Nacogdoches
Around Nacogdoches
Photo: Rwminix · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Texas · 65k people
Nacogdoches
“The Oldest Town in Texas”, “The Azalea City”, “Blueberry Capital of Texas”
Where Texas history meets the Piney Woods
SFA PurplePine Green
Welcome to Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas! Whether you're here for the azaleas, the blueberry pie, or just to stroll the historic square, you'll find a friendly East Texas vibe. Grab a sweet tea and settle in.
Clubs for Nacogdoches
No clubs for Nacogdoches yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Nacogdoches. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Nacogdoches. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Historic Downtown The heart of the oldest town in Texas, with a charming square and local shops.
- Piney Woods The vast forested region that surrounds Nacogdoches, perfect for hiking and nature.
- Azalea Gardens SFA's Mast Arboretum and the city's famous azalea displays.
- Stephen F. Austin State University The local university, home of the Lumberjacks.
- Stone Fort Museum A replica of an 18th-century Spanish fort on the SFA campus.
- Millard's Crossing Historic Village A collection of restored 19th-century buildings.
- Outdoors Hike the Lanana Creek Trail
- Outdoors Fish at Lake Nacogdoches
- With kids Visit the Children's Museum of East Texas
- With kids Pick blueberries at a local farm
- Evenings Catch a show at the SFA Performing Arts Center
- Evenings Listen to live music at the Fredonia Hotel
- Locals love Blueberry farms
- Locals love Antique shops
Through the year
- Texas Blueberry Festival June Celebrates the local blueberry harvest with food, music, and family fun.
- Nacogdoches Azalea Trail March-April A self-guided tour of the city's famous azalea gardens.
- Nacogdoches County Fair October County fair with livestock shows, rides, and local exhibits.
- SFA Lumberjacks Football Games Fall Home games at Homer Bryce Stadium draw the community.
- Nacogdoches Art Walk First Friday of each month Monthly downtown art showcase with local galleries and vendors.
Humid subtropical with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal—spring for the azaleas, fall for mild temps.
Talk like a local
- “Piney Woods”
- The forested region of East Texas.
- “Oldest Town”
- Nickname for Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas.
- “SFA”
- Abbreviation for Stephen F. Austin State University.
- “Lumberjacks”
- The university's athletic teams and mascot.
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjacks NCAA Division I (Southland Conference)
Eat and drink
- Blueberry Pie Nacogdoches is the Blueberry Capital of Texas
- Texas BBQ East Texas barbecue tradition
- Chicken-Fried Steak Classic Texas comfort food
Where people go
- Historic Downtown Brick streets and preserved 19th-century architecture
- Piney Woods Tall pines and rolling hills that define the landscape
- Azalea Gardens The city is known as the Azalea City, with many gardens and an annual Azalea Trail
Heritage and traditions
Nacogdoches is proud of being the oldest town in Texas, with deep Caddo, Spanish, and Southern heritage, and a strong community spirit centered on its historic downtown, azaleas, and blueberries.
This time of year in Nacogdoches
- Football season Fall SFA Lumberjacks and high school games on Friday nights.
Say it like a local: “Y'all” — You all (plural)
Festivals
- Texas Blueberry Festival June Celebrates the local blueberry harvest with pies, music, and a market.
- Nacogdoches Azalea Trail March-April Self-guided tour of historic homes and gardens blooming with azaleas.
- Nacogdoches County Fair September Livestock shows, carnival rides, and local food.
- Nacogdoches Film Festival February Independent films and workshops held at SFA and downtown venues.
- Nacogdoches Art Walk First Friday of each month Monthly open house at downtown galleries and studios.
- Nacogdoches Oldest Town Celebration April Reenactments, music, and history talks honoring the town's founding.
Landmarks with a story
- Stone Fort Museum Replica of the original 18th-century Spanish stone fort, now a museum.
- Millard's Crossing Historic Village A collection of restored 19th-century buildings on the edge of town.
- Oak Grove Cemetery Burial place of Texas Revolution figures, including Thomas Jefferson Rusk.
- Old Nacogdoches University Building A Greek Revival structure from 1859, now a museum on Washington Square.
- Sterne-Hoya House Museum A pioneer home that hosted Sam Houston and other early Texas leaders.
- Zion Hill Cemetery Historic African American cemetery dating to the 1800s.
Food traditions
- Blueberry pie and preserves Made from local berries, especially during the June harvest.
- Texas BBQ Slow-smoked brisket and sausage, a Piney Woods staple.
- Chicken-fried steak with cream gravy A Southern comfort classic served at diners and family tables.
- Sweet tea The house drink at every meal, often served over ice.
- Fried okra and black-eyed peas Traditional sides at Sunday dinners and church potlucks.
Music and arts
- East Texas blues and country scene Local musicians often mix Southern rock, country, and blues.
- SFA School of Music University concerts, recitals, and the SFA Symphony Orchestra.
- Community theater The Nacogdoches Community Theatre produces plays and musicals.
- Piney Woods folk art Quilting, woodcarving, and folk painting traditions.
A little history
- 1716 Spanish mission established
- 1779 Town founded by Antonio Gil Y'Barbo
- 1826 Fredonian Rebellion, a short-lived attempt to establish an independent republic
- 1836 Nacogdoches was a hotbed of Texas Revolution activity
- 1923 Stephen F. Austin State University founded
Rivalries
- Battle of the Piney Woods SFA vs. Sam Houston State football.
- Nacogdoches vs. Lufkin High School football Local cross-town rivalry.
- SFA vs. Lamar Conference basketball and football games.
- Game day SFA Lumberjack tailgating
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Outdoors Hike the Lanana Creek Trail
- Outdoors Fish at Lake Nacogdoches
- With kids Children's Museum of East Texas
- With kids Picking blueberries
A slow, friendly East Texas Southern drawl, with dropped g's and phrases like 'y'all' and 'fixin' to.' Locals pronounce the town name 'Nack-uh-DOH-chis' with a hard 'ch' as in 'church.'
Only here
- The oldest town in Texas, founded in 1779.
- The Azalea Trail, with over 200 varieties of azaleas in historic gardens.
- The 'Blueberry Capital of Texas'—the state's largest blueberry producer.
- Historic brick streets in downtown, some dating to the 1800s.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce the town name 'Nack-uh-DOH-chis' with a hard 'ch'.
- Prepare for hot, humid summers and mild winters; air conditioning is essential.
- Expect pine pollen in spring—it coats everything with yellow dust.
- Drive distances; the region is spread out and public transit is limited.
- Try a slice of blueberry pie at the Texas Blueberry Festival in June.
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Nearby
Every areaLufkinTexasWhere the pines meet the waterCarthage–CenterTexasWhere the pines meet the lake and the talk is slow.JacksonvilleTexasWhere the pines meet the tomatoesCrockettTexasPiney woods, river bottoms, and good people.PalestineTexasWhere dogwoods bloom and the pines whisperDeep East TexasTexasWhere the pines meet the waterLongviewTexasWhere the pines meet the oil fields, and the tea is always sweet.TylerTexasWhere roses bloom and pines whisper.
Nacogdoches, TX. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.