Falls City, Texas
Encyclopedia
Falls City
, a mile southeast of the Wilson county line and seven miles northwest of Karnes City in northern Karnes County, owes its development to the railroad. Two earlier communities, Marcelina and Home Valley, had been located in the vicinity in the 1850s and 1860s, but people were not induced to settle the area until 1886, when the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway built a switch and depot called Brackenridge, named after railroad benefactor George W. Brackenridge. To provide postal service for the settlement that developed, the post office of Skiles was established a mile west of the depot in 1887. On November 28, 1893, it was moved closer to the tracks on the east side of the river, where it was consolidated with Brackenridge and renamed Falls City, after several nearby natural waterfalls. On June 25, 1893, a train robbery at Brackenridge resulted in the only hanging at Karnes City, the new county seat. In 1895 Falls City had one general store, a post office, two saloons, a lumberyard, a hotel, a depot, two livery stables, and a steam mill and gin. The principal place of business was the Schulz Mercantile Company, which operated in a large brick building until it burned down in 1935. The site was later occupied by the Falls City National Bank.
A number of people from Panna Maria and Cestohowa moved to Falls City, where they could receive the benefits of a railroad. As a result Falls City became a predominantly Polish-American settlement. In 1902 Holy Trinity Catholic Church was erected; a parish school opened in 1911. In 1924 the Columbian Hall was built for the Knights of Columbus; it was replaced by the Falls City Community Hall in 1983. In 1931 a new Catholic school, built for $4,000, enrolled 100 students. In 1938 a public school was built, and a high school was added in 1950. Polish-American farmers east and west of the town did most of their trading at Falls City, which incorporated on September 28, 1946. The discovery of oil helped the town to grow. After the discovery of uranium in 1958 near Tordilla Hill, ten miles west of Falls City, uranium mining and milling developed. In the mid-1970s the town was seriously divided over the uranium mines, which were said to contaminate the land and water. Businessmen wanted the mines to continue operation, but farmers did not. The conflict continued in the 1990s. By 1993 the uranium activity, except for a multimillion-dollar reclamation project by federal authorities, was all but over. In 1993 Falls City had a mayor-council form of government and a population of 478. In 2000 the population was 591.
Robert H. Thonhoff, "FALLS CITY, TX," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlf04), accessed December 10, 2010.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 Km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 591 people, 224 households, and 161 families residing in the city. The population density
was 653.4 people per square mile (253.5/km²). There were 242 housing units at an average density of 267.5/sq mi (103.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.02% White, 7.95% from other races
, and 2.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.49% of the population.
There were 224 households out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,583, and the median income for a family was $46,667. Males had a median income of $27,344 versus $18,500 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,125. About 12.8% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.2% of those under age 18 and 21.6% of those age 65 or over.
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FCISD also serves the neighboring communities of Hobson, Cestohowa and Pawelekville.
, a mile southeast of the Wilson county line and seven miles northwest of Karnes City in northern Karnes County, owes its development to the railroad. Two earlier communities, Marcelina and Home Valley, had been located in the vicinity in the 1850s and 1860s, but people were not induced to settle the area until 1886, when the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway built a switch and depot called Brackenridge, named after railroad benefactor George W. Brackenridge. To provide postal service for the settlement that developed, the post office of Skiles was established a mile west of the depot in 1887. On November 28, 1893, it was moved closer to the tracks on the east side of the river, where it was consolidated with Brackenridge and renamed Falls City, after several nearby natural waterfalls. On June 25, 1893, a train robbery at Brackenridge resulted in the only hanging at Karnes City, the new county seat. In 1895 Falls City had one general store, a post office, two saloons, a lumberyard, a hotel, a depot, two livery stables, and a steam mill and gin. The principal place of business was the Schulz Mercantile Company, which operated in a large brick building until it burned down in 1935. The site was later occupied by the Falls City National Bank.
A number of people from Panna Maria and Cestohowa moved to Falls City, where they could receive the benefits of a railroad. As a result Falls City became a predominantly Polish-American settlement. In 1902 Holy Trinity Catholic Church was erected; a parish school opened in 1911. In 1924 the Columbian Hall was built for the Knights of Columbus; it was replaced by the Falls City Community Hall in 1983. In 1931 a new Catholic school, built for $4,000, enrolled 100 students. In 1938 a public school was built, and a high school was added in 1950. Polish-American farmers east and west of the town did most of their trading at Falls City, which incorporated on September 28, 1946. The discovery of oil helped the town to grow. After the discovery of uranium in 1958 near Tordilla Hill, ten miles west of Falls City, uranium mining and milling developed. In the mid-1970s the town was seriously divided over the uranium mines, which were said to contaminate the land and water. Businessmen wanted the mines to continue operation, but farmers did not. The conflict continued in the 1990s. By 1993 the uranium activity, except for a multimillion-dollar reclamation project by federal authorities, was all but over. In 1993 Falls City had a mayor-council form of government and a population of 478. In 2000 the population was 591.
Robert H. Thonhoff, "FALLS CITY, TX," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlf04), accessed December 10, 2010.
Geography
Falls City is located about 50 Km southeast of San Antonio on the left (north) bank of the San Antonio River at 28°59′N 98°1′W (28.9807, -98.0196). It is traversed by the Union Pacific Railroad and US Highway 181.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 0.9 square miles (2.3 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 591 people, 224 households, and 161 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 653.4 people per square mile (253.5/km²). There were 242 housing units at an average density of 267.5/sq mi (103.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.02% White, 7.95% 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 2.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.49% of the population.
There were 224 households out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% 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, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,583, and the median income for a family was $46,667. Males had a median income of $27,344 versus $18,500 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 $19,125. About 12.8% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.2% of those under age 18 and 21.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Falls City is served by the Falls City Independent School DistrictFalls City Independent School District
Falls City Independent School District is a public school district based in Falls City, Texas .In addition to Falls City, the district also serves the unincorporpated community of Hobson as well as rural areas in northwestern Karnes County and a small portion of southeastern Wilson County.Falls...
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FCISD also serves the neighboring communities of Hobson, Cestohowa and Pawelekville.