Celebrating Heritage
Milam is Sabine County’s oldest town, located six miles north of Hemphill in northern Sabine County. The highway passing through Milam (Hwy. 21) is said to be the oldest roadway on the North American continent. Indians were the first travelers on this historical route, and Milam was a trading post before the white men came to Texas. The site was originally an Indian watering place called Las Borregas by the Spanish.
When the Spaniards were trying to settle Texas, the King of Spain had a road built for his soldiers to travel over. He used the road through Milam at the beginning of the 1700s. It was called “El Camino Real,” and was later called “The Old San Antonio Road.”
Stephen F. Austin spent his first night in Texas on the Borregas Creek and described the area as a red dirt mound, which is where it got its original name when John S. Roberts from Louisiana established his trading post as “Red Mound” in 1834. The name was changed to Milam in 1835 in honor of Benjamin Rush Milam. The new town of Milam was made the County Seat of Sabine County in 1836 and continued as county seat until 1858.
The population of Milam at that time was 3,600. It was the chief town in Texas during the Republic of Texas. The Milam Post Office is the oldest post office in Texas that has been in use ever since it started. While under the Republic of Texas, Milam was a port of entry with a customs collector. During the Civil War it became county headquarters for the Army Quartermaster Department of the Confederacy.
During the antebellum Texas period the town was known for its two large racetracks, which drew crowds that were easily accommodated by its equally well known inns and taverns.
Today, Milam’s population is about 1,480. The area celebrates Milam Settlers Day annually to preserve the history of Milam. The two-day event is held the weekend prior to Thanksgiving and is free to attend. It features craft and food booths, and entertainment. Funds raised from the event are used for the upkeep of the Causey House, El Camino Park, the Milam Cemetery, and a scholarship award to a local graduate is also sourced from the event. Recently, a historical marker designating the area where Stephen F. Austin spent his first night in Texas on Las Borregas Creek was placed. Future plans for historical markers in Milam include the Milam Cemetery and for the town of Milam.
The Milam Settlers Day Organization was formed in 1992 with the purpose of preserving the history of Milam and keeping the memories and stories of Milam, and early settlers into Texas alive.