Sulphur Springs, Texas: A Green City!

Sulphur Springs, Texas is a green city! You may be surprised to learn, but this small Texas town takes sustainability seriously. Here are some ways Sulphur Springs is leading the charge in Northeast Texas to go green.

Earth Day, a cherished tradition

Every year, Sulphur Springs eagerly awaits the arrival of Earth Day, a global celebration dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and conservation. In 2022, the town began hosting Earth Day celebrations and continues the tradition. The Earth Day event included a plant market, eco-activities such as build-your-own terrarium, and forums with local eco-leaders discussing different facets of going green.

Cravers Community Garden

Located within the town, Cravers Community Garden & Learning Center has quickly become a beloved attraction for residents and tourists alike. This hidden gem showcases the harmonious blend of nature and education, offering a range of engaging activities for all ages. The garden features wildlife crafts every Thursday and reading in the park every Tuesday. They also organize private nature events and have a program that uses fresh produce grown in the garden to help support local families with food security.

Solar city

Sulphur Springs is home to the second-largest solar installations in the state of Texas. The Hopkins County government is leading the initiative to bring renewable energy to Northeast Texas. Solar installations account for over 6,000 acres combined in Hopkins County, which is approximately 2% of the county’s total area.Local solar manufacturing plant Signature Solar was named 2023’s Big Business of the Year by the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce.

Conservation agencies

The Hopkins-Rains Soil & Water Conservation District hosts several large yearly events. They support the state’s yearly water conservation campaign, provide scholarships to graduating seniors pursuing agriculture and nature-based post-secondary school learning, and host the annual hay show to celebrate the local hay economy.

Award-winning green programs

The wastewater treatment facility in Sulphur Springs continues to win awards for its efficiency. The Sulphur Springs Wastewater Treatment Facility was named the facility of the year in 2022 by the State of Texas. The facility, which underwent a major renovation in 2019, had “consistent outstanding performance” among all Texas municipalities processing up to 15 million gallons per day, according to the Water Environment Association of Texas.

Sulphur Springs is also utilizing reclaimed land from surface lignite mining company Luminant to create a multi-use area that caters to both large manufacturing businesses and green spaces for citizen use. Nicknamed Thermo, this transformative project showcases the town’s commitment to repurposing land and fostering a harmonious balance between economic growth and environmental preservation. This land highlights Sulphur Springs’ commitment to sustainable growth.

Eco-friendly local businesses

Many local businesses in Sulphur Springs focus on sustainable farming and responsible consumerism. Clayton Homes, Signature Solar, Tolleson Family Market, Elm Creek Flower Farm, Seton Land and Cattle, Ranch Cat Lavender, The Produce Stand, G3 Ranch, G5 Wagyu Beef, the Plant Niche, Beauty Grace, and more are contributing to the green movement. These businesses promote sustainability and help reduce the town’s ecological footprint through various practices.

• • Clayton Homes- While making ecologically-friendly modular homes, this company also uses solar power as part of their production
  • Plant Niche: Provides plant-care services and is a main force in publicizing sustainability in the community.
  • Tolleson Family Market and The Produce Stand: Source local farms and producers to bring food products to the area, improving food security and cutting down on carbon footprint since goods are not transported over long distances.
  • Seton Land and Cattle, G3 Ranch, G5 Wagyu Beef: Local ranching companies that use sustainable practices and contribute to reducing the carbon footprint. These farms prioritize green practices in the beef industry.
  • Elm Creek Flower Farm, Ranch Cat Lavender: These local farms in the cut flower industry utilize native species and sustainable practices to reduce the high water footprint associated with flower farming.
  • Beauty Grace– This clothing shop features Northeast Texas’s only refillery for soaps, shampoos and cleaning products.  

Despite being a small town, Sulphur Springs and Hopkins county’s government and local businesses takes environmental conservation to heart. We can’t wait to see what new ways the town finds to support sustainable growth!

By Taylor Nye. Photos by Taylor Nye, Allison Libby-Thesing and Addison Caddell