Historical Marker

White Point/Rosita

Historical marker location:
Voss Avenue (US 77), Odem, Texas
( Voss Avenue (US 77) at West Humphries Street)
Marker installed: 1994

Native American tribes occupied land in this vicinity before Spanish explorers claimed the region in the 18th Century. Anglo American settlers began arriving in the area in the 1830s, and in 1856 brothers, Frank and Eddie White purchased land here for a cattle ranch. Their land holdings became known as White Point, named either for themselves or for the prominent white cliffs along nearby Nueces Bay.

The White brothers hired Darius C. Rachal to move their cattle herd here from East Texas. Following his service with Hood's Texas Brigade during the Civil War. Rachal also purchased land in the area and began his own ranching enterprise. After the White brothers died in a yellow fever epidemic, Rachal became the community's leading citizen. His home became a center of activity, and he applied for a U.S. post office in 1890. The Postal Service denied the name White Point, but finally approved a post office in 1892 under the Rosita, Darius C. Rachal was the first postmaster.

The White Point / Rosita community remained small, but did include a public school for a few years. Established in 1916, the school closed in the early 1920s, about the time the community declined following Rachal's death in 1918. (1994).