- Navasota, Texas
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"Navasota" redirects here. For other uses, see Navasota (disambiguation).
Navasota, Texas — City — The City of Navasota
Location of Navasota, Texas
Coordinates: 30°23′17″N 96°5′9″W / 30.38806°N 96.08583°WCoordinates: 30°23′17″N 96°5′9″W / 30.38806°N 96.08583°W Country United States State Texas County Grimes Area – Total 6.1 sq mi (15.9 km2) – Land 6.1 sq mi (15.8 km2) – Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) Elevation 217 ft (66 m) Population (2000) – Total 7,602 – Density 1,239.02/sq mi (428.5/km2) Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6) – Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5) ZIP code 77868, 77869 Area code(s) 936 FIPS code 48-50472[1] GNIS feature ID 1375099[2] Navasota is a city in Grimes County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,789 at the 2000 census. In 2005, the Texas Legislature named the city "The Blues Capital of Texas," in honor of the late Mance Lipscomb, a Navasota native and blues musician.
Contents
Location
Navasota sits west of highway 6
History
Navasota was founded in 1831 as the stagecoach stop of Nolansville. Its name was changed in 1858 to Navasota, a name perhaps derived from the Native American word nabatoto (“muddy water”).[3]
After September 1859, when the Houston and Texas Central Railway built into the town, Navasota became important as a shipping and marketing center for the surrounding area. Whereas nearby Washington on the Brazos protested the coming of the rails, the old historic town forfeited its geographic advantage, and it began to decline as many of its businesses and residences began a sure migration to the new railhead across the Brazos River at Navasota.
Slaves were a large part of the local economy, as they were imported, traded and used to work in the many local cotton plantations. Guns were made in nearby Anderson, and cotton, gunpowder, and shoes were made, processed and stored there for the Southern Confederacy during the American Civil War. By 1865 the population was about 2,700. All during the Civil War, all the marketable goods produced in the region were brought to Navasota, then the furthest inland railhead in Texas, to be shipped south to Galveston, where it could be transported by steamboat from the Texas coast and up the Mississippi River to the war effort, or exported to Mexico or overseas to Europe.
Navasota suffered a series of disasters in the mid-1860s that severely depleted its population. In 1865 a warehouse filled with cotton and gunpowder exploded after it was torched by vagrant Confederate veterans; the blast killed a number of people and started a fire that destroyed much of the original downtown, and damaged many buildings, including the post office. Not long afterward the town was struck by a deadly cholera epidemic, which was followed in 1867 by an even more dangerous epidemic of yellow fever. As many Navasota citizens, including the mayor, fled to escape the disease, the town population dropped by about 50 percent.
Mid 1860s skirmish between Navasotan disgruntled freedmen and Confederate veterans broke out in the Brazos Bottoms near Millican, after a race riot there threw the whole region into a panic. An informal militia rallied in Bryan, gathered arms, and caught the train southward towards the angry mob of armed freedmen who were marching on Bryan, a city to the north of Navasota. Many men were left dead and many were wounded after this little known battle, perhaps the greatest race battle ever fought in Texas. This led to the formation of numerous private militias, and ultimately during the late 1860s the KKK in Navasota, and on one occasion a tense confrontation between federal soldiers and a crowd of local white citizens occurred there. Later the White Man’s Union was formed, which sought political solutions when possible to the power struggles in Navasota.
During these days, Navasota was considered a wild and wooly place, where it was not considered safe for women and children to go downtown in broad daylight. The downtown buildings were teaming with lawless ruffians, gamblers, prostitutes and drunks. Lawmen had to hide and watch, and often were afraid of the streets at night. There were many saloons and gaming halls, and every Sunday morning the undertaker hitched up the buggy and went downtown to collect the bodies that were anticipated to be there, from another wild Saturday night.
Perhaps the greatest and most publicized violence was around the turn of the century, during the rise of the Populist Party in Grimes County, and the election of Populist candidate Garrett Scott for County Sheriff. A white man with great charm and political skill, he enjoyed a great deal of the black vote, which made up almost half of the population, and managed to get himself elected along with a number of black candidates. Finally, in a rage of bullets and accusations, he and his cronies were attacked in spots all over the County. The assassination attempt failed, however, and Scott was scurried out of town, badly wounded, under protection of a Federal militia, and he never returned to Grimes County. He hid for his life in Galveston, and filed charges against many of the men, who were later fined but their murders were never prosecuted.
In 1908, Navasota was a lawless boom town, wracked by violence: "shootouts on the main street were so frequent that in two years at least a hundred men died."[3] Twenty-four year old Frank Hamer resigned from the Texas Rangers to become the City Marshal and moved in and created law and order.[4] Hamer faced down, chased down, and beat down the Navasota toughs until the streets were quiet, and children could once again go downtown. He relentlessly fought the various power factions, and one day fought one perceived local warlord in the mud on main street, throwing him in jail and defying all comers, as the rest of the troublemakers began to search for cover. He served as marshal until 1911. Hamer became more widely known in 1934 as one of the men who shot Bonnie and Clyde.
In the late 1990's Citizens for Action in Navasota (C.A.N.), with the cooperation of the City of Navasota, The Navasota Police Department's new Chief, and the Navasota City Council made a stand against crime and the Railroad Street bars closed down after decades of open drug sales and vice. Drug dealers, prostitutes and drunks could not be seen standing around this area anymore. The C.A.N. used the City Charter to revoke the alcohol license and the PD enforced the local laws of the land pushed by the new Police Chief, a Texas Ranger who took over after the past Police Chief and investigator where removed for corruption after a outside the county investigation of the City of Navasota Police department.
January 2002, Navasota city council default on revenue bonds, withdrawing the city from financial participation in the project known as the Pecan Lakes Golf Course, located near the city’s airport off of Highway 105.
In February 2004, the Texas Rangers again probed the Navasota Police Department. This time it is initiated by the Grimes County District Attorney. The inquiry dealt with whether the Deputy Police chief of Navasota Police department knew about the felony conviction for forgery of a family friend. The Deputy chief resigned. The dispatcher attended the police academy and had been working at Navasota Police department for some time. Investigators looked into if the Navasota Police Employee falsified government records during the city's hiring process for the dispatcher and police officer positions. The investigation started after an out-of-town newspaper (The Eagle) in Brazos County reported on the possible corruption.
In July 2009, a successful business owner was killed inside his liquor store by armed robbers. This crime was in the middle of the day on the main street in town. The Texas Rangers were once again called in. The killers still are free and the investigation has not been resolved as of 2011.
In December 2010 Navasota residents and the town paper reported the appearance of wild hogs in downtown Navasota. A wild hog was trapped at the free food bank in downtown Navasota. Later local business owners used the meat to feed the poor of the city.
On January 19, 2011, the citizens of Navasota made a stand against illegal businesses trying to enter its city limits after murders and drive--by shootings. The police acted on those concerned citizens' complaints by getting a search warrant for the tattoo and nail salon at Lasalle located about 100 yards from the Police Station and City Hall. Police seized drugs, money and illegal gambling machines.
August 10, 2011 Arrests made for rioting in Navasota, assault of peace officer under investigation. Law enforcement form mutable agency's and other Texas counties called in to subdue rioters in Navasota.. Reported by the Navasota Examiner and the Bryan Eagle.
Today,[when?] Navasota has a population of 7,558. The industrial sector of the community now boasts 23 companies and approximately 1000 jobs. In 2009, Navasota was selected as a "Visionairies in Preservation" city by the Texas Historical Commission to protect the numerous historical structures in the city. A new municipal building and downtown improvements are planned with completion scheduled in May, 2011.
Media
Navasota is served by the weekly Navasota Examiner newspaper, which has been reporting on the goings-on in Grimes County since 1894. The city is also home to the Navasota News 1550 AM, owned and Managed in Brazos County Texas by Bryan broadcasting, who broadcasts the local Navasota Rattlers football games.
Attractions
The Sangster House (established 1902)
Navasota has some shops & artisans in its historic downtown district, typified by antique, gift shops, and junk stores housed in old classic stone and brick structures, live plays at the Sunny Furman Theatre. Navasota Blues Alley is in the heart of the downtown district, and offers blues memorabilia, museum exhibits, art, vintage music and radios, and much more. The city also has golfing facilities and parks, as well as wineries.
Navasota retains a number of historic Victorian homes on Washington Avenue, the main residential and commercial thoroughfare through town. Another historic edifice is Brule Field, a natural amphitheater built out of native stone by the Great Depression-era Works Progress Administration. It served as the primary grid for the local high school football team, The Navasota Rattlers, until the new stadium was constructed in 2006. Several native stone churches also remain near downtown, with its Victorian fronts.
The city is also home to two La Salle Statues, including a bronze monument, dedicated in 1936 by the DAR, to celebrate the explorations of the famous French explorer. The second is a stone bust placed behind downtown, on Cedar creek, which was donated to the City by the French government in 1978. Supposedly, La Salle was murdered by one of his men somewhere near present day Navasota, while looking for the Mississippi Valley and the way back to French held lands near the Great Lakes. After numerous voyages, explorations of the Mississippi valley, trading ventures and several mutinies, La Salle’s bones are believed to have found their resting place in the Navasota Valley.
Seasonally, Navasota is visited in the Spring for bluebonnets. A summer festival, the Navasota Bluesfest, honors the memory of blues man Mance Lipscomb, who recorded numerous albums and lived in Navasota all of his life. The celebration raises money for college scholarships for local students. The nearby Texas Renaissance Festival is held near Plantersville in the fall.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (16 km2), of which, 6.1 square miles (16 km2) of it is land and 0.16% is water.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 6,789 people, 2,379 households, and 1,624 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,109.7 people per square mile (428.3/km²). There were 2,661 housing units at an average density of 435.0 per square mile (167.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 53.42% White, 34.11% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 9.90% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.96% of the population.
There were 2,379 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 19.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.40.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,990, and the median income for a family was $31,875. Males had a median income of $28,585 versus $21,731 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,230. About 23.8% of families and 26.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.7% of those under age 18 and 24.0% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal Service operates the Navasota Post Office.[4]
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Luther Unit and the Pack Unit in an unincorporated area in Grimes County near Navasota.[5] In addition the Pack Warehouse is located in an unincorporated area near the Pack Unit.[6]
Education
The City of Navasota is served by the Navasota Independent School District, which enrolls 2,921 students. Navasota High School ranks 1142nd of 1465 Texas public high schools. Schooldigger District Rating: Navasota Independent School District ranks 697th of 897 Texas school districts.[8]
The Navasota Examiner: News www.navasotaexaminer.com/news/ - Cached Schools drop in accountability ratings: Posted: August 3, 2011 ... Navasota ISD's status rated Academically Unacceptable for all schools inside the City Of Navasota. ...
Crime
Navasota crime FBI Index score in 2009 is 369.8 US Avg. is 319 See FBI.GOV UCR
There were 33 registered sex offenders living in Navasota, Texas in December 2010 The ratio of number of residents in Navasota to the number of sex offenders is 230 to 1, one of the highest rates in the USA and Texas.
The ratio of number of residents in College Station, a city just north of Navasota is 5417 to 1 registered sex offenders Read more at City-data.com
- Christopher B. "Stubb" Stubblefield
- Joe Tex
- Mance Lipscomb
- Alvin Ailey
- Milt Larkin
- Clay Condrey, major league pitcher
- Virgil "Ned" Garvin, major league pitcher
- French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, was killed in Navasota in 1687
- Chuck Norris lives just outside of Navasota
References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Jennifer Dunning, Alvin Ailey: a life in dance (Da Capo Press, 1998), 13.
- ^ "Post Office™ Location - NAVASOTA." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 22, 2010.
- ^ "Pack Unit." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 22, 2010.
- ^ "Pack Warehouse." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 22, 2010.
See also
- USS Navasota, named after the Navasota River
Bibliography
- Caro, Robert A. (1982). The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Means of Ascent. New York: Knopf. ISBN 0-394-49973-5.
- Sitton, Thad (2000). The Texas Sheriff: Lord of the County Line. Norman and London: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 0-8061-3216-7.
External links
- http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/tx/navasota/crime/
- http://www.city-data.com/city/Navasota-Texas.html
- http://209.189.226.235/region/localregional/021804jacksonresigns.php /Theeagle.com
- http://209.189.226.235/region/localregional/071902golfcourse.htm / Theeagle.com
- City of Navasota
- Navasota Examiner
- Navasota News 1550AM listen on-line!
- Strategic Growth Map:2027
- Handbook of Texas Online
Municipalities and communities of Grimes County, Texas Cities Anderson | Bedias | Iola | Navasota | Todd Mission
Unincorporated
communitiesCategories:- Cities in Texas
- Populated places in Grimes County, Texas
- French Texas
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