Groesbeck, Texas

Groesbeck, Texas
Motto: 
The Friendly City
Location of Groesbeck, Texas
Location of Groesbeck, Texas
Coordinates: 31°31′22″N 96°31′56″W / 31.52278°N 96.53222°W / 31.52278; -96.53222
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyLimestone
Government
 • MayorMatthew Dawley
Area
 • Total
4.37 sq mi (11.33 km2)
 • Land4.34 sq mi (11.24 km2)
 • Water0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation
567 ft (200 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,631
 • Density980.18/sq mi (378.44/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
76642
Area code254
FIPS code48-31280[1]
GNIS feature ID1358461[2]
Websitewww.cityofgroesbeck.com

Groesbeck is a city in and the county seat of Limestone County, Texas, United States.[3] Its population was 3,631 at the 2020 census. The community is named after a railroad employee.

History

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The city of Groesbeck was dedicated as a township by Houston and Texas Central Railroad in 1869. It was named for Abram Groesbeeck, a railroad director of the Houston & Texas Central Railroad Company.[4] The difference in spelling between the person and town is a result of the post office directives for simpler spelling.[5] Development of its city government began in 1871. Groesbeck became the county seat of Limestone County in 1873, and is home to the "Million Dollar Courthouse". Fort Parker State Park, located north of Groesbeck, is preserved to tell the story of Cynthia Ann Parker, who was captured by Comanches, and became the mother of Quanah Parker, the last Comanche chief. The last legal execution in Limestone County occurred on April 12, 1895, when Richard Burleson, who had been convicted of murdering James Garrett McKinnon, was hanged in front of the courthouse in Groesbeck.[6]

Geography

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Groesbeck is located at 31°31′22″N 96°31′56″W / 31.52278°N 96.53222°W / 31.52278; -96.53222 (31.522907, –96.532125).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.8 sq mi (9.8 km2), of which 3.8 sq mi (9.8 km2) are almost all land (0.27% covered by water).

The community is located at the junction of State Highways 14 and 164.

Groesbeck is the closest town to historic Old Fort Parker. The fort holds an annual Christmas event at the site every December. The original fort has been rebuilt on the original site to the original specifications.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880402
189066364.9%
19001,462120.5%
19101,454−0.5%
19201,5224.7%
19302,05935.3%
19402,27210.3%
19502,182−4.0%
19602,49814.5%
19702,396−4.1%
19803,37340.8%
19903,185−5.6%
20004,29134.7%
20104,3280.9%
20203,631−16.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
Groesbeck racial composition as of 2020[9]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 1,921 52.91%
Black or African American (NH) 703 19.36%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 9 0.25%
Asian (NH) 33 0.91%
Some Other Race (NH) 6 0.17%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 113 3.11%
Hispanic or Latino 846 23.3%
Total 3,631

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,631 people, 1,416 households, and 956 families residing in the city.

At the 2010 census, 4,328 people, 1,286 households, and 864 families lived in the city. The population density was 989 people/sq mi (382/km2). The 1,473 housing units averaged 336.8/s mi (130/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 65.36% White, 20.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 11.3% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 20.9%.[8]

Of the 1,286 households, 32.6% had children under 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were not families. About 29.2% of households were one person and 13% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.6, and the average family size was 3.25.

The age distribution in the city was 24.6% under 18, 8.4% from 19 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% 65 or older. The median age was 34.4 years.

Government

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The City of Groesbeck is a type A general-law city. The current mayor is Matthew Dawley.[12] The five current city council members are Tamika Jackson, Warren Anglin, Kim Harris, Sonia Selvera, and Lee Cox.

The main source of water is the Navasota River.[13]

Library

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The city of Groesbeck has one public library, located at 601 W. Yeagua St., also known as Hwy. 164.

Education

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The city of Groesbeck is served by the Groesbeck Independent School District, which includes five different schools: Preschool, H.O.Whitehurst,Enge Washington, Groesbeck Middle School, and [Groesbeck High School].

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ a b "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "GROESBECK, TX | The Handbook of Texas Online| Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)". Tshaonline.org. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  5. ^ A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company. 1893. p. 366. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  6. ^ Collins, Bob (March 11, 2016). "Photo in Joe's Crab Shack decor was a hanging, not a lynching". NewsCut. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  10. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
  11. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  12. ^ "City of Groesbeck, Texas". www.cityofgroesbeck.com. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  13. ^ "City of Groesbeck, Texas". www.cityofgroesbeck.com. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  1. ^ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[10][11]
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