The first train turned Greenville cotton into world trade

Greenville had blackland cotton before it had an easy way to move a 500-pound bale. Local merchants raised money for railroad land and stock pens. The first train rolled into town on October 2, 1880. Within a few years, Greenville was a Northeast Texas rail hub.

From there, local cotton reached mills in Liverpool and Manchester. The Greenville Cotton Compress set world records in 1911 and 1912 for bales packed for rail shipment. That is why cotton and railroad history show up together around town. Each one made the other much bigger.