A brief history of the Montopolis community
The Montopolis Neighborhood is centered around Montopolis Drive between Riverside and US 183 to the North (Austin Community Technology Centers, 2002). Montopolis was incorporated into Austin as a town in January 15, 1939. The word Montopolis is derived from the Latin "Mont" for mountain and "Apolic" from city.
According to "Historia de Montopolis", a ferry was authorized in June 1840 with Wesley Hunt as the ferryman. Additionally, in the 1890's, General Hambry had a zoo with bears, coons, deer, foxes, hogs, peacocks, possum, and wolves near Montopolis. There were tables in the garden for beer, and this was Austin's first zoo.
Before the 1960's, Montopolis was known as "Poverty Island". Located South of the Colorado River, with no public transportation, the area was poor, with a high crime rate and inadequate housing. The Montopolis Community Center was completed in May 1964 with a loan secured by Fathor Fred Underwood, pastor of Dolores Parish. The Center served the athletic, social, cultural, and educational needs of the Montopolis residents. Father Underwood helped the community have a lower crime rate, an increase in education levels, and a lowered percentage of residents on welfare (Braceda, 1971).
Other historical landmarks include the Montopolis bridge, across the Colorado River, and the Montopolis Cemetery. The San Jose Cemetery was established in 1919, and it marks the Mexican-American urbanization in the Austin area. The last known person was buried in the cemetery in the early 1960's, and the location has not been maintained regularly since (Tijerina, 1983).
Sources:
Austin Community Technology Centers. (2002). Austin Neighborhoods. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/rhodesprp/01_02/access/neigh.htm
Breceda, E. (1971, July 29). The Montopolis story: A community for people by people. La Fuerza.
Tijerina, J. (1983). Montopolis cemetery rooted in history.
