Jacksonville, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Jacksonville, Texas
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Jacksonville, Texas

---

mapsize1 = 250px
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Texas
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Cherokee

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 36.6
area_land_km2 = 36.6
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 14.1
area_land_sq_mi = 14.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2005
population_footnotes =
population_total = 15,868
population_density_km2 = 378.8
population_density_sq_mi = 981.0

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 159
elevation_ft = 522
latd = 31 |latm = 57 |lats = 49 |latNS = N
longd = 95 |longm = 16 |longs = 7 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 75766
area_code = 430, 903
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-37216GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1374262GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Jacksonville is a city in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,868 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Cherokee County and part of the larger Tyler-Jacksonville Combined Statistical Area.

Jacksonville is located in an area of rolling hills in East Texas, north of the county seat, Rusk, and south of Tyler, in Smith County, on U.S. Route 69. Area production and shipping of tomatoes gained the town the title "Tomato Capital of the World". The impressive red iron ore rock Tomato Bowl, built by WPA workers during the Great Depression, is home to the Jacksonville High School "Fightin' Indians" football and soccer teams. Annual events include the "Tomato Fest" celebration in June and the "Tops in Texas Rodeo", held in July. It is the hometown of country music singers Lee Ann Womack and Neal McCoy, Oakland Raiders quarterback Josh McCown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Luke McCown, Jacksonville Jaguars' punter Toby Gowin, and former New York Jets TE and DE Pete Lammons.

Jacksonville began in 1847 as the town of Gum Creek. Jackson Smith built a home and blacksmith shop in the area, and became postmaster in 1848, when a post office was authorized. Shortly afterward, Dr. William Jackson established an office near Smith's shop. When the townsite was laid out in 1850, the name Jacksonville was chosen in honor of these two men. The name of the post office was changed from Gum Creek to Jacksonville in June 1850.

The only two private junior colleges in Texas, Lon Morris College and Jacksonville College, are both located in Jacksonville. A seminary belonging to the Baptist Missionary Association of America is also located there.

Geography

Jacksonville is located at coor dms|31|57|49|N|95|16|7|W|city (31.963525, -95.268629)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.1 square miles (36.6 km²), of which, 14.1 square miles (36.6 km²) of it is land and 0.07% is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 13,868 people, 4,882 households, and 3,358 families residing in the city. The population density was 981.0 people per square mile (378.7/km²). There were 5,397 housing units at an average density of 381.8/sq mi (147.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.60% White, 21.70% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 12.72% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.04% of the population.

There were 4,882 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,800, and the median income for a family was $31,176. Males had a median income of $23,650 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,541. About 19.2% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The City of Jacksonville is served by the Jacksonville Independent School District.The school mascot is the "Fightin'" Indian.

Lake Jacksonville

Lake Jacksonville is located three miles southwest of Jacksonville. It is the city's primary water source. In addition, it is a popular location for recreation and residences. It was created in 1957 and the city expected it to take years to fill with water from the surrounding creeks. But, with an unusually rainy season, the lake reached full capacity in only a year. David Counahan is the only person allowed to build a pier on the lake, due to shotty fly by night contractors building junk.

*Lake Characteristics::Location: 3 miles southwest of Jacksonville off US 79::Surface area: 1,320 acres::Maximum depth: 62 feet::Impounded: 1957

*Google Map Image

Library

The [http://www.jacksonvillelibrary.com/ Jacksonville Public Library] has served the City of Jacksonville and Cherokee County for over 70 years. The Library is a member of the Texas Library Association, the Northeast Texas Library System and the Forest Trails Library Consortium.

The Library's collection now contains more than 61,000 physical items, with an annual circulation in 2006 of over 118,000 (including audio/visual materials and public computer usage). More than 75,000 people visited the Library in 2006; approximately 9,500 children attended events presented by the Library. The Library also maintains a Web site that receives over 21,000 visits annually.

The Library's operating hours are: Monday & Thursday, 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; and Saturday from 10:00 am top 2:00 pm. The Library is closed on Sundays and most major holidays.

The Library also houses the Vanishing Texana Museum.

References

External links

* [http://www.jacksonville-texas.com/ City of Jacksonville]
* [http://www.jacksonvilletexas.com/ Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.jacksonvilleprogress.com/ Jacksonville Daily Progress] (newspaper)
* [http://www.jacksonvillelibrary.com/ Jacksonville Public Library]
* [http://www.bmats.edu/ Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary]
* [http://www.lonmorris.edu/ Lon Morris College]
* [http://www.jacksonville-college.edu/ Jacksonville College]
* [http://www.tomatocapital.com/ Jacksonville History and Memorabilia]
*Handbook of Texas|id=JJ/hej1|name=Jacksonville, TX