Bluff Dale is an unincorporated community

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 Erath County

Erath County, Texas

Erath County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 33,001. It is named for George Bernard Erath, an early surveyor and a soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto. The seat of the county is Stephenville....

, 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 Bluff Dale Independent School District

Bluff Dale Independent School District

Bluff Dale Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Bluff Dale, Texas .Located in Erath County, a small portion of the district lies in Hood County....

 serves area students.

History

BLUFF DALE, Texas is on U.S. Highway 377 and the North Paluxy River in northeastern Erath County. It was originally called Bluff Springs by pioneers who settled nearby; Bluff Dale became the town name when the post office was established in 1877. In 1889 when the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway was built, Jack Glenn donated land for the development of a town. The town was incorporated in 1908. By 1915 a bank and newspaper had been developed. In 1936 Bluff Dale had 680 residents, 500 in 1940, 123 in 1980, and 300 in 1989. In 1989 the town had a Garden Club, three churches, a volunteer fire department, five historical markers, and a beautification committee. By 2001, a housing–recreational development was built nearby, called Mountain Lakes. It features two man-made lakes. One is a fishing lake, and the other is a recreational lake. By 2007, approximately 300 people had moved into this development. From 2002 to 2006, there were two major fires in the large development. There were no losses of life or houses. A gas station–convenience store was built around 2002. Around 2005, a bank was opened up.

Demographics

Population

As of 2007, Bluff Dale (zip 76433)'s population is 2,071 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of -0.30 percent.

Housing

The median home cost in Bluff Dale (zip 76433) is $208,600. Home appreciation the last year has been -0.36 percent.

Cost of Living

Compared to the rest of the country, Bluff Dale (zip 76433)'s cost of living is 16.43% Lower than the U.S. average.

Education

Bluff Dale (zip 76433) public schools spend $6,770 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $6,058. There are about 11 students per teacher in Bluff Dale (zip 76433).

Unemployment

The unemployment rate in Bluff Dale (zip 76433) is 3.20 percent(U.S. avg. is 4.60%). Recent job growth is Positive. Bluff Dale (zip 76433) jobs have Increased by 1.82 percent.
http://www.bestplaces.net/zip-code/Bluff_Dale_TX-77643300000.aspx

Historical markers

Bluff Dale Suspension Bridge TX441

This iron bridge was open to the public spanning the Paluxy River in 1891.

Berry Creek Rd. (CR-149), ¼ mile N. of US-377, Bluff Dale, Erath County Texas

While the historical marker identifies the bridge as a suspension bridge

Suspension bridge

A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...

, it is actually a cable stayed bridge design, and as such is probably the oldest of its type in the United States.

http://www.historicmarkers.com/Texas/Erath_County_Texas/Bluff_Dale_Suspension_Bridge__TX441/

Bluff Dale Tabernacle TX442

Built in 1906; the land was donated by Andrew Glenn. Community events, funerals, and school graduations are held here. Originally used for early denominations in revivals that lasted for days.

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, Texas Historical Commission, 1982.

Glenn St. and Holmes St., Bluff Dale, Erath County Texas

http://www.historicmarkers.com/Texas/Erath_County_Texas/Bluff_Dale_Tabernacle__TX442/

Old Public Water Well TX3786

Dug around 1887 and used in the early days for travelers and cattle herds. The well was dug by the Fort Worth Rio Grande Railroad and was primarily utilized to supply locomotives. Still in use today.

State Historical Survey Committee, 1971.

Greenwood St., Bluff Dale, Erath County Texas

http://www.historicmarkers.com/Texas/Erath_County_Texas/Old_Public_Water_Well__TX3786/