Temple, Texas

Temple, Texas
City
City of Temple

Kyle Hotel, a former hotel-turned-apartment building, at 111 Main Street in December 2009

Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): "Wildflower Capital of Texas"
Motto: "Choose Temple!"

Location of Temple, Texas
Coordinates: 31°5′37″N 97°21′44″W / 31.09361°N 97.36222°W / 31.09361; -97.36222Coordinates: 31°5′37″N 97°21′44″W / 31.09361°N 97.36222°W / 31.09361; -97.36222
Country  United States of America
State  Texas
County Bell
Government
 • Type Council-Manager
 • City Council Mayor Danny Dunn
Tim Davis
Patsy E. Luna
Perry Cloud
Russell Schneider
 • City Manager David Blackburn
Area
 • Total 69.4 sq mi (179.8 km2)
 • Land 69.0 sq mi (178.7 km2)
 • Water 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km2)
Elevation 719 ft (219 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 66,102
 • Density 958/sq mi (369.9/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 76501-76505, 76508, 76502
Area code(s) 254
FIPS code 48-72176[1]
GNIS feature ID 1369696[2]
Website www.ci.Temple.TX.us

Temple is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. In the 2010 census, Temple's population was 66,102,[3] an increase of more than 20 percent from the 2000 census (estimates in 2014 show 70,765).

Located near the county seat of Belton, Temple lies in the region referred to as Central Texas and is a principal city in the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area. Located off Interstate 35, Temple is 65 miles (105 km) north of Austin and 34 miles (55 km) south of Waco.

Temple has developed as a small city with a number of arts and retail amenities not typically associated with a smaller community. The primary economic drivers are the extensive medical community (mostly due to Scott & White Memorial Hospital) and goods distribution based on its central location and proximity to larger cities.

History

Mural of historical development in downtown Temple, by Philip M. Dunham

Temple was founded as a railroad town in 1881, by the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad. It was incorporated in 1882.[4] The town was named after a Santa Fe Railroad official, Bernard Moore Temple.[5] Temple was a civil engineer and former surveyor with the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway Company.

In 1882, the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad built through the town, and soon after, the Santa Fe railroad made Temple a division point. In its early years, Temple was a town of shacks and tents with a large number of saloons and tough characters found in the early West. Locally, it was nicknamed Tanglefoot, because some citizens found that the combination of muddy streets and liquor made walking through the town challenging. After the town was incorporated in 1882, two private schools were founded in the city: the Temple Academy was organized and public school was established in 1884. In 1893, the annual Temple Stag Party began, growing out of a private Thanksgiving celebration attended by the town's leading men. It was held until 1923.[6]

The Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum, on the second floor of the Santa Fe Railroad station at 315 West Avenue B, commemorates the connection between railroads and the city.[7]

Geography

Temple is located northeast of the center of Bell County at 31°5′37″N 97°21′44″W / 31.09361°N 97.36222°W / 31.09361; -97.36222 (31.093678, -97.362202).[8] It is the second largest city in Bell County.[9] It is bordered to the southwest, on the opposite side of the Leon River, by Belton, the county seat.

Temple is situated within a relatively short drive of most of the major cities of Texas: 124 mi north to Fort Worth, 130 mi north-northeast to Dallas,[10] 65 mi southwest to Austin, 147 mi southwest to San Antonio, and 168 mi southeast to Houston. The city is located right on Interstate 35 running alongside the Balcones Fault with very mixed geography. Towards the east lies the Blackland Prairie region (a rich farming area), and towards the west the terrain rises with low rolling limestone layered hills at the northeastern tip of the Texas Hill Country.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 69.4 square miles (179.8 km2), of which 69.0 square miles (178.7 km2) is land and 0.42 square miles (1.1 km2), or 0.60%, is water.[3]

Climate

Climate data for Temple, Texas
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 57
(14)		 62
(17)		 70
(21)		 77
(25)		 84
(29)		 90
(32)		 95
(35)		 95
(35)		 89
(32)		 80
(27)		 68
(20)		 59
(15)		 77.2
(25.2)
Average low °F (°C) 35
(2)		 39
(4)		 46
(8)		 54
(12)		 63
(17)		 70
(21)		 72
(22)		 72
(22)		 66
(19)		 56
(13)		 45
(7)		 38
(3)		 54.7
(12.5)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.13
(54.1)		 2.69
(68.3)		 3.19
(81)		 2.59
(65.8)		 4.51
(114.6)		 4.23
(107.4)		 1.93
(49)		 2.25
(57.2)		 3.70
(94)		 3.97
(100.8)		 2.94
(74.7)		 2.75
(69.9)		 36.88
(936.8)
Source: weather.com[11]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18904,047—
19007,06574.6%
191010,99355.6%
192011,0330.4%
193015,34539.1%
194015,3440.0%
195025,46766.0%
196030,41919.4%
197033,4319.9%
198042,48327.1%
199046,1098.5%
200054,51418.2%
201066,10221.3%
Est. 201470,765[12]7.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
Temple welcome sign on Interstate 35
A look at downtown Temple at Main Street

As of the 2010 census,[1] there were 66,102 people, 23,359 households, and 15,878 families residing in the city. The population density was 834.2 people per square mile (373.6/km²). There were 28,005 housing units at an average density of 359.8 per square mile (138.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.1% White, 23.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% African American, 0.6% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 3.3% from two or more races.

There were 23,359 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $47,240 and the median income for a family was $42,795. Males had a median income of $30,858 versus $22,113 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,740. About 10.8% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Over a hundred years ago, the local economy began with the regional Santa Fe Railroad hospital. Temple now thrives in a complex economy, with both goods distribution and its reputation as a regional medical center leading the way. Scott & White is the largest employer in the area with about 12,000 employees.

Temple is home to many regional distribution centers and is headquarters to two large, multi-national companies, Wilsonart International and McLane Company,[13] as well as parent McLane Group. In addition to some manufacturing, there is also a developing customer service / call center industry. Temple is also home to the Temple Bottling Company which produces Dr Pepper (with Imperial Cane sugar).

The Temple Mall serves as one of the city's major shopping destinations, and together with other local shopping centers offers most popular national retailers. The mall has the only Macy's between Austin and Dallas.

Temple is within 30 miles (48 km) of Fort Hood, and military personnel contribute a portion of the city's economy.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Temple is served by the Temple Independent School District. The district has one high school, three middle schools, nine elementary schools, and three supplemental learning programs (early childhood center, alternative learning center and an innovative academy high school program). Students within the local school district attend highly regarded Temple High School.[14] In addition to award-winning academic programs in arts and sciences, the high-school has a thriving athletic program.

In addition, Temple is home to several private schools: Saint Mary's Catholic School (Pre K-8),[15] the associated Holy Trinity Catholic High School,[16] and Central Texas Christian School (K–12).[17]

Colleges and universities

Temple College offers two-year associate degrees in a variety of subjects, with strong programs in business administration, information technology and nursing. Temple College was the first college located in Temple, and opened in 1926.[18]

Temple is also home to one of two locations of the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. It operates in conjunction with the Scott & White Memorial Hospital and the Olin Teague Veterans' Hospital Center.

Adjacent Belton is home to the University of Mary Hardin–Baylor, and Killeen hosts Texas A&M University–Central Texas. Temple is within a short drive of several other regional and national universities: Baylor University in Waco, the University of Texas in Austin and Texas A&M University in College Station, and Southwestern University in Georgetown.

Media

The city is served by several dozen radio, television, and newspaper outlets.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Temple Amtrak station originally built as an Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway depot

The Hill Country Transit District (The HOP) operates three bus routes within the city, with an additional bus connection to Killeen.

Temple was founded as a railroad junction and serves as a major freight railroad hub to this day. Both the Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway have mainlines serving the city, and a BNSF rail yard and locomotive maintenance facility are located here. Amtrak serves the city with its Texas Eagle passenger train, which stops at the Temple Railway Station.

Temple has general aviation services via Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport. While current commercial airline service is not currently available in the city, Temple is served by these nearby airports:

High-speed rail

In 2009, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) proposed the Texas T-Bone High Speed Rail Corridor that would create a high-speed rail (HSR) line from Dallas to San Antonio and another line from Houston that would connect with the first line.[19] While the location for the connection of the two lines had not been officially established, the mayor at the time, Bill Jones III, made an effort to ensure that connection happened in Temple.[20] It was also noted in that plan that Temple would be a stop along the line regardless of where that connection between the two lines would be. The next year in 2010, TxDOT received a federal grant to conduct a study for a HSR line connecting Oklahoma City with San Antonio, and Temple was in the pathway of that HSR line.[21] In 2013, a consultant for the Texas High Speed Rail Corporation stated that the only two connections being considered for the two lines were a connection in Temple and a connection in San Antonio; they expect to make that decision by the end of 2014. The organization also indicated that they plan to have HSR in operation by 2025.[22] If that connection occurred in Temple, the Killeen – Temple – Fort Hood metropolitan area, with a population of 420,375, would be within approximately 45 minutes of Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.

Health care

Temple is known for its strength as a regional medical center (this is primarily due to the highly respected Scott & White Memorial Hospital). Scott & White is the largest employer in town with about 12,000 employees. With Scott & White, the Veterans' Hospital Center, and other clinics, Temple is home to more physicians per capita than any other community in the nation. Temple is the site of one of two major campuses for the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.

Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board

The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board has its headquarters in Temple.[23]

Criminal justice

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates a regional office in the city.[24]

Postal service

The United States Postal Service operates a regional office in the city.[25]

Notable people

A water tower advertising the City of Temple's official website[26]

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. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Temple city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ Britanica. 1984 Edition. Vol. IX, p. 879
  5. ↑ "Poynette, Wisconsin". City of Temple History. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  6. ↑ Texas State Historical Commission. "Temple, Texas Historical Marker".
  7. ↑ Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum website
  8. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. ↑ 2010 US Census
  10. ↑ Connelly, Michael, Robert McClure, and Melinda Reinke. "Into The Storm The Story Of Flight 191." South Florida Sun-Sentinel. July 27, 1986. p. 1. Retrieved on August 3, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Monthly Averages for Temple, TX". Weather.com. The Weather Channel. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. ↑ mclaneco.com
  14. ↑ "Texas Independent School District". Texas Independent School District. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  15. ↑ "St. Mary's Catholic School". St. Mary's Catholic School. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Holy Trinity Catholic High School". Holy Trinity Catholic High School. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Central Texas Christian School". Central Texas Christian School. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Temple,Texas". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  19. ↑ ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/stimulus/t_bone.pdf
  20. ↑ http://trains4america.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/temple-texas-mayor-bill-jones-on-t-bone-high-speed-rail/
  21. ↑ http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Texas-Awarded-56-M-For-High-Speed-Rail-Grant-106128608.html
  22. ↑ http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/Bryan-City-Council-Gets-Update-On-High-Speed-Rail-Project-225110602.html
  23. ↑ "Contact Us." Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board. Retrieved on June 3, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Parole Division Region IV." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
  25. ↑ Post Office Location - TEMPLE United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
  26. ↑ templetexas.us
  27. ↑ "William Jackson Adkins". wikitree.com. Retrieved August 14, 2015.

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