Taylor, Texas

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

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image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Taylor, Texas


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

government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
leader_name =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 35.1
area_land_km2 = 35.0
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 13.6
area_land_sq_mi = 13.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 13575
population_density_km2 = 387.3
population_density_sq_mi = 1003.2

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 172
elevation_ft = 564
latd = 30 |latm = 34 |lats = 21 |latNS = N
longd = 97 |longm = 25 |longs = 0 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 76574
area_code = 512
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-71948GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1369631GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Taylor is a city in Williamson County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,575 at the 2000 census; it was 15,014 in the 2005 census estimate. The local newspaper is the "Taylor Daily Press", formerly owned by the legendary Texas publisher Frank W. Mayborn.

History

In 1876 the Texas Land Company auctioned lots in anticipation of the arrival of the International-Great Northern Railroad when Taylor was founded that year. The city was named after Edward Moses Taylor, a railroad official, under the name Taylorsville which officially became Taylor in 1892. Immigrants from Czechoslovakia and other Slavic states, as well as from Germany and Austria, helped establish the town. It soon became a busy shipping point for cattle, grain, and cotton.

By 1878 the town had 1,000 residents and thirty-two businesses, twenty-nine of which were destroyed by fire in 1879. Recovery was rapid, however, and more substantial buildings were constructed. In 1882 the Taylor, Bastrop and Houston Railway reached the community, and machine shops and a roundhouse serviced both rail lines. In 1882 the town was incorporated with a mayor-council form of city government, and in 1883 a public school system replaced a number of private schools.

By 1890 Taylor had two banks and the first savings and loan institution in Texas. An electric company, a cotton compress, and several newspapers were among the new enterprises. A water line from the San Gabriel River, a 100-man volunteer fire department, imported and local entertainment, and an annual fair made noteworthy news items by 1900.

Taylor is also the hometown of Bill Pickett and birthplace of former Texas governor Dan Moody.

Geography

Taylor is located at coor dms|30|34|21|N|97|24|60|W|city (30.572371, -97.416546)GR|1, about 17 miles east of Round Rock and 29 miles northeast of Austin.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.6 square miles (35.1 km²), of which, 13.5 square miles (35.0 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.22%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 13,575 people, 4,730 households, and 3,429 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,003.2 people per square mile (387.4/km²). There were 5,079 housing units at an average density of 375.3/sq mi (144.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.86% White, 14.21% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 14.97% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.08% of the population.

There were 4,730 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,549, and the median income for a family was $46,604. Males had a median income of $31,124 versus $25,042 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,683. About 10.5% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

TaylorCNET

TaylorCNET [http://www.taylorcnet.org] is a collaborative partnership between the city of Taylor, Taylor ISD, Taylor Economic Development, Williamson County, the Taylor Housing Authority, Johns Community Hospital, Taylor Chamber of Commerce and Temple College at Taylor. The organization's purpose is to improve the quality of life in Taylor through technology. TaylorCNET is governed by a five-member board of directors.

Using a $500,000 grant from the Texas Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund, the organization has built a technology center within the city's old middle school, including a computer lab, a videoconferencing center, and "office for a day" facilities. 14 public access points have been added in other locations throughout Taylor.

Transportation

*Taylor (Amtrak station)

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.taylor.tx.us/ Official City of Taylor Website]
* [http://www.taylorchamber.org Taylor Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.williamson-county-historical-commission.org/Taylor_Texas/Taylor_Texas_in_Williamson_County.html Williamson County Historical Commission page on Taylor]
*Handbook of Texas|id=TT/het1|name=Taylor
* [http://www.communitywalk.com/map/118 CommunityWalk]
* [http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Taylor/Taylor_Texas.htm TexasEscapes.com]