George West, Texas
Encyclopedia
George West is a city in Live Oak County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 2,524 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Live Oak County. George West was named the "storytelling
capital of Texas" in 2005 by the Texas Senate
; and it hosts the George West Storyfest, a festival that features storytelling, cowboy poetry
, and music
. Numerous ranches surround George West.
The Texas author and folklorist J. Frank Dobie
was born in Live Oak County near George West in 1888. Former State Senator Cyndi Taylor Krier
, also the administrative judge of Bexar County
, was reared near George West in the unincorporated community of Dinero
.
, West began to build his town in 1913, after ranching in the area from 1880 to 1912. He sold his cattle
holdings and began to colonize some 75000 acres (303.5 km²).
He offered the railroad
$100,000 and a free easement through his land to build to George West. He offered $75,000 to build a new courthouse if the county seat was moved from Oakville
and voters approved the measure in 1918. West also built schools, roads, and water and electricity plants.
George West was incorporated in 1946 and the government changed to home rule
in 1980.
and miles (127 km) 85.6 miles south of San Antonio
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 12 square miles (31.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,524 people, 892 households, and 671 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,327.3 people per square mile (512.9/km2). There were 1,035 housing units at an average density of 544.3/sq mi (210.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.73% White, 0.28% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 14.38% from other races
, and 2.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 58.00% of the population.
There were 892 households out of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples
living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,364, and the median income for a family was $33,971. Males had a median income of $28,456 versus $14,573 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,591. About 18.2% of families and 21.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.0% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.
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 2,524 at the 2000 census. 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 Live Oak County. George West was named the "storytelling
Storytelling
Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values...
capital of Texas" in 2005 by the Texas Senate
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
; and it hosts the George West Storyfest, a festival that features storytelling, cowboy poetry
Cowboy poetry
Cowboy poetry cp is a form of poetry which grew out of a tradition of extemporaneous composition carried on by workers on cattle drives and ranches. After a day of work, cowboys would gather around a campfire and entertain one another with tall tales and folk songs...
, and music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. Numerous ranches surround George West.
The Texas author and folklorist J. Frank Dobie
J. Frank Dobie
James Frank Dobie was an American folklorist, writer, and newspaper columnist best known for many books depicting the richness and traditions of life in rural Texas during the days of the open range...
was born in Live Oak County near George West in 1888. Former State Senator Cyndi Taylor Krier
Cyndi Taylor Krier
Cynthia Taylor Krier, known as Cyndi Taylor Krier , is an attorney, lobbyist, and former Republican politician in San Antonio, Texas. She served in the Texas State Senate from District 26 from 1985 to 1993 and as the administrative judge of Bexar County from 1993 to 2001...
, also the administrative judge of Bexar County
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
, was reared near George West in the unincorporated community of Dinero
Dinero, Texas
Dinero is an unincorporated community in eastern Live Oak County, Texas, United States. It lies along local roads south of Interstate 37, southeast of the city of George West, the county seat of Live Oak County. Its elevation is 112 feet...
.
History
George West was a land venture and ranching enterprise of George Washington West and Kittie West. Originally from San AntonioSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, West began to build his town in 1913, after ranching in the area from 1880 to 1912. He sold his cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
holdings and began to colonize some 75000 acres (303.5 km²).
He offered the railroad
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
$100,000 and a free easement through his land to build to George West. He offered $75,000 to build a new courthouse if the county seat was moved from Oakville
Oakville, Texas
Oakville is an unincorporated community in northeastern Live Oak County, Texas, United States. It lies along Interstate 37 northeast of the city of George West, the county seat of Live Oak County. Its elevation is 171 feet...
and voters approved the measure in 1918. West also built schools, roads, and water and electricity plants.
George West was incorporated in 1946 and the government changed to home rule
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
in 1980.
Geography
George West is located at 28.331147°N 98.117013°W (28.331147, -98.117013). This is 65.7 miles (105.7 km) northwest of Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
and miles (127 km) 85.6 miles south of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
.
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 12 square miles (31.1 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 2,524 people, 892 households, and 671 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 1,327.3 people per square mile (512.9/km2). There were 1,035 housing units at an average density of 544.3/sq mi (210.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.73% White, 0.28% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 14.38% 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 2.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 58.00% of the population.
There were 892 households out of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% 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, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,364, and the median income for a family was $33,971. Males had a median income of $28,456 versus $14,573 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 $13,591. About 18.2% of families and 21.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.0% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- George West Storyfest festival. from the USGSUnited States Geological SurveyThe United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
website.