Apple Springs, Texas
Encyclopedia
Apple Springs is a small unincorporated town
in Trinity County, Texas
, United States
. The town was founded shortly after the Civil War
as May Apple Springs. The town rose to a population of 285 in 1965, and then progressively declined to about 130 people, with nine business, in the 1990s.
. The district has two schools, Apple Springs Elementary School (pre-kindergarten to grade 6) and Apple Springs High School (grades 7 to 12), with approximately 140-165 students. In 2004-2005, the school district received an "Academically Acceptable" rating from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). In 2002, Apple Springs High School was recognized by Texas Monthly
one of the top ten high schools in Texas in its economic group, based on ranking by the National Center for Educational Accountability.
Around 1900, the Southern Pine Lumber Co. built a train road from Diboll into North Cedar and built 2 camps along the road. One of these camps was near some natural springs that were surrounded by May Apple Bushes (a name give to Bois D'Arc trees). The area came to be known as May Apple Springs (When a post office opened in 1884 the name was shortened to Apple Springs). The camps were self contained units with stores, blacksmith shops, and ice houses.
When the camp closed in WWI, they sold the section houses and house cars to "locals". The Apple Springs Telephone Co was formed by William Warren and later purchased by Burr Roach. His brother owned a store and sent 6 of his 7 children to college. Several local boys served in WWI and, upon their return, prohibition came making moonshine brewing and bootlegging commonplace. In fact, North Cedar on a Mason Jur meant as much as "four roses" on a bottle.
During this time, schools held box suppers, churches held "preachings" and singing schools. People with large houses held dances. Henry Hrville was the most popular "caller" of the square dances and started his calls with "Partners in you places like horses in their traces - if I live a hundred year, I hope I die a-pullin' in the gear!"
WWII brought more changes as people found work away from the land, but money was still scarce. Many people said they couldn't tell much change from The Depression.
Median Age = 39.5 years
Median Household Income = $30,873
Percentage of Single Households = 39.5%
Percentage of Married Households = 60.5%
Percentage Families (households with children)= 19.9%
Average Household Size = 2.43 people
Percentage College or Better = 6.4%
Percentage White Collar = 29.8%
Neighborhood type = Rural
Population = 1175
Pop. density = 10.2
Percent male = 47.9%
Percent female = 52.1%
Avg. income per capita = $14,167
Median age of homes = 27.0
Home appreciation = 3.8%
Percent owning home = 70.6%
Percent renting home = 9.2%
Percent homes vacant = 20.3%
Percent commuting by bus = 0.4%
Percent commuting by carpool = 16.3%
Percent commuting by auto = 79.1%
Percent working at home = 3.5%
College degree - 2 year = 2.5%
College degree - 4 year = 4.0%
Graduate degree = 2.5%
Expenditures per student = $6,504
Students per teacher = 10.3
Students per librarian = n/a
Students per guidance counselor = 243
Recent Job Growth = 0.3%
Future Job Growth = 15.0%
Sales tax = 6.917%
Income tax = 0.0%
Cost of living index = 74
Watershed quality = 60.0
Physicians per capita = 21.2
Health cost index = 90.7
Superfund site index = 99.0
UV index = 5.9
Rainfall (inches annually) = 49.3
Snowfall (inches annually) = 0.3
January avg. low temp. = 37.3
July avg. high temp. = 94.6
Days of precipitation annually = 105
Days mostly sunny annually = 205
Comfort index = 23.0
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Trinity County, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The town was founded shortly after the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
as May Apple Springs. The town rose to a population of 285 in 1965, and then progressively declined to about 130 people, with nine business, in the 1990s.
Schools
Apple Springs is home to Apple Springs Independent School DistrictApple Springs Independent School District
Apple Springs Independent School District is a public school district based in Apple Springs, Texas .The district has two schools, Apple Springs Elementary School and Apple Springs High School , with approximately 140-165 students...
. The district has two schools, Apple Springs Elementary School (pre-kindergarten to grade 6) and Apple Springs High School (grades 7 to 12), with approximately 140-165 students. In 2004-2005, the school district received an "Academically Acceptable" rating from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). In 2002, Apple Springs High School was recognized by Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly
Texas Monthly is a monthly American magazine headquartered in Austin, Texas. Texas Monthly is published by Emmis Publishing, L.P. and was founded in 1973 by Michael R. Levy, Texas Monthly chronicles life in contemporary Texas, writing on politics, the environment, industry, and education...
one of the top ten high schools in Texas in its economic group, based on ranking by the National Center for Educational Accountability.
History
Trinity County history began in 1852 when Jonathon Roach left his wife Mary Boone Roach and their children at Sumpter Texas while he captained river boats on the Trinity River. Although he died 2 years later, Mary stayed there until their boys returned from the Civil War. Unable to bear the reconstruction, they moved to the deep woods of North Cedar near Burketown. One of their sons, Thomas was knowledgeable about medicine and could tell time day or night without a watch. He was a good farmer and acquired enough land to provide "extras" for his family.Around 1900, the Southern Pine Lumber Co. built a train road from Diboll into North Cedar and built 2 camps along the road. One of these camps was near some natural springs that were surrounded by May Apple Bushes (a name give to Bois D'Arc trees). The area came to be known as May Apple Springs (When a post office opened in 1884 the name was shortened to Apple Springs). The camps were self contained units with stores, blacksmith shops, and ice houses.
When the camp closed in WWI, they sold the section houses and house cars to "locals". The Apple Springs Telephone Co was formed by William Warren and later purchased by Burr Roach. His brother owned a store and sent 6 of his 7 children to college. Several local boys served in WWI and, upon their return, prohibition came making moonshine brewing and bootlegging commonplace. In fact, North Cedar on a Mason Jur meant as much as "four roses" on a bottle.
During this time, schools held box suppers, churches held "preachings" and singing schools. People with large houses held dances. Henry Hrville was the most popular "caller" of the square dances and started his calls with "Partners in you places like horses in their traces - if I live a hundred year, I hope I die a-pullin' in the gear!"
WWII brought more changes as people found work away from the land, but money was still scarce. Many people said they couldn't tell much change from The Depression.
Demographics
Population = 1179Median Age = 39.5 years
Median Household Income = $30,873
Percentage of Single Households = 39.5%
Percentage of Married Households = 60.5%
Percentage Families (households with children)= 19.9%
Average Household Size = 2.43 people
Percentage College or Better = 6.4%
Percentage White Collar = 29.8%
Neighborhood type = Rural
Population = 1175
Pop. density = 10.2
Percent male = 47.9%
Percent female = 52.1%
Avg. income per capita = $14,167
Housing
Median home value = $71,600Median age of homes = 27.0
Home appreciation = 3.8%
Percent owning home = 70.6%
Percent renting home = 9.2%
Percent homes vacant = 20.3%
Percent commuting by bus = 0.4%
Percent commuting by carpool = 16.3%
Percent commuting by auto = 79.1%
Percent working at home = 3.5%
Education
High school graduates = 74.1%College degree - 2 year = 2.5%
College degree - 4 year = 4.0%
Graduate degree = 2.5%
Expenditures per student = $6,504
Students per teacher = 10.3
Students per librarian = n/a
Students per guidance counselor = 243
Economy
Unemployment rate = 5.6%Recent Job Growth = 0.3%
Future Job Growth = 15.0%
Sales tax = 6.917%
Income tax = 0.0%
Cost of living index = 74
Health
Air quality = 76.0Watershed quality = 60.0
Physicians per capita = 21.2
Health cost index = 90.7
Superfund site index = 99.0
UV index = 5.9
Climate
Altitude = 76Rainfall (inches annually) = 49.3
Snowfall (inches annually) = 0.3
January avg. low temp. = 37.3
July avg. high temp. = 94.6
Days of precipitation annually = 105
Days mostly sunny annually = 205
Comfort index = 23.0