When singer, guitar-player, and songwriter Tom Johnston of Doobie Brothers fame devised the title of China Grove in 1973, he originally thought the name came from the story he told in the easygoing song.
The “sheriff and his buddies” in the fictional “sleepy little town” of China Grove hoisted “samurai swords … and though [the town is] a part of the Lone Star State, people don’t seem to care, they just keep on lookin’ to the East.”
However, a couple years later (1975) Johnston was notified by a cab driver that China Grove is a real town east of San Antonio, Texas. Johnston was astounded because he claims to have no knowledge about a real China Grove community when he wrote the lyrics — and “When the sun comes up on a sleepy little town / Down around San Antone” is a practically prescient lyric included in the song. Johnston recollected that The Doobie Brothers must have passed the town when travelling to San Antonio back in 1972, so maybe his mind subtly picked up the message that later transpired into the China Grove song.
While China Grove is a real town in Bexar County, Texas, there are more China Groves throughout the United States — particularly in the Southeast and in other Texas counties. According to the community of China Grove (↗) in North Carolina, the town’s name is based on a “grove of chinaberry trees that was located next to the old train depot.” Unfortunately, the original trees in the namesake grove no longer exist. Not every China Grove town has toponymy information — in other words, no information about how and why these towns were named — but I believe that the other China Groves were also named for their chinaberry trees. Did you know? A toponymist is a person who studies the names of places.
China Grove, Alabama (Pike County)
China Grove, Mississippi (Walthall County)
China Grove, North Carolina (Rowan County)
Population: 3,563 (2010 U.S. Census)
China Grove, Tennessee (Gibson County)
China Grove, south Texas (Bexar County)
Population: 1,179 (2010 U.S. Census)
China Grove, southeast Texas (Brazoria County)
China Grove, west Texas (Midland County)
A 20th century gathering spot where people from the city of Midland hosted picnics, get-togethers, and community events in a restful/relaxing setting.
China Grove, northwest Texas (Scurry County)
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