Fort Davis, Texas
Encyclopedia
Fort Davis is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Jeff Davis County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 1,050 at the 2000 census and 1,041 according to a 2007 estimate. It is the county seat
of Jeff Davis County
. It was the site of Fort Davis established in 1854 on the San Antonio-El Paso Road
through west Texas and named after Jefferson Davis
, who was then the Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 5.6 square miles (14.5 km²), all land.
Fort Davis has the highest elevation above sea level of any county seat
in Texas; the elevation is 5,050 feet.
of 2000, there were 1,050 people, 415 households, and 298 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 188.2 people per square mile (72.7/km²). There were 525 housing units at an average density of 94.1 per square mile (36.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.29% White, 0.19% African American, 0.48% Native American, 7.62% from other races
, and 3.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 49.33% of the population.
There were 415 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% 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 3.02.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $25,882, and the median income for a family was $27,955. Males had a median income of $22,500 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $14,249. About 20.7% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 26.0% of those age 65 or over.
BSk) with cool, dry winters and hot, dry summers. Precipitation is low, with an annual average of 15.9 inches (403.9 mm).
Fort Davis is served by the Fort Davis Independent School District
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Jeff Davis County
Jeff Davis County, Texas
Jeff Davis County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is named for Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 2,207, and 2,258 by 2009...
, 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 1,050 at the 2000 census and 1,041 according to a 2007 estimate. 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 Jeff Davis County
Jeff Davis County, Texas
Jeff Davis County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is named for Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 2,207, and 2,258 by 2009...
. It was the site of Fort Davis established in 1854 on the San Antonio-El Paso Road
San Antonio-El Paso Road
The San Antonio-El Paso Road also known as the Lower Emigrant Road or Military Road was an economically important trade route between the Texas cities of San Antonio and El Paso between 1849 and 1882...
through west Texas and named after Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
, who was then the Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
.
Geography
Fort Davis is located at 30°35′34"N 103°53′31"W (30.592880, -103.891996).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 CDP has a total area of 5.6 square miles (14.5 km²), all land.
Fort Davis has the highest elevation above sea level of any 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....
in Texas; the elevation is 5,050 feet.
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 1,050 people, 415 households, and 298 families residing in the CDP. 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 188.2 people per square mile (72.7/km²). There were 525 housing units at an average density of 94.1 per square mile (36.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.29% White, 0.19% African American, 0.48% Native American, 7.62% 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 3.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 49.33% of the population.
There were 415 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% 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, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% 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 3.02.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $25,882, and the median income for a family was $27,955. Males had a median income of $22,500 versus $20,000 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 CDP was $14,249. About 20.7% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 26.0% of those age 65 or over.
Climate
Fort Davis experiences a semi-arid climate (KöppenKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk) with cool, dry winters and hot, dry summers. Precipitation is low, with an annual average of 15.9 inches (403.9 mm).
Points of interest
- Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical GardensChihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical GardensChihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens is a nonprofit nature center with botanical gardens located on the grounds of the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute, on Highway 118 about south of Fort Davis, Texas, United States. They are open Monday through Saturday, except major holidays...
at the Chihuahuan Desert Research InstituteChihuahuan Desert Research InstituteThe Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute or CDRI, incorporated in January 1974, is an independent non-profit, scientific and educational organization located on a tract in the foothills of the Davis Mountains...
http://www.cdri.org - Fort Davis National Historic SiteFort Davis National Historic SiteFort Davis National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located in unincorporated Jeff Davis County, Texas. Located within the Davis Mountains of West Texas, the historic site was established in 1961 to protect one of the best remaining examples of a United States Army fort in...
- The McDonald ObservatoryMcDonald ObservatoryThe McDonald Observatory is an astronomical observatory located near the unincorporated community of Fort Davis in Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States. The facility is located on Mount Fowlkes and Mount Locke in the Davis Mountains of West Texas...
of the University of Texas http://mcdonaldobservatory.org - Ft. Davis is home to one of ten dishes comprising the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA)Very Long Baseline ArrayThe Very Long Baseline Array is a system of ten radio telescopes controlled remotely from the Array Operations Center in Socorro, New Mexico by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The array works together as the world's largest dedicated, full-time astronomical instrument using the...
- Davis Mountain State Park http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/davis/
Education
Fort Davis Independent School District
Fort Davis Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Fort Davis in unincorporated Jeff Davis County, Texas ....
.
- Dirks-Anderson Elementary School
- Fort Davis High SchoolFort Davis High SchoolFort Davis High School is a small public high school in Fort Davis, an unincorporated community in Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States. The school is operated by the Fort Davis Independent School District...
External links
- Handbook of Texas Online article
- Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce
- West Texas Weekly- a local weekly newspaper.