SMALL TOWN SALUTE: Winona established after Baptist church organized

WINONA, Texas ( KETK ) – Established nearly 154 years ago, the City of Winona has a history spanning decades before it was officially recognized.

According to the city, the area was inhabited in 1818 by Delaware Indians, a Native American tribe. It wasn’t until the Winona Liberty Baptist Church was organized 52 years later that the city was established.

The relationship between Winona and the city of Tyler began when Winona became a station for the Tyler Tap Railway in 1877 and when the first hard-surface road was built with county funds in 1914, called Dixie Highway, that extended from Tyler to Winona.

The Texas State Historical Association said before the Great Depression, the city had a population of almost 800 people, afterward, it was decreased to half as enterprises shut down. Winona is now home to about 600 people.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.