Athens, Texas
Athens, Texas | |
---|---|
City | |
Athens City Hall | |
Location of Athens, Texas | |
Coordinates: 32°12′10″N 95°50′57″W / 32.20278°N 95.84917°WCoordinates: 32°12′10″N 95°50′57″W / 32.20278°N 95.84917°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
County | Henderson |
Government | |
• Type | Council-Manager |
• City Council |
Mayor Jerry Don Vaught Monte Montgomery Joe Whatley Charles Elliott Tres Winn |
• City Manager | Philip Rodriguez |
Area | |
• Total | 17.0 sq mi (43.9 km2) |
• Land | 14.6 sq mi (37.9 km2) |
• Water | 2.4 sq mi (6.1 km2) |
Elevation | 489 ft (149 m) |
Population (2010)[1] | |
• Total | 12,710 |
• Estimate (2013)[1] | 12,803 |
• Density | 772.8/sq mi (298.4/km2) |
Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
• Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
ZIP codes | 75751-75752 |
Area code(s) | 430, 903 |
FIPS code | 48-04504[2] |
GNIS feature ID | 1329816[3] |
Website | http://athenstexas.us/ |
Athens is a city in Henderson County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,710. It is the county seat of Henderson County.[4] The city also calls itself the "Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World." Athens was selected as one of the first 'Certified Retirement Communities' in Texas.[5] It was named after Athens, Alabama by one of the early residents who came from there.[6]
Geography
Athens is located at 32°12′10″N 95°50′57″W / 32.20278°N 95.84917°W (32.202782, -95.849140).[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.0 square miles (44.0 km2), of which 14.6 square miles (37.8 km2) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2) (13.85%) is water.
Surrounding municipalities
Dallas (72 miles) Kaufman (41 miles) |
Canton (25 miles) |
|||
Corsicana (37 miles) |
Tyler (36 miles) | |||
| ||||
Cayuga (20 miles) |
Palestine (34 miles) |
Frankston (23 miles) |
Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 12,710 people, 4,110 households, and 2,807 families residing in the city. The population density was 772.8 people per square mile (298.3/km²). There were 4,549 housing units at an average density of 311.2 per square mile (120.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.14% White, 19.23% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 6.17% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.37% of the population.
There were 4,110 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together,
15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% are classified as non-families by the United States Census Bureau. Of 4,110 households, 131 are unmarried partner households: 106 heterosexual, 14 same-sex male, and 11 same-sex female households. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,372, and the median income for a family was $35,359. Males had a median income of $27,388 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,561. About 14.7% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $8.0 million in revenues, $8.6 million in expenditures, and $4.2 million in total assets, $0.7 million in total liabilities, and $0.7 million in cash and investments.[8]
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:[9]
City Department | Director |
---|---|
City Administrator | Philip Rodriguez |
Director of Finance and Technology | David Hopkins, CPA |
City Secretary | Bonnie Hambrick |
Human Resources Director | Haven Cox |
Fire Chief | John McQueary |
Police Chief | Michael D. Hill, Jr. |
Director of Planning & Development | Gary Crecelius |
Director of Utilities (Interim) | Gordon Mayer |
Tourism Coordinator | Sherri Skeeters |
Business Park Liaison | Timothy Love Sr. |
State and federal representation
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Athens District Parole Office in Athens.[10]
The United States Postal Service operates the Athens Post Office.[11]
Education
The city of Athens is served by the Athens Independent School District and home to the Athens High School Hornets.
The main campus of Trinity Valley Community College is located in Athens.
Notable people
- Jess Sweeten, Henderson county sheriff and mayor of Athens.[12]
- Fred Agnich, Texas businessman, rancher, state legislator from Dallas; owned a wildlife preserve near Athens[13]
- Percy Casino Corbin (1888–1952), civil rights activist[14]
- Pete Donohue, Major League Baseball pitcher
- William R. Hawn, businessman, sportsman
- William Wayne Justice, former United States District Court judge
- Terrence McGee, NFL Cornerback for the Buffalo Bills
- Clint W. Murchison, Jr., businessman and founder of the Dallas Cowboys football team[15]
- Sid W. Richardson, native of Athens, Texas, oilman, cattleman, philanthropist
- James C. Spencer, former member of the Texas House of Representatives, 1939–1941, 1947–1949,[16] later Henderson county judge
- Stuart Spitzer, surgeon in Kaufman, Texas, and incoming Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, born in Athens in 1967[17]
- Barron Tanner, former NFL defensive lineman
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, Athens has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[18]
References
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1860 | 240 | — | |
1870 | 545 | 127.1% | |
1880 | 368 | −32.5% | |
1890 | 1,035 | 181.3% | |
1910 | 2,261 | — | |
1920 | 3,176 | 40.5% | |
1930 | 4,342 | 36.7% | |
1940 | 4,765 | 9.7% | |
1950 | 5,194 | 9.0% | |
1960 | 7,086 | 36.4% | |
1970 | 9,582 | 35.2% | |
1980 | 10,197 | 6.4% | |
1990 | 10,967 | 7.6% | |
2000 | 11,297 | 3.0% | |
2010 | 12,710 | 12.5% | |
Est. 2015 | 12,788 | [19] | 0.6% |
- 1 2 "State and County Quick Facts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ http://www.athenscc.org/relocate.htm
- ↑ A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company. 1893. p. 207. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ 2006-07 CAFR Archived November 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2009-06-10
- ↑ City of Athenswebsite Retrieved 2009-06-10
- ↑ "Parole Division Region I." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 15, 2010.
- ↑ "Post Office Location - ATHENS." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 15, 2010.
- ↑ "SWEETEN, JESS". www.tshaonline.org/. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Fred R. Agnich Papers". lib.utexas.edu. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
- ↑ Tripp, N. Wayne. "Percy Casino Corbin (1888–1952)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ↑ Helen Markel. "A Business Of 'brim'", Sports Illustrated, May 21, 1956.
- ↑ "Legislative Reference Library of Texas: James C. Spencer". lrl.state.tx.us. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
- ↑ "About Stuart Spitzer". stuartspitzer.com. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
- ↑ Climate Summary for Athens, Texas
- ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
External links
- City of Athens, Dept. of Tourism (all you need to know about Athens, Texas)
- City of Athens, Texas
- Athens Chamber of Commerce
- Athens Economic Development Corp.
- Athens, TX from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Bill HCR-15 of the Texas State Legislature (November 200
- Texas portal
6) designating Athens as the "Original Home of the Hamburger"