Gordon, Texas
Encyclopedia
Gordon is a city in Palo Pinto County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 478 at the 2010 Census
.
Former Olympic
athlete and conservative political figure Bob Richards
raises miniature horses in Gordon.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
. The town of Gordon was planned by the Texas and Pacific Railway
one mile south of Hampton in 1874. The new town was named Gordon after the civil engineer responsible for surveying the townsite land. The railroad was built through the area in 1880, and the following year Hampton was moved to meet the railroad. The first classes at the Gordon School were held in 1882, and the post office opened on 17 October 1883 with local businessman Robert Rogan serving as the community's first postmaster. Gordon High School was built in 1887, and by 1889 Gordon possessed five general stores, three drug stores, three hotels, three cotton gins and a reported population of 300 residents.
By 1901, Gordon had telephone service and the city got its own power plant in 1912. At the census of 1920, the burgeoning community reported 1,000 residents, but the effects of the Great Depression
brought prosperity to a halt and by 1960 there were fewer than 500 people living in Gordon. The city has managed to survive as a point of commerce and shipping for local ranching and petroleum production, and as of the 2000 Census Gordon claimed 451 residents.
of 2000, there were 451 people, 190 households, and 128 families residing in the city. The population density
was 467.2 people per square mile (179.5/km2). There were 228 housing units at an average density of 236.2 per square mile (90.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.23% White, 1.11% Native American, 0.44% Pacific Islander, 1.11% from other races
, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.10% of the population.
There were 190 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,056, and the median income for a family was $41,750. Males had a median income of $40,156 versus $20,781 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,307. About 8.1% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.
Palo Pinto County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,026 people, 10,594 households, and 7,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile . There were 14,102 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
, 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 478 at the 2010 Census
2010 census
The following countries conducted a census in 2010:* Sixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China* Russian Census * 2010 United States Census...
.
Former Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
athlete and conservative political figure Bob Richards
Bob Richards
The Reverend Robert Eugene Richards, known as Bob Richards , known as the "Vaulting Vicar" or the "Pole Vaulting Parson" in his competitive days, was a versatile athlete who made three Olympic teams in two events...
raises miniature horses in Gordon.
Geography
Gordon is located at 32.544121°N 98.365978°W (32.544121, -98.365978).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 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
History
Gordon's history beings in 1864 with the founding of the community of Hampton, TexasHampton, Texas
Hampton was a town in Palo Pinto County, Texas, United States. The town was moved south one mile to a nearby railroad and renamed Gordon in 1881.-Geography:Hampton was located at .-History:...
. The town of Gordon was planned by the Texas and Pacific Railway
Texas and Pacific Railway
The Texas and Pacific Railway Company was created by federal charter in 1871 with the purpose of building a southern transcontinental railroad between Marshall, Texas, and San Diego, California....
one mile south of Hampton in 1874. The new town was named Gordon after the civil engineer responsible for surveying the townsite land. The railroad was built through the area in 1880, and the following year Hampton was moved to meet the railroad. The first classes at the Gordon School were held in 1882, and the post office opened on 17 October 1883 with local businessman Robert Rogan serving as the community's first postmaster. Gordon High School was built in 1887, and by 1889 Gordon possessed five general stores, three drug stores, three hotels, three cotton gins and a reported population of 300 residents.
By 1901, Gordon had telephone service and the city got its own power plant in 1912. At the census of 1920, the burgeoning community reported 1,000 residents, but the effects of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
brought prosperity to a halt and by 1960 there were fewer than 500 people living in Gordon. The city has managed to survive as a point of commerce and shipping for local ranching and petroleum production, and as of the 2000 Census Gordon claimed 451 residents.
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 451 people, 190 households, and 128 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 467.2 people per square mile (179.5/km2). There were 228 housing units at an average density of 236.2 per square mile (90.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.23% White, 1.11% Native American, 0.44% Pacific Islander, 1.11% 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 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.10% of the population.
There were 190 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% 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, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,056, and the median income for a family was $41,750. Males had a median income of $40,156 versus $20,781 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 $18,307. About 8.1% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.