Mars is a ghost towninVan Zandt County, Texas, United States.[1]
Mars, Texas
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  Mars, Texas Show map of Texas  Mars, Texas Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates: 32°21′34″N 95°43′33″W / 32.35944°N 95.72583°W / 32.35944; -95.72583 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Van Zandt |
| Elevation | 459 ft (140 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 2034766[1] |
Once a retail center for the surrounding community, all that remains of the settlement is a church.
Mars was settled by brothers John and Henry Marrs.[2]
The settlement was a retail trading center, and had two mercantile stores, a blacksmith shop, and a cotton gin and grist mill.[2][3][4]
The Pleasant Ridge Church and school were established in 1871.[4] In 1916, the school consolidated to form the Clower Common School District (Clower is located approximately 15 mi (24 km) north of Mars).[4][5][6]
In 1891, a post office was established, originally called "Acme". The name was changed to "Mars" seven years later. The post office closed in 1907.[4][7]
The population of Mars was over 100 in 1915, and had declined to 50 in 1945.[2]
The Pleasant Ridge Church is all that remains of the settlement.[2]