Bronte, Texas
Encyclopedia
Bronte is a town in Coke County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 1,076 at the 2000 census.
Texas State Senator Grady Hazlewood
, who served from the Amarillo
-based District 31
from 1941-1971, was born in 1902 in Coke County near Bronte.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
Although named for English novelist Charlotte Brontë
the town name is pronounced as one syllable: "brahnt".
of 2000, there were 1,076 people, 426 households, and 293 families residing in the town. The population density
was 748.0 people per square mile (288.5/km²). There were 502 housing units at an average density of 349.0 per square mile (134.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.06% White, 0.19% Native American, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 8.55% from other races
, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.07% of the population.
There were 426 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,150, and the median income for a family was $37,625. Males had a median income of $30,769 versus $14,135 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,869. About 10.4% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
. During that year Gerald Sandusky, the mayor of Bronte, estimated that the juvenile facility employed 180 people, and that 30-35 percent of the juvenile center's employees lived in Coke County.
Coke County, south of Bronte, was a 200-bed secure facility operated by the GEO Group
(formerly Wackenhut Corrections Corp.) and contracted by the Texas Youth Commission
(TYC). Originally designed for girls, it was changed into an all boy facility in 1998. In 2007, after the TYC inspected the facility, the TYC moved the approximately 200 youth it contracted to the center out of the Coke County facility and caused it to close. During the life of the Coke County facility, Wackenhut received criticism from the media for how it operated the center. Coke County officials criticized the closing, saying that the closing was politically motivated.
. The district provided educational services for the inmates at Coke County Juvenile Justice Center, and 21 district employees were based at the center. During that year, Alan Richey, the superintendent of Bronte ISD, estimated that 40% of the enrollment in the school district consisted of children who were incarcerated in the center. The superintendent said that the district lost $2 million in funding as a result of the closure of the juvenile facility.
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 1,076 at the 2000 census.
Texas State Senator Grady Hazlewood
Grady Hazlewood
Grady Hazlewood was a Democratic member of the Texas State Senate from 1941 to 1971, having represented the Amarillo-based District 31 in the Panhandle...
, who served from the Amarillo
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
-based District 31
Texas Senate, District 31
District 31 of the Texas Senate is a senatorial district that currently serves Andrews, Bailey, Cochran, Crane, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Ector, Gaines, Glasscock, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Howard, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Martin, Midland, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts,...
from 1941-1971, was born in 1902 in Coke County near Bronte.
Geography
Bronte is located at 31°53′13"N 100°17′42"W (31.887046, -100.294947).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 town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
Although named for English novelist Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood, whose novels are English literature standards...
the town name is pronounced as one syllable: "brahnt".
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 1,076 people, 426 households, and 293 families residing in the town. 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 748.0 people per square mile (288.5/km²). There were 502 housing units at an average density of 349.0 per square mile (134.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.06% White, 0.19% Native American, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 8.55% 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 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.07% of the population.
There were 426 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% 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, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,150, and the median income for a family was $37,625. Males had a median income of $30,769 versus $14,135 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 town was $18,869. About 10.4% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
As of 2007 the largest employer in Bronte was the Coke County Juvenile Justice Center, followed by the Bronte Independent School DistrictBronte Independent School District
Bronte Independent School District is a public school district based in Bronte, Texas .Located in Coke County, a portion of the district extends into Runnels County....
. During that year Gerald Sandusky, the mayor of Bronte, estimated that the juvenile facility employed 180 people, and that 30-35 percent of the juvenile center's employees lived in Coke County.
Government and infrastructure
The Coke County Juvenile Justice Center, located in unincorporatedUnincorporated 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...
Coke County, south of Bronte, was a 200-bed secure facility operated by the GEO Group
GEO Group
The GEO Group, Inc. is a company headquartered in One Park Place, Boca Raton, Florida. GEO is a multi-national provider of governmental services specializing in the management of correctional, detention and mental health and residential treatment in North America, Australia, South Africa and the...
(formerly Wackenhut Corrections Corp.) and contracted by the Texas Youth Commission
Texas Youth Commission
The Texas Youth Commission is a Texas state agency which operates juvenile corrections facilities in the state. The commission is headquartered in the Brown-Heatly Building in Austin...
(TYC). Originally designed for girls, it was changed into an all boy facility in 1998. In 2007, after the TYC inspected the facility, the TYC moved the approximately 200 youth it contracted to the center out of the Coke County facility and caused it to close. During the life of the Coke County facility, Wackenhut received criticism from the media for how it operated the center. Coke County officials criticized the closing, saying that the closing was politically motivated.
Education
The Town of Bronte is served by the Bronte Independent School DistrictBronte Independent School District
Bronte Independent School District is a public school district based in Bronte, Texas .Located in Coke County, a portion of the district extends into Runnels County....
. The district provided educational services for the inmates at Coke County Juvenile Justice Center, and 21 district employees were based at the center. During that year, Alan Richey, the superintendent of Bronte ISD, estimated that 40% of the enrollment in the school district consisted of children who were incarcerated in the center. The superintendent said that the district lost $2 million in funding as a result of the closure of the juvenile facility.