Comanche, Texas
Encyclopedia
Comanche is a city located in Comanche County
in the U.S. state
of Texas
. The population was 4,482 at the 2000 census
. It is the county seat
of Comanche County
. The town square has been renovated and is becoming a popular tourist attraction. With "Star Beaus" and "karens" on the square and their barbecue
and Mexican
restaurants, Comanche is also a stop for hunters
. Comanche is known for its trophy-sized deer and available deer leases.
A military road known as the "Corn Trail" came through in 1850 to supply area forts and encourage settlement. The town was established in 1856 and the city was incorporated in 1858. Near the modern courthouse is the preserved log structure known as the "Old Cora Courthouse", one of the oldest standing wooden courthouses in Texas. Cora, the former county seat, later became Gustine.
The Comanche County Historical Museum
in Comanche features a blacksmith
shop, filling station, and doctor's office. A replica saloon depicts the site where gunfighter John Wesley Hardin
killed a deputy in 1874.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 4,482 people, 1,656 households, and 1,157 families residing in the city. The population density
was 998.3 people per square mile (385.4/km²). There were 1,898 housing units at an average density of 422.8 per square mile (163.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.01% White, 1.20% African American, 1.09% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 15.13% from other races
, and 2.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.51% of the population.
There were 1,656 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,773, and the median income for a family was $32,097. Males had a median income of $26,646 versus $16,958 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,155. About 17.0% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.
is located two nautical miles (2.3 mi, 3.7 km) northeast of Comanche's central business district
.
, which consists of Comanche Elementary, Comanche Middle School, Jefferies Junior High, and Comanche High School. and Paradigm Accelerated Charter School for High School aged students.
Comanche County, Texas
Comanche County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in Central Texas. In 2000, its population was 14,026. Comanche was founded in 1856. Comanche is named for the Comanche Native American tribe...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. The population was 4,482 at the 2000 census
Census
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...
. It is the county seat
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 Comanche County
Comanche County, Texas
Comanche County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in Central Texas. In 2000, its population was 14,026. Comanche was founded in 1856. Comanche is named for the Comanche Native American tribe...
. The town square has been renovated and is becoming a popular tourist attraction. With "Star Beaus" and "karens" on the square and their barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
and Mexican
Mexican cuisine
Mexican cuisine, a style of food that originates in Mexico, is known for its varied flavors, colourful decoration and variety of spices and ingredients, most of which are native to the country. The cuisine of Mexico has evolved through thousands of years of blending indigenous cultures, with later...
restaurants, Comanche is also a stop for hunters
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
. Comanche is known for its trophy-sized deer and available deer leases.
A military road known as the "Corn Trail" came through in 1850 to supply area forts and encourage settlement. The town was established in 1856 and the city was incorporated in 1858. Near the modern courthouse is the preserved log structure known as the "Old Cora Courthouse", one of the oldest standing wooden courthouses in Texas. Cora, the former county seat, later became Gustine.
The Comanche County Historical Museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in Comanche features a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
shop, filling station, and doctor's office. A replica saloon depicts the site where gunfighter John Wesley Hardin
John Wesley Hardin
John Wesley Hardin was an American outlaw, gunfighter, and controversial folk hero of the Old West. He was born in Bonham, Texas. Hardin found himself in trouble with the law at an early age, and spent the majority of his life being pursued by both local lawmen and federal troops of the...
killed a deputy in 1874.
Geography
Comanche is located at 31°54′0"N 98°36′16"W (31.899890, -98.604485).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 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²), all of it land.
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 4,482 people, 1,656 households, and 1,157 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 998.3 people per square mile (385.4/km²). There were 1,898 housing units at an average density of 422.8 per square mile (163.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.01% White, 1.20% African American, 1.09% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 15.13% 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 2.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.51% of the population.
There were 1,656 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% 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, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,773, and the median income for a family was $32,097. Males had a median income of $26,646 versus $16,958 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 $12,155. About 17.0% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
The Comanche County-City AirportComanche County-City Airport
Comanche County-City Airport is a public use airport located two nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Comanche, a city in Comanche County, Texas, United States. It is owned by the City of Comanche and Comanche County...
is located two nautical miles (2.3 mi, 3.7 km) northeast of Comanche's central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
.
Education
The City of Comanche is served by the Comanche Independent School DistrictComanche Independent School District
Comanche Independent School District is a public school district based in Comanche, Texas .Located in Comanche County, a very small portion of the district extends into Mills County....
, which consists of Comanche Elementary, Comanche Middle School, Jefferies Junior High, and Comanche High School. and Paradigm Accelerated Charter School for High School aged students.