Lumberton, Texas

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

imagesize =
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image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Lumberton, 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 = Hardin

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 = 24.4
area_land_km2 = 24.4
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 9.4
area_land_sq_mi = 9.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 8731
population_density_km2 = 358.5
population_density_sq_mi = 928.5

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 18
elevation_ft = 59
latd = 30 |latm = 15 |lats = 50 |latNS = N
longd = 94 |longm = 12 |longs = 7 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 77657
area_code = 409
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-45120GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1340738GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Lumberton is a city in Hardin County, Texas, United States. The population was 8,731 at the 2000 census. Lumberton is home of Village Creek State Park. It is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Lumberton is located at coor dms|30|15|50|N|94|12|7|W|city (30.263896, -94.201918)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24.3 km²), all of it land.

The Eastex Freeway runs north from Beaumont into Lumberton and splits into Highway 69 and Highway 96 in the south part of the city. The two highways run through the city, 96 in the eastern portion of the city and 69 in the western portion. The two highways house the majority of the commercial development on the city.

Historical development

The town was established as a stop on the Gulf, Beaumont and Kansas City Railway that was built through the area in 1894. Serving the local sawmills and lumber camps, the post office was established at Lumberton in 1909. [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/LL/hjl18.html TSHA Online - Texas State Historical Association ] ] In 1914, the post office was relocated to the Fletcher site nearby which was a major sawmill until the mid-1920’s. After the closure of the sawmill at Fletcher, the area would remain populated and would become part of the City of Lumberton when it was incorporated in 1973.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 8,731 people, 3,198 households, and 2,542 families residing in the city. The population density was 928.5 people per square mile (358.6/km²). There were 3,443 housing units at an average density of 366.2/sq mi (141.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city as of the 2000 census was 97.64% White, 0.05% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.87% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.79% of the population. The population in June 2005 was estimated at 9,657. The estimated population for June 2007 is 10,550.

There were 3,198 households out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,700, and the median income for a family was $47,184. Males had a median income of $38,315 versus $26,217 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,640. About 5.5% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.In 2005, the estimated average value of a home in Lumberton was $111,700.

The crime index rate for Lumberton in 2006 was 154.6. This is well below the national average of 325.2.

Lumberton is a rapidly growing community, and is the largest city in Hardin County. Many of the newest and largest subdivisions that are considered by many as part of Lumberton are actually outside of the city limits and not included in the official city population totals. The estimated population total in June 2007 of Lumberton and the surrounding subdivisions is 25,000 people.

Culture

Lumberton, Texas is the home of Village Creek State Park, which attracts tourists from all over the states of Texas and Louisiana. Canoeing, hiking, and bird watching are among the most popular activities in the park. Every April for the past 18 years the Village Creek Festival has been held in Lumberton. Arts, crafts, games, rides, and great food and music are always present at the three day festival. Also there is a city-wide parade held on the Saturday of the festival and the Miss Village Creek Pageant is also held. Movies are shown sporadically during the year on a giant inflatable screen at the Lumberton City Park located off of Village Creek Parkway.

Lumberton has a variety of options for children athletics with Little League Baseball and Softball, Pee Wee Football and Cheerleading, Little Dribblers Basketball (separate leagues for boys and girls), and even a youth soccer league.

Education

Lumberton is served by the Lumberton Independent School District.

In 2007, Lamar University opened an extension, called Lamar University-Lumberton, to provide lower level college classes to the residents of Lumberton and Hardin County.

The athletic teams of Lumberton High School are known as the Raiders and compete in District 22-4A. The high school had an enrollment of 1,081 in 2008. Lumberton ISD as a whole had an enrollment of approximately 3,800 students at the end of the 2007-2008 school year.

Famous People from Lumberton

*Debra Jo Fondren, the 1978 Playboy Playmate of the year.
*Clay Buchholz, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.
*Milton Barker,Spring Texas Socialite and Community Clown.

Notable events

In October 1994, heavy rains (10-25 inches in 5 days) resulted in a [http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-073-94/pdf/FS-94-073.pdf severe flood] over southeastern portions of Texas which damaged and destroyed homes across the region and resulted in 22 flood-related deaths. Lumberton suffered significant property damage, particularly in the Pine Island Bayou and Village Creek areas of Lumberton.

In 2005, Lumberton elected Mike Smith to the LISD School Board at the age of 19. Smith became the [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BT&p_theme=bt&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=School%20AND%20Board%20AND%20Oath&s_dispstring=School%20Board%20Oath&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no youngest] individual elected to a board of education in the state of Texas. In April 2007, Smith became the youngest man to [http://www.thehardincountynews.com/news/2007/0509/front_page/005.html testify] in front of the Texas House of Representatives during the 2007 Legislative Session.

On September, 24 2005, Lumberton made national headlines after suffering a direct hit from Hurricane Rita.

Alcohol sales

In May 2007, Precinct 3 of Lumberton voted to allow alcohol sales in restaurants and grocery stores. Shortly after alcohol was allowed within the city limits of Lumberton, there was a movement to place a measure on the ballot for a citywide vote that would prohibit the sale of alcohol throughout the city. This movement had faced legal questions about whether its required public notice was valid under Texas law. On August 13th, 2007, the Commissioners' Court decided that the prohibition issue should be put on the ballot. The Commissioners' Court will also decide whether to put two other alcohol regulation issues on the ballot. If these two measures are put on the ballot then the citywill have three alcohol propositions on the ballot in November. One to prohibit all alcohol and two to legalize specific types of alcohol.This movement passed and the city of Lumberton is now "dry."

However, this vote to prohibit is being challenged in state court due to alleged illegal petition notices.

References

External links

* [http://cityoflumberton.com City of Lumberton, TX Official Website]
*Gnis|1340738|Lumberton, Texas