City of joshua
The city of Joshua , dating back to around 1867 , has a population of 8,700 residents covering more than 6.5 square miles .
Before the city of Joshua became what it is today , the land was known as “ Crosstimbers ,” a wooded strip of land that bisects Texas and divided Johnson County into the east and west prairies .
Joshua ’ s first community was Caddo Grove , two miles west of present day Joshua . It was a self-sufficient town until the railroad ( Gulf , Colorado and Santa Fe ) laid tracks between Cleburne and Fort Worth .
Joshua ( named after the biblical character ) was platted in 1880 and organized with the arrival of the railroad in 1881 . The first store ( containing the post office ) opened the following year . Caddo Grove ’ s post office closed soon after .
By 1890 Joshua was thriving with a respectable 300 citizens , two steam mills which doubled as cotton gins , a hotel and a newspaper . A one-room school opened in 1890 and in 1899 a larger school was built which became the high school in 1917 .
The town suffered fires in 1900 and 1912 , but still managed to thrive . In 1906 a public water system was installed and gardens and orchards sprang up around the community .
The Fort Worth South Traction Line ( interurban service ) connected Cleburne with Fort Worth and in 1912 Joshua became a stop .
While still small , the city is poised for growth that has been in the planning stages for years . More and more large tracks of land are selling off and making way for both residential and commercial development .
City Manager Mike Peacock , who has been employed with the city since 2008 , said that the expectation of future growth is happening with multiple residential developments as well as commercial . In the past few years , the city has welcomed several new restaurants
and businesses both on Texas 174 and downtown along Main Street . Upgrades in parking have also been installed downtown to accommodate guests .
Multiple single family developments are under construction as well as new phases in Cooper Valley , Mockingbird Hills , Joshua Crossing and Joshua Meadows that will continue to add to the numbers of residents that call Joshua home . Commercial development is headed up by the City Economic Development Director Molly
Martin , who maintains a focus on commercial development and quality of life living .
Businesses such as Brick House Grill , Lavish Nails & Spa , Worth Steel Fabrication , Texas Home and Garden , Universetea of Joshua , Wildflowers Wellness Spa Salon , The Shoppes on Broadway , McDonald ’ s , Three Rivers Coffee and Wine Bar and Deep Roots Family Salon opened in the last few years .
This year a wine lounge and bistro called Oh ... Wine Knot is opening downtown next to La Mesa Mesquite Grill . An Aguas Frescas drink bar is opening on Texas 174 , as well as a karate academy named Academy of Okinawan .
For information , visit the city website at cityofjoshuatx . us or contact Peacock at 817-558-7447 .
10 JOSHUA CHAMBER DIRECTORY & VISITORS GUIDE 2024