Crockett, Texas

Not to be confused with Crockett County, Texas.
Crockett, Texas
City

Downtown Crockett, Texas

Seal
Nickname(s): Paradise in the Pines

Location of Crockett, Texas
Coordinates: 31°19′1″N 95°27′30″W / 31.31694°N 95.45833°W / 31.31694; -95.45833Coordinates: 31°19′1″N 95°27′30″W / 31.31694°N 95.45833°W / 31.31694; -95.45833
Country United StatesUnited States
State TexasTexas
County Houston
Government
 • Type Council-Manager
 • Mayor Robert Meadows
 • City Manager Mitzi Thompson
 • City Council Chris Gunnels
Muriel Williams
Larry Robins
Mike Marsh
Ray Bruner
Area
 • Total 8.9 sq mi (23.0 km2)
 • Land 8.9 sq mi (23.0 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 364 ft (111 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 7,141
 • Density 805.6/sq mi (311.0/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 75835
Area code(s) 936
FIPS code 48-17744[1]
GNIS feature ID 1355365[2]
Website crocketttexas.org

Crockett is a city in Houston County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 6,950.[3] It is the fifth oldest city and the county seat of Houston County, the oldest county in Texas.[4]

History

Monroe-Crook House in Crockett

The town was named after David Crockett[5] who reportedly had camped nearby on his way to the Alamo; the site was very near the Old San Antonio Road. A family from Tennessee donated the land for the town and named it after Crockett, whom they had previously known. The town was incorporated in 1837, and a post office was granted the following year. Crockett was connected to Nacogdoches by stage service. In 1839 raids by the Alabama-Coushatta and Cherokee Indians forced the town's residents to take shelter in the fortified log courthouse. Crockett was a training center for Confederate conscripts during the Civil War. The railroad came through in 1872 enabling Crockett to exploit the county's timber resources. By 1885 the town was thriving with a population of 1,200 and the following year a school was opened for black girls. It evolved into Mary Allen Junior College, which operated into the 1970s. In 1904 lignite mining started and it peaked about 1910. The stands of timber were seriously depleted by the 1920s. The population was over 3,000 in the mid-1920s and by 1936, it was nearly 4,500. The population of Crockett increased while most of East Texas declined after World War II. It reached 5,000 by the 1960 census.[6]

During this time, one of the first loop roads in the nation was built around the city. This traffic reliever was procured through the works of heavyweight politicians who called Crockett home. Loop 304 was built before those in Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and San Antonio. Blues singer Lightnin' Hopkins was once arrested in Crockett, Texas. In recent years, the economy of Crockett has expanded with the construction of new retail space on Loop 304. Several historic buildings in downtown have been renovated to accommodate new office and service space. Renewed interest in reserves of natural gas in the surrounding area has led to construction of energy infrastructure and receipt of royalty revenues for land.

In 1854, A.T. Monroe, a grandnephew of U.S. President James Monroe came to Crockett from Virginia. He established what is now the Monroe-Crook House built with brick placed between the inner and outer walls. George W. Crook purchased the residence in 1911. The house, open for public tours, is located in front of the John H. Wooters Public Library in the same block as the Crockett Presbyterian Church.[7] The Presbyterian Church was established in 1854. The building was razed by a fire in 1926 and rebuilt.[8]

Government and infrastructure

The United States Postal Service operates the Crockett Post Office.[9]

The Texas Youth Commission operated the Crockett State School in Crockett.[10] However, the facility closed on or around August 31, 2011 and is no longer in operation.[11]

Geography

The historic Strode-Pritchett Cabin was located to Crockett for the 1976 bicentennial. At the site is a painting of Davy Crockett by the artist Lucas Short.

Crockett is located at 31°19′1″N 95°27′30″W / 31.31694°N 95.45833°W / 31.31694; -95.45833 (31.317010, -95.458397).[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.9 square miles (23 km2), all land.

The terrain of the town is hilly, and (as with many East Texas towns) contains significant forest, mostly loblolly pine and pecan trees.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850150—
1860319112.7%
187053868.7%
188059911.3%
18901,445141.2%
19002,61280.8%
19103,94751.1%
19203,061−22.4%
19304,44145.1%
19404,5362.1%
19505,93230.8%
19605,356−9.7%
19706,61623.5%
19807,40511.9%
19907,024−5.1%
20007,1411.7%
20106,950−2.7%
Est. 20146,564[13]−5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 7,141 people, 2,672 households, and 1,747 families residing in the city. The population density was 805.6 people per square mile (311.2/km²). There were 3,081 housing units at an average density of 347.6 per square mile (134.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.54% White, 44.67% African-American, 0.36% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 4.78% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.50% of the population.

There were 2,672 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% were married couples living together, 23.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,455, and the median income for a family was $27,069. Males had a median income of $26,098 versus $18,674 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,708. About 26.6% of families and 33.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.6% of those under age 18 and 26.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools

Most of The City of Crockett is served by the Crockett Independent School District, although a few acres of the city limits are within the Latexo Independent School District.

Private schools

Crockett is home to the Jordan School - a private, co-educational institution operated by the local Episcopal Church. It currently serves Pre K & Kindergarten levels. They have partnered with Vista Academy, which serves 1-6th grade.

Notable people

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Crockett has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "Crockett (city), Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 96.
  6. ↑ Crockett Texas and Crockett Texas Hotels Motels
  7. ↑ Texas Historical Commission, historical marker, Monroe-Crocck House, Crockett, Texas
  8. ↑ Texas Historical Commission, Historical marker, Crockett Presbyterian Church
  9. ↑ "Post Office Location - CROCKETT." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on August 8, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Crockett State School." Texas Youth Commission. Retrieved on August 8, 2010.
  11. ↑ "TYC Announces Closure of Three Facilities." Texas Youth Commission. Retrieved on July 3, 2011.
  12. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  13. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. ↑ <Kenny Rogers to star in first TV special Tri City Herald, March 6, 1979
  16. ↑ Climate Summary for Crockett, Texas

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