Trenton, Texas

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

imagesize =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Trenton, Texas

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mapsize1 = 250px
map_caption1 =

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

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

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 4.1
area_land_km2 = 4.1
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.6
area_land_sq_mi = 1.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 662
population_density_km2 = 160.9
population_density_sq_mi = 416.8

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 232
elevation_ft = 761
latd = 33 |latm = 25 |lats = 46 |latNS = N
longd = 96 |longm = 20 |longs = 25 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 75490
area_code = 903
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-73592GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1370102GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Trenton is a city in Fannin County, Texas, United States. The population was 662 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Trenton is located at coor dms|33|25|46|N|96|20|25|W|city (33.429566, -96.340143)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.

History

Settlers from Tennessee arrived by wagon train from their home state in 1852. At the time of their arrival, the settlement and surrounding area was known by the colorful name of Wild Cat Thicket [ [http://www.vanleerplus.org/10wayne.htm Wayne Vanleer of Texas ] ] . With the arrival of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad, a town site was platted by Dr. W. C. Holmes, a pioneer physician & editor "Trenton Tribune", known as "the father of Trenton" [ [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/OKJOHNST/2004-07/1091316827 RootsWeb: OKJOHNST-L Mrs. W.C. Holmes wife of Dr. Holmes, son W.C. Jr. of Mannsville, Ok., died Fannin Co., Tx. 1914 ] ] . The name Trenton was submitted to the postal authorities (after Trenton, New Jersey) and the post office opened under that name in 1881.

The railroad drew people to Trenton from nearby communities and a depot was built. The first population figures available show 200 people living there in the mid-1880s. Fifteen years later the population was 300 and the town had a school and all essential businesses, including a newspaper, a steam gristmill, a hotel, and a boardinghouse. At that time it became a major shipping origination point for cotton, corn, and oats produced by area farmers. A national bank was opened in Trenton in 1901 and by 1914 was capitalized at $40,000. By the mid-1920s the population had risen to just over 600 people and the Trenton school system had 300 students enrolled. In the early 1930s farmers in the vicinity, influenced by the success of local farmer P. E. Brown, began large-scale commercial production of onions. This new crop grew rapidly in importance, and production reached a peak in 1933, when 158 rail car loads were shipped from Trenton. The effects of the Great Depression were devastating in the region and by 1936, Trenton's population had declined to less than 500. During this time of economic hardship the number of businesses serving the community dwindled to twenty-eight. With the recovery of the economy, the population also began to rise with 634 reported in 1948 to an all time high of 712 by 1967. In 1977 Trenton reported 615 residents and seventeen businesses. By the early 1980s the town had become the third-largest shipping point for onions in North Texas. It had an estimated 682 people and twenty businesses by 1988. In 1990 its population totaled 655 and in 2000 662 people made up the town. [ [http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsNorth/Trenton-Texas.htm Trenton, Texas ] ]

Education

The City of Trenton is served by the Trenton Independent School District.

Notable Residents

* Noel Ray Miller - A native of Trenton, Noel Ray Miller was a Houston Texas police officer. He was shot and killed by George Moses while attempting to arrest Moses for a drug offense. Moses was later executed for the murder. [ [http://www.hpou.org/badgeandgun/index.cfm?fuseaction=view_news&NewsID=237 The Houston Police Officers' Union | Fallen Officers Remembered: Officer Noel Ray Miller ] ]
* Lloyd Mangrum - Born in Trenton, Mangrum was a professional golfer who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1999. [ [http://www.wgv.com/hof/member.php?member=1079 World Golf Hall of Fame Member Profile ] ]
* Michael Holigan - Michael Holigan's Your New House is a syndicated home improvement television show which premiered in 1995. A sister program titled "Your New House with Michael Holigan" premiered on Discovery Channel (US) in 1998. Mr. Holigan owns and maintains a 'country escape' in Trenton. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Holigan]
* Woody Watson - Raymond 'Woody' Watson was an American actor who appeared in dozens of films and television movies. Watson was also well known as the voice of the Texas Lottery. Mr. Watson was killed in a tractor accident in 1999 on his farm in Trenton. [ [http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0914930/bio Woody Watson - Biography ] ]
* Ernest Ray Kirkpatrick - A native of Trenton, Kirkpatrick was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1947 to 1951. At the age of 26 he became the youngest man in the history of Texas to chair the state's Appropriations Committee. [ [http://cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form.asp?step=1&pers_id=2941 Ernest Ray Kirkpatrick ] ]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2007, there were 750 people, 276 households, and 187 families residing in the city. The population density was 416.8 people per square mile (160.8/km²). There were 313 housing units at an average density of 197.1/sq mi (76.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.89% White, 6.34% African American, 1.21% Native American, 6.04% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.33% of the population.

There were 276 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,066, and the median income for a family was $43,906. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $26,458 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,129. About 13.4% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links