Wills Point, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Wills Point, Texas
settlement_type = City
nickname = The Bluebird Capital of Texas
motto =

imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Downtown Wills Point


image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Wills Point, Texas


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

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

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 = 9.3
area_land_km2 = 9.3
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 3.6
area_land_sq_mi = 3.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 3496
population_density_km2 = 376.9
population_density_sq_mi = 976.3

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 162
elevation_ft = 531
latd = 32 |latm = 42 |lats = 31 |latNS = N
longd = 96 |longm = 0 |longs = 23 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 75169
area_code = 903
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-79564GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1350240GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Wills Point is a city in Van Zandt County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,496 at the 2000 census.

History

Founded in 1873, Wills Point gets its name from its first American settler, William Wills, who had arrived in the area in about 1846 and built a cabin. The name 'point' may also derive from the shape of the original timberline near the Wills cabin, though there have been unfounded arguments that the name relates to the area's elevation. The layout of the city was the work of engineer General Grenville M. Dodge of the California Construction Company. The downtown streets were laid with red bricks upon packed sand in the 1920's by locals and remain in use to this day. Downtown Wills Point has many of its original buildings that are over a hundred years old including the Wills cabin, a drug store, a dry good store, and a law office. Governor George W. Bush officially named Wills Point as the Bluebird Capital of Texas in 1995.

The Majestic Movie theater was opened in 1926 by Karl C. LyBrand and is still family operated by Karl C. Lybrand III. It is the oldest continuously operated movie theater in Texas.

Wills Point is also proud of the Bruce & Human Drug Company, located on the corner of 4th Street and James, it was built in 1879 and is the oldest family owned drug store in Texas.

Geography

Wills Point is located at coor dms|32|42|31|N|96|0|23|W|city (32.708622, -96.006512)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,496 people, 1,306 households, and 889 families residing in the city. The population density was 976.3 people per square mile (377.0/km²). There were 1,424 housing units at an average density of 397.7/sq mi (153.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.06% White, 13.07% African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 4.46% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.93% of the population.

There were 1,306 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,591, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $28,598 versus $21,944 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,789. About 15.5% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Wills Point and the surrounding unincorporated areas are served by the Wills Point ISD. It is administered by Superintendent Joe Oliver. As of 2006, there are 5 schools, Wills Point Primary School (Pre-K, K,& 1st), E.O. Woods Intermediate School (2nd, 3rd,& 4th), Wills Point Middle School (5th & 6th), Wills Point Jr. High (7th & 8th), and Wills Point High School (9th - 12th). The Wills Point High School mascot is the Tigers which, as a 1A school in 1965, won the state championship in football.

References

External links

* [http://www.vanzandtnewspapers.com/ Wills Point Chronical]
* [http://willspointisd.tx.schoolwebpages.com/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1 Wills Point ISD]