of religious encampments held there.  
• In 1937, the WPA built elaborate walking trails, barbecue pits, and retaining walls, and the area was officially named Grapevine Springs Park and, sometimes, Coppell Park.  
• Locals held baseball games there, picnics, and other community events.  
• After World War II, the park was no longer maintained by the state, and ownership shifted to Webb Roberts, who maintained the land as a private park, just as the WPA built it.  
• In the mid-1990s, some of the land was donated to the City of Coppell, the city entered into an agreement with Dallas County, and the park was restored as a nature preserve. Coppell currently holds a 99-year lease on the park and maintains it.

What is the history of Coppell Schools?

• We have an old photo that shows “Coppell School” in 1897, but we suspect there were others before it, possibly in a log cabin, and probably meeting in one of the original church buildings.  
• In 1911, an older school building was replaced in downtown Coppell with a two-story frame structure.
• In the 1920s, there were three local schools in our area: Gentry School, S. Belt Line and Hwy. 114 area; Bethel School, on the corner of present Moore Road and Bethel School Road; and Coppell School, due west of current Main Street in Old Town.  
• In 1928, these three schools consolidated into one Coppell School, and a new brick building was built for it on the site of present Pinkerton Elementary School on Southwestern Boulevard.  
• This school building burned and was rebuilt in 1949.  
• Coppell School was then an eight-grade county school. Students who finished the eighth grade at Coppell attended high school in Carrollton.  
• Coppell became an independent school district in 1959.  

• Beginning in the fall of 1961, Coppell added a grade a year to its school, eventually forming a complete twelve-grade high school, and it produced its first graduating class in 1965.

What historical cemeteries exist in Coppell?

• There are four:

• The Parrish Cemetery – the family cemetery of the original Parrish settlers, containing approximately 48 graves, including the grave of James Parrish, the first settler, located at 746 Cardinal Lane.  
• The Historic Bethel Cemetery – formerly a public cemetery on land donated by the Parrish family, containing as many as 200 to 300 graves, but now with only two markers still present, located at 603 Christi Circle, preserved and restored, with a Texas State Historical Marker from 1989.  
• The Bullock Cemetery – the family cemetery of Washington Curtis Bullock, containing approximately 40 graves, located at 331 S. Denton Tap Road, currently maintained by family members.  It is located off of S. Denton Tap Road on the side of the street near the post office.
• The Stringfellow-Moore Cemetery – a family cemetery on land donated by the Stringfellow family, with approximately 28 graves, located north of 508 Carter Drive.

What are some demographics related to Coppell?

• The first general store in Coppell was opened in 1874 by W. O Harrison, located in the old downtown area, and it contained the first post office.  
• In 1893, Coppell had four stores, a school, a lumber yard, a blacksmith shop, and a cotton gin.  
• A bank opened in the downtown area of Coppell in 1909.  
• In 1914, Coppell had two churches, two general stores, two blacksmiths, a bank, a hardware store, a telephone service, and a population of 450.  
• By 1926, the population had decreased to 200 for a decade.  
• The city of Coppell was officially incorporated in 1955, and in that year it elected its first mayor, R.M. Johnson, and built its own limited public water supply.  
• In 1970, Coppell’s population was 1,728, and it had eight businesses.  

• By 2000, the population was almost 40,000.

What historical projects are currently underway?

• The Historical Society, in conjunction with the city, restored the Kirkland House, the oldest remaining house in Coppell, built in 1904, currently located on the southeast corner of West Bethel and S. Coppell Roads, in old town Coppell.
• We are currently working to get official state designation for all four of our historic cemeteries.  
• We conduct annual archeological digs to unearth artifacts.
• We continually update our collection of historical photographs.  
• We are compiling oral histories from long-time residents.  
• We are recognizing outstanding student achievements in history studies in our schools.  
• We continue to work closely with our city council to preserve our town’s history and to influence future development that will honor our heritage, especially in old town Coppell.
• Classes, a summer camp and other activities for adults and the younger generation
• Preservation efforts
• Archeological searches
• In-person and virtual online tours
• Historical markers
• Pioneer Day with petting farm and vintage activities
• Active operation of an early store

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