Southland Paper Mills, Inc: Texas Historical Marker

Southland Paper Mills Inc was the first paper mill to use pine trees to make newsprint. Thus, opening an entire new industry for the South. In 1965 the mill was turning 6,000 rolls of newsprint and brown wrapping weekly. In 1990 Southland Paper mill products accounted for eight percent of the nation's newsprint. It had seven newsprint machines, one of which could produce 200,000 tons annually. At its peak the paper mill employed over 1,000 people and had a payroll of over $7,000,000. The marker is located on FM 103 East, 1 mi. east of US Hwy 59.