Powderly, TX Properties

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Powderly is a rural census-designated place in Lamar County, in far northeast Texas near the Red River and the Oklahoma line. It sits on U.S. Highway 271, about five miles south of the highway's crossing of the Red River, and the CDP covers roughly 7.5 square miles, with a small portion of that area under water. The 2020 census recorded 1,261 residents. The community dates to around the Civil War era, when it was known as Lenoir. When the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway built through the area in the 1880s, the settlement took on a new name and a rail-oriented identity. Today Powderly is an unincorporated area with no local government and no formally mapped neighborhoods or walkable downtown; it functions as a spread-out rural community where residents value privacy and self-reliance, and homeownership runs well above the state average. Pat Mayse Lake shapes both recreation and the area's appeal. The Army Corps of Engineers reservoir, impounded in 1967 on Sanders Creek, a tributary of the Red River, lies a short drive from Powderly and offers fishing, boating, and camping without the crowds of the state's largest lakes. Its campgrounds and boat ramps draw weekend and seasonal visitors, while year-round residents treat the lake as an everyday amenity. Paris, the Lamar County seat, sits to the south on U.S. 271 and supplies shopping, schools, and services. The town's historic downtown and the broader Prairies and Lakes region of Texas give Powderly residents a nearby urban anchor while the community itself remains open, low-density country. Powderly suits buyers who want a rural, lake-adjacent setting on larger lots, close to the Red River basin, with Paris's amenities within easy reach.

Population 1,261

County Lamar

Active Listings 45

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Powderly in?

Powderly is in Lamar County, in far northeast Texas near the Red River and the Oklahoma state line. The community sits on U.S. Highway 271, about five miles south of the highway's crossing of the Red River.

What lake is near Powderly?

Powderly is near Pat Mayse Lake, a 5,940-acre reservoir impounded in 1967 on Sanders Creek, a tributary of the Red River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the lake, which offers fishing, boating, and camping.

What school district serves Powderly?

Powderly is served by the North Lamar Independent School District, based in nearby Paris. The district operates elementary, middle, and high school campuses for this northern part of Lamar County.

How far is Powderly from Paris and the Oklahoma border?

Powderly lies about five miles south of U.S. 271's crossing of the Red River at the Oklahoma border. Paris, the Lamar County seat, is a short drive south on U.S. 271 for shopping, schools, and services.

City Guide

About Powderly

Real Estate & Housing

Powderly's housing is rural and spread out, with large lots, minimal commercial development, and a high rate of homeownership. Homes are a mix of older farmhouses, manufactured homes, and newer single-family residences on acreage, reflecting the unincorporated character of the area. There are no large planned subdivisions; instead, properties tend toward private, self-sufficient parcels near the lake and Red River countryside. Buyers typically come here for space, quiet, and lake access rather than neighborhood amenities.

Neighborhoods

Lifestyle in Powderly

Powderly offers a quiet, self-reliant rural lifestyle. There is no walkable downtown or historic square; instead, the area is defined by open land, lake access, and a strong preference for privacy among residents. Paris, a short drive south, provides the commercial, dining, and civic amenities the community itself lacks. For those who want Red River basin country living with fishing and boating nearby, Powderly is a representative far-northeast-Texas choice that keeps a full-service county seat within easy reach.

Schools & Education

Public school students in Powderly attend the North Lamar Independent School District, based in nearby Paris. The district operates elementary, middle, and high school campuses serving this northern stretch of Lamar County, including Aaron Parker Elementary on the Powderly side. Paris, the county seat, also provides access to additional educational services and higher-education options, including Paris Junior College, within a short drive.

Getting Around

U.S. Highway 271 is Powderly's principal route, running south into Paris, the Lamar County seat, and north across the Red River into Oklahoma. Paris sits at the junction of U.S. 271 and U.S. 82, connecting the area east-west across North Texas and toward the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to the southwest. Farm-to-market and county roads serve the surrounding countryside and lake access points. The area is rural, so daily errands and most services are handled by a short drive into Paris.

Parks & Recreation

Pat Mayse Lake anchors recreation around Powderly. The 5,940-acre reservoir, impounded in 1967 on Sanders Creek about twelve miles north of Paris, is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and offers fishing, boating, and camping. Sanders Cove Campground draws weekend and seasonal visitors, while residents enjoy the lake's relatively uncrowded character compared with larger Texas reservoirs. The surrounding Red River basin and rural Lamar County countryside add space for hunting, riding, and quiet outdoor pursuits.

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