History
Anna is located on State Highway 5, Farm Road 455, and U.S. Highway 75 eleven miles northeast of McKinney in north central Collin County. Although Collin McKinney settled within a few miles of the future townsite in 1846, John L. Greer, who arrived in 1867, is credited with building the first home and store in the new community. The Houston and Texas Central Railway, at that time built between Dallas and Denison, passed through the area in 1873. By the time Anna was platted in 1883, it had a population of twenty, two stores, a steam gristmill, and a Baptist church. A post office also opened in that year. By 1890 the town had a population of 100 to 200. Anna was incorporated in 1913, with John L. Greer as first mayor.
Local historian Chester A. Howell compiled a brief history of Anna for inclusion in a book that was given to those who attended the Anna school homecoming on October 19, 1985. A one page "errata" to correct some minor errors was added in 1989. Mr. Howell's history, A Town Named Anna, is one of the most authoritative and complete descriptions of the history of our community.
On May 9, 2006, a storm producing 2 tornadoes swept across Anna, with the first tornado (F0) passing 2.5 miles east of the high school barely missing the incorporated city limits. The tornado (F3) touched down in neighboring unincorporated Westminster, Texas and Whitewright, Texas, destroying many homes and killing 3. During the disaster, several volunteers from Collin County Amateur Radio Services worked with the National Weather Service in a Skywarn net. Anna Police and Fire Departments along with the American Red Cross opened Anna High School up as a shelter to the "walking wounded" and anyone who needed a place to stay due to the road blockages and damage in that area. The tornadoes could be seen from Anna, Van Alstyne, and Melissa and power was knocked out to several homes in the area. Sirens sounded for Anna residents twice, giving people time to take shelter and prepare for the storm. Media and many of the volunteers from around the Dallas/Fort Worth area set up in Anna.
Read more about this topic: Anna, Texas
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