Gunter, Texas, began its development during the final years of the 1800s. The community received its first post office in 1898, though the specific name associated with that early office is not recorded. A significant boost to the town occurred four years later with the arrival of the St. Louis, San Francisco and Texas Railway. The settlement was named for John Gunter, a surveyor and landowner who contributed property for the town's establishment.
By 1914, Gunter had grown to a population of 800 residents. At that time, the community supported 36 businesses, including the weekly Grayson County Advocate newspaper. The population later dropped to 500 by 1924, the year the town officially incorporated. The reasons for this decline are not explained in available records.
The Great Depression affected Gunter less severely than some other areas, reducing the resident count to 475 in 1936. Growth remained slow for the following fifty years. By 1991, the population had risen to 926. The town surpassed 1,000 residents sometime during the 1990s. According to the 2000 Census, Gunter had 1,230 people.
More recent observations indicate that Gunter is experiencing early signs of expansion pressure from Dallas. This growth is occurring at the outer edge of the metropolitan area. Plans for new residential development and new schools have begun to take shape. These details were noted by photographer Mike Price in September 2007.
The Texas Escapes organization, which aims to preserve historic, endangered, and vanishing Texas sites, invites residents to share local history, stories, landmarks, and vintage photographs. Those interested in contributing can contact the organization directly.
