The New York, Texas and Mexican Railway built a track 91 mi (146 km) long.

It traveled from Richmond to Victoria across the upper section of Abel Head "Shanghai" Pierce's land.

In March 1894, 160 acres (65 ha) of land was divided into 64 240 square feet (2.2×10−5 km2) blocks for the townsite.

Shanghai Pierce wanted another railroad track to be built from Eagle Lake to Bay City, which would be on the west side of the Colorado River and would travel through the community to make it a crossroads community, but it did not happen.

The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Wharton County Youth Fair were housed in Pierce for a short time with Precinct No.

[3] Shanghai Pierce's ranch house in the community is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.