Settled by David Green during the era of the Republic of Texas, Moscow first had a post office established under the name Green's in 1847, changed to Moscow in 1853, and was incorporated in 1856. It was a stage stop on the Nacogdoches-Liberty Road, the site of several famous schools, and has had a free school system since 1851. Early industries included a cannery for vegetables and fruit and a Bible column factory making architectural pillars. In 1881 it became an important railroad town, and its seven-mile Moscow, Camden and San Augustine was one of the shortest railroads in Texas.