Hempstead, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Hempstead, Texas
settlement_type = City
nickname = Watermelon Capital of Texas
website = http://www.hempsteadedc.com/


imagesize =
image_caption =


mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in the state of Texas


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Texas
subdivision_name2 = Waller
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Michael Wolfe
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_sq_mi = 5.0
area_total_km2 = 12.9
area_land_sq_mi = 5.0
area_land_km2 = 12.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0.04
area_water_km2 = 0.1
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes = [cite web | url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US4834220&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US48%7C16000US4834220&_street=&_county=hempstead&_cityTown=hempstead&_state=04000US48&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=DEC_2000_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=| title=US Census Bureau Population Finder: Hempstead city, TX | publisher=factfinder.census.gov | accessdate=2007-09-08]
population_total = 4,691
population_density_sq_mi = 364.4
population_density_km2 = 943.8
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd = 30 |latm = 5 |lats = 29 |latNS = N
longd = 96 |longm = 4 |longs = 53 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 69.1
elevation_ft = 227
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = Originally incorporated November 10, 1858, re-incorporated June 10, 1935
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 77445
area_code = 979
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-33200GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1337592GR|3
footnotes =

Hempstead is a city in Waller County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,691 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Waller County.GR|6

Geography

Hempstead is located at coor dms|30|5|29|N|96|4|53|W|city (30.091427, -96.081252).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²), of which, 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.40%) is water.

History

Hempstead, was founded by Dr. Richard Rodgers Peebles and James W. McDade, who organized the Hempstead Town Company on December 29, 1856 in order to sell lots in the new town at the terminus of the projected Houston and Texas Central Railway. The doctor named the town for his brother-in-law, Dr. G. S. B. Hempstead of Portsmouth, Ohio. Peebles and his wife, Mary Ann Groce Peebles, contributed 2,000 acres from the Jared E. Groce, Jr., estate for the townsite. The Houston and Texas Central rail line was extended to Hempstead on June 29, 1858, and the town became a distribution center between the Texas interior and the Gulf Coast. Hempstead was incorporated on November 10, 1858, and the towns inportant role of a transportation center was increased with construction of the Washington County Railroad from Hempstead to Brenham. [http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/HH/hgh7.html]

Hempstead is famous for its watermelon crop, and until the 1940s the town was the top shipper of watermelons in the United States. Amond Holmes was known as the watermelon King and Jessie Mae Braggs was known as the watermelon Queen. Both resided in Sunnyside, Texas. The town holds a [http://www.hempsteadtxchamber.com/watermelonprefest.html Watermelon Festival] in July.

The town has grown in recent years because of its relative closeness to Houston along U.S. Highway 290. The current economy is based on county government, shipping, and a large auto dealership.

The town's most famous resident is one Lillie E. Drennan, who in 1929 became the first woman to hold a commercial driver's license in Texas. She ran a regional hauling company called the Drennan Truck Line while maintaining an excellent driving record. Drennan received periodical attention in national newspapers and radio broadcasts.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 4,691 people, 1,663 households, and 1,124 families residing in the city. The population density was 943.8 people per square mile (364.4/km²). There were 1,848 housing units at an average density of 371.8/sq mi (143.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 39.86% White, 43.44% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 14.65% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.77% of the population.

There were 1,663 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 20.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% 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 3.35.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,095, and the median income for a family was $29,744. Males had a median income of $26,673 versus $20,938 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,560. About 22.9% of families and 29.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.5% of those under age 18 and 25.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

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

References

External links

* [http://www.hempsteadtxchamber.com/ Hempstead, TX Chamber of Commerce Website]