The Jefferson Jimplecute is moving up in the world!
The Jimplecute has been known as the 5th oldest newspaper in Texas for decades. Well, that’s not longer accurate. Now the Jimplecute is the 4th oldest newspaper in Texas.
“I’d been wondering for several years if the paper’s ranking had changed,” said Jimplecute co-publisher Hugh Lewis. “So, I asked the Texas Press Association, and they sent us the list of the 10 oldest papers. Now we’re number four.
“I always hate to see newspapers close – for any reason,” said Jimplecute co-publisher Austin Lewter, “but I’m glad to see us move up in the rankings. It’s just good for the Jimp, Jefferson, and Marion County as more recognition brings more interest and more interest brings more visitors.”
The Oldest Ten Newspapers in Texas, according to the Texas Press Association are, in order of age, 1842 Galveston, 1845 Bay city, 1846 Victoria, 1848 Jefferson, 1849 Palestine, 1850 Huntsville and Rusk, 1852 New Braunfels, 1853 Bastrop and Gonzales.
Texas did, however, lose 12 newspapers in 2020 and 14 papers in 2019. There are eight new newspapers joining the list in 2019, 2020, and 2021. The losses varied in reason from deaths of owners, depressed markets or mergers. The new papers are all weeklies.
2021 New Papers coming:
- Corsicana, The Navco Journal will have Periodical permit
- Del Rio, new newspaper coming from Stanley Metcalf
2020 Newspapers Lost
- Castroville News Bulletin (tragic death of owner)
- Cleveland News Advocate (lost to pandemic)
- Coppell Citizens Advocate (closed)
- Del Rio News-Herald (lost to pandemic)
- Friendswood Journal (merged with Webster, Bay Area Citizen)
- Linden Cass County Sun (merged with Atlanta Citizens Journal)
- Lytle Leader News (tragic death of owner)
- Lytle, Medina Valley times (tragic death of owner)
- Mart Messenger (lost to pandemic)
- Merkel Mail (closed – depressed market)
- Mineral Wells Index (merged with Weatherford Democrat)
Trenton Tribune (closed)
2020 NEW Newspapers
- Brackettville, Kinney County Post (weekly)
- Hempstead, Waller County Express (weekly)
- Refugio County Press (weekly)
- Stratford, Sherman County Gazette (weekly)
2019 Newspapers Lost
- Bridgeport Index (no buyer found, owner closed down)
- Brookshire Times-Tribune (closed)
- Burleson Star (online only, then closed)
- Chandler & Brownsboro Statesman (closed – depressed market)
- Chico Texan (no buyer found, owner closed down)
- Commerce Journal (closed)
- Eagle Lake Headlight (closed – depressed market)
- Frankston Citizen (closed)
- Kerens Tribune (closed – depressed market)
- Malakoff News (closed – depressed market)
- Pottsboro Sun (death of owner)
- Quinlin Tawakoni News (closed – depressed market)
- Stratford Star (closed)
- Timpson East Texas Press (ceased print publication)
2019 NEW Newspapers
- Waxahachie Sun (weekly)
- Winnie, Seabreeze Beacon (weekly)