Goree, Texas
Encyclopedia
Goree is a city in Knox County
, Texas
. The population was 321 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau
estimate placed the population at 257.
and FM 266 in southeastern Knox County, approximately 84 miles north of Abilene
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
veteran and Knox County pioneer. Benedict's store was bought by J.W. McLendon in 1890 and moved it with its post office to a new site that became known as North Goree. A school was built near the relocated store in 1901. In 1904, North Goree was renamed Hefner.
At its president-day location, the first plans for a new community began in 1905 with the announcement that the Wichita Valley Railroad would be built through the area. 1906 was an important year in Goree's history as the railroad arrived, homes and businesses were erected, and the community became an incorporated municipality. The school relocated from the Hefner location to Goree in 1906 as well and was renamed Chigger Hill School.
Goree had a population of 614 in 1920, but that figure had fallen to 425 by 1940. The number of residents rose to 640 in 1950, but declined throughout the remainder of the twentieth century.
of 2000, there were 321 people, 116 households, and 88 families residing in the city. The population density
was 220.7 people per square mile (85.5/km²). There were 157 housing units at an average density of 107.9/sq mi (41.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.37% White, 8.10% African American, 3.74% Native American, 25.23% from other races
, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.30% of the population.
There were 116 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples
living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,104, and the median income for a family was $25,556. Males had a median income of $19,063 versus $20,536 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,169. About 24.4% of families and 31.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 59.8% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
until 2003, when it merged with the Munday Independent School District, forming the Munday Consolidated Independent School District
.
The school in Goree is now Munday Junior High, serving the district's seventh and eighth grade students.
musicians of all ages to showcase their musical talents. The camp's namesake was a fiddle player who was originally from Goree. The camp was profiled in a story that aired on July 21, 2010 on National Public Radio's Morning Edition program.
Knox County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,253 people, 1,690 households, and 1,166 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were 2,129 housing units at an average density of 2 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...
. The population was 321 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. 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...
estimate placed the population at 257.
Geography
Goree is located at 33°28′7"N 99°31′26"W (33.468707, -99.523874). It is situated at the junction of U.S. Highway 277U.S. Route 277
U.S. Route 277 is a north–south United States Highway. It is a spur of U.S. Route 77. It runs for 633 miles across Oklahoma and Texas. US 277's northern terminus is in Newcastle, Oklahoma at Interstate 44, which is also the northern terminus of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. Its southern...
and FM 266 in southeastern Knox County, approximately 84 miles north of Abilene
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
.
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 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
History
Settlers first arrived in the area around 1886. By 1887, a settlement was centered around a store and post office built by Bill Benedict. Originally known as Riley Springs, the community was renamed Goree after Robert D. Goree, a ConfederateConfederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
veteran and Knox County pioneer. Benedict's store was bought by J.W. McLendon in 1890 and moved it with its post office to a new site that became known as North Goree. A school was built near the relocated store in 1901. In 1904, North Goree was renamed Hefner.
At its president-day location, the first plans for a new community began in 1905 with the announcement that the Wichita Valley Railroad would be built through the area. 1906 was an important year in Goree's history as the railroad arrived, homes and businesses were erected, and the community became an incorporated municipality. The school relocated from the Hefner location to Goree in 1906 as well and was renamed Chigger Hill School.
Goree had a population of 614 in 1920, but that figure had fallen to 425 by 1940. The number of residents rose to 640 in 1950, but declined throughout the remainder of the twentieth century.
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 321 people, 116 households, and 88 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 220.7 people per square mile (85.5/km²). There were 157 housing units at an average density of 107.9/sq mi (41.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.37% White, 8.10% African American, 3.74% Native American, 25.23% 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 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.30% of the population.
There were 116 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% 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, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,104, and the median income for a family was $25,556. Males had a median income of $19,063 versus $20,536 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 $13,169. About 24.4% of families and 31.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 59.8% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The City of Goree had its own Independent School DistrictGoree Independent School District
Goree Independent School District was a public school district based in Goree, Texas .The district consisted of a single campus - Goree School - that served students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve...
until 2003, when it merged with the Munday Independent School District, forming the Munday Consolidated Independent School District
Munday Consolidated Independent School District
Munday Consolidated Independent School District is a public school district based in Munday, Texas . In addition to Munday, the district also serves the city of Goree which had its own independent school district until 2003...
.
The school in Goree is now Munday Junior High, serving the district's seventh and eighth grade students.
Bobby Boatright Memorial Music Camp
Goree is the site of the annual Bobby Boatright Memorial Music Camp, an event for aspiring Western SwingWestern swing
Western swing music is a subgenre of American country music that originated in the late 1920s in the West and South among the region's Western string bands...
musicians of all ages to showcase their musical talents. The camp's namesake was a fiddle player who was originally from Goree. The camp was profiled in a story that aired on July 21, 2010 on National Public Radio's Morning Edition program.