Ballinger, Texas
Encyclopedia
Ballinger is a small town in the heart of Texas. Ballinger holds itself as county seat
of Runnels County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 4,243 at the 2000 census. Like every other small town, Ballinger calls itself "The Greatest Little Town in Texas."
Ballinger is the birthplace of former nationally syndicated entertainment columnist Lane Crockett
(born 1942), who was primarily affiliated with the Shreveport Times. He has been called the "prince of performance critics."
George E. "Buddy" West
, a Republican
member of the Texas House of Representatives
from Odessa
who served from 1993—2008, was born in Ballinger in 1936.
Ballinger was home of the minor league baseball
team the Ballinger Cats
from the 1920s to its disbandment in the late 1950s. They were affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds
from 1947 to 1950, as well with the bygone St. Louis Browns in the 1930s and early 1940s. Today, the Ballinger Cats name is back but they are members of the Central Texas Collegiate League, a woodbat summer league of collegiate level players.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), of which, 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) of it is land and 0.30% is water.
of 2000, there were 4,243 people, 1,578 households, and 1,093 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,266.7 people per square mile (489.0/km²). There were 1,879 housing units at an average density of 560.9 per square mile (216.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.68% White, 2.14% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 14.52% from other races
, and 2.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.28% of the population.
There were 1,578 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,129, and the median income for a family was $31,393. Males had a median income of $24,207 versus $18,951 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,917. About 14.3% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 25.0% of those age 65 or over.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Runnels 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 population was 4,243 at the 2000 census. Like every other small town, Ballinger calls itself "The Greatest Little Town in Texas."
Ballinger is the birthplace of former nationally syndicated entertainment columnist Lane Crockett
Lane Crockett
Lane Tyler Crockett is the retired entertainment writer and theater/arts critic of the Shreveport Times, the largest newspaper in north Louisiana. While he was at The Times, Gannett syndicated Crockett for a decade as a film and television writer...
(born 1942), who was primarily affiliated with the Shreveport Times. He has been called the "prince of performance critics."
George E. "Buddy" West
Buddy West
George E. "Buddy" West was a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Odessa, who was known for his staunch support of his hometown University of Texas of the Permian Basin...
, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
from Odessa
Odessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
who served from 1993—2008, was born in Ballinger in 1936.
Ballinger was home of the minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team the Ballinger Cats
Ballinger Cats
The Ballinger Cats were a Longhorn League baseball team based in Ballinger, Texas, USA that played from 1947 to 1950. They were affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds in 1948. As well, they played their home games at Ballinger Rec. Park that season...
from the 1920s to its disbandment in the late 1950s. They were affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
from 1947 to 1950, as well with the bygone St. Louis Browns in the 1930s and early 1940s. Today, the Ballinger Cats name is back but they are members of the Central Texas Collegiate League, a woodbat summer league of collegiate level players.
Geography
Ballinger is located at 31°44′27"N 99°57′14"W (31.740907, -99.953832).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), of which, 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) of it is land and 0.30% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,243 people, 1,578 households, and 1,093 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,266.7 people per square mile (489.0/km²). There were 1,879 housing units at an average density of 560.9 per square mile (216.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.68% White, 2.14% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 14.52% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.28% of the population.
There were 1,578 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,129, and the median income for a family was $31,393. Males had a median income of $24,207 versus $18,951 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $11,917. About 14.3% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 25.0% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Ballinger, Texas - official website
- Entry for William P. Ballinger, for whom Ballinger was named, from the Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas published 1880, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.