Comanche, Texas

Comanche, Texas
—  City  —
Location of Comanche, Texas
Coordinates: 31°54′0″N 98°36′16″W / 31.9°N 98.60444°W / 31.9; -98.60444Coordinates: 31°54′0″N 98°36′16″W / 31.9°N 98.60444°W / 31.9; -98.60444
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Comanche
Area
– Total	4.5 sq mi (11.6 km2)
– Land	4.5 sq mi (11.6 km2)
– Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	1,381 ft (421 m)
Population (2000)
– Total	4,482
– Density	998.3/sq mi (385.5/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
– Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	76442
Area code(s)	325
FIPS code	48-16192[1]
GNIS feature ID	1333168[2]

Comanche is a city located in Comanche County in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 4,482 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Comanche County^[3]. The town square has been renovated and is becoming a popular tourist attraction.^{[citation needed]} With "Star Beaus" and "karens" on the square and their barbecue and Mexican restaurants, Comanche is also a stop for hunters. Comanche is known for its trophy-sized deer and available deer leases.

A military road known as the "Corn Trail" came through in 1850 to supply area forts and encourage settlement. The town was established in 1856 and the city was incorporated in 1858. Near the modern courthouse is the preserved log structure known as the "Old Cora Courthouse", one of the oldest standing wooden courthouses in Texas. Cora, the former county seat, later became Gustine. ^[4]

The Comanche County Historical Museum in Comanche features a blacksmith shop, filling station, and doctor's office. A replica saloon depicts the site where gunfighter John Wesley Hardin killed a deputy in 1874.^[4]

Geography

Comanche is located at 31°54′0″N 98°36′16″W / 31.9°N 98.60444°W / 31.9; -98.60444 (31.899890, -98.604485).^[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.5 square miles (12 km²), all of it land.

• 

  Historical marker on the courthouse square featuring the geologist Robert T. Hill of Comanche

• 

  The Comanche Chief newspaper office in Comanche, Texas

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 4,482 people, 1,656 households, and 1,157 families residing in the city. The population density was 998.3 people per square mile (385.4/km²). There were 1,898 housing units at an average density of 422.8 per square mile (163.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.01% White, 1.20% African American, 1.09% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 15.13% from other races, and 2.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.51% of the population.

There were 1,656 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,773, and the median income for a family was $32,097. Males had a median income of $26,646 versus $16,958 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,155. About 17.0% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

The Comanche County-City Airport is located two nautical miles (2.3 mi, 3.7 km) northeast of Comanche's central business district.^[6]

Education

The City of Comanche is served by the Comanche Independent School District, which consists of Comanche Elementary, Comanche Middle School, Jefferies Junior High, and Comanche High School.^[7] and Paradigm Accelerated Charter School for High School aged students.

See also

• Ben F. Barnes
• Robert T. Hill
• A. T. Powers

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Texas Historical Commission, "Texas Forts Trail: Exploring the Heritage of West Central Texas" brochure, Austin, Texas
5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
6. ^ FAA Airport Master Record for MKN (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 30 June 2011.
7. ^ Comanche Independent School District http://www.comancheisd.net/

External links

• Comanche Chamber of Commerce
• Comanche ISD website
• Comanche Community Website