Chamber of Commerce - Groesbeck, TX
History of the Groesbeck Chamber
Information contributed by long-time chamber director, Tom Hawkins
The Groesbeck Chamber of Commerce was founded in the early 1920s and has been serving the Groesbeck community and surrounding area since that time. From its beginning, the Groesbeck Chamber of Commerce has had as its major purpose the promotion and growth of the business community and the improvement of the quality of life for the citizens of the community.
Over the years the Chamber has promoted the area’s businesses and industries of the town and region, farming and ranching interest, and tourism in the area. When cotton was king in Limestone County, the Chamber gave a prize to the farmer who had the first bale of cotton ginned in Groesbeck for a particular year. At one time Groesbeck had at least five or six cotton gins. There were also cotton gins in nearby communities.
During the great depression of the 1930s, the Chamber with a very limited budget worked very hard to assist the businesses and the people of the community. The Chamber along with other groups in the county was active in the promotion of the Texas Centennial celebration in 1936 in Limestone County.
The Chamber promoted the restoration of Parker’s Fort (now called Old Fort Parker) in 1936 and the founding of Fort Parker State Park which opened in 1941.
Over the years the Chamber of Commerce has supported and contributed to various groups in the community. The Chamber has supported the Groesbeck Independent School District and the City of Groesbeck. The Chamber was supportive of the building of Lake Limestone by the Brazos River Authority in the late 1970s. Upon the opening and development of Lake Limestone, the Groesbeck Chamber phrased the slogan ---- “Groesbeck --- Gateway to Lake Limestone.”
Another famous motto for Groesbeck and adopted by the Chamber is “Groesbeck, the Friendly City.”
The Chamber sponsors a number of activities each year including two vendor markets, two Citywide Garage Sales, and the 4th of July celebration and more.
Additionally, the Groesbeck Chamber of Commerce holds a yearly banquet each year. Numerous awards are presented each year to deserving individuals and groups. The awards presented each year are Citizen of the Year, Youth Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year, Organization of the Year, and Community Spirit. Also presented at the banquet each year are the H. O. Whitehurst Elementary School Educator of the Year, the Enge-Washington Intermediate Educator of the Year, the Groesbeck Middle School Educator of the Year, Groesbeck High School Educator of the Year and Youth Citizen of the Year. The Groesbeck Study Club also presents the Woman of the Year Award at the banquet each year.
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Groesbeck was founded in 1871 and named for an early railroad man, Abraham Groesbeeck. On April 12, 1871, a post office was established and the name was listed as "Groesbeck." The spelling became the official city name.
Located on State Highways 14 and 164, just 35 miles from IH 35 at Waco to the west, and only 30 miles from IH 45 to the east, we are 2.5 hours from Houston and approximately 2 hours from Dallas. The Chamber of Commerce provides current information on events, services, and programs that are available through the Groesbeck Chamber members and incoming Groesbeck businesses.
We welcome you to contact us to join us in our endeavors.