Groesbeck, Texas
Encyclopedia
Groesbeck is a city in and the county seat
of Limestone County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 4,291 at the 2000 census. The community is named after a railroad employee.
, mother of Quannah Parker was captured by the Comanche
north of Groesbeck.
The arrival of the railroad in Groesbeck enabled it to become the county seat.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) of it is land and 0.27% is water.
The community is located at the junction of State Highways 14 and 164.
Groesbeck is the closest town to historic Old Fort Parker. (See Fort Parker massacre
)
The town holds an annual Christmas Festival at the site of old Fort Parker every December.
The original fort has been re-built on the original site to exact specifications.
of 2000, there were 4,291 people, 1,297 households, and 878 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,141.3 people per square mile (440.6/km²). There were 1,457 housing units at an average density of 387.5 per square mile (149.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.56% White, 24.91% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 13.96% from other races
, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.53% of the population.
There were 1,297 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples
living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 14.1% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 138.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 148.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,880, and the median income for a family was $32,263. Males had a median income of $24,704 versus $18,167 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,005. About 18.6% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.0% of those under age 18 and 23.8% of those age 65 or over.
,
which includes five different schools: Preschool, H.O.Whitehurst, Enge Washington, Groesbeck Middle School, and Groesbeck High School.
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 Limestone County
Limestone County, Texas
Limestone County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 22,051. Its county seat is Groesbeck.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
, 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 4,291 at the 2000 census. The community is named after a railroad employee.
History
Cynthia Ann ParkerCynthia Ann Parker
Cynthia Ann Parker, or Naduah , was an American woman of old colonial stock of Scots-Irish descent who was captured and kidnapped at the age of nine by a American Indian band which massacred her family and...
, mother of Quannah Parker was captured by the Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
north of Groesbeck.
The arrival of the railroad in Groesbeck enabled it to become the county seat.
Geography
Groesbeck is located at 31°31′22"N 96°31′56"W (31.522907, -96.532125).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 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) of it is land and 0.27% is water.
The community is located at the junction of State Highways 14 and 164.
Groesbeck is the closest town to historic Old Fort Parker. (See Fort Parker massacre
Fort Parker massacre
The Fort Parker massacre was an event in May 1836 in which members of the pioneer Parker family were killed in a raid by Native Americans. In this raid, a 9-year old girl, Cynthia Ann Parker, was captured and spent most of the rest of her life with the Comanche, marrying a Chief, Peta Nocona, and...
)
The town holds an annual Christmas Festival at the site of old Fort Parker every December.
The original fort has been re-built on the original site to exact specifications.
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 4,291 people, 1,297 households, and 878 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 1,141.3 people per square mile (440.6/km²). There were 1,457 housing units at an average density of 387.5 per square mile (149.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.56% White, 24.91% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 13.96% 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 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.53% of the population.
There were 1,297 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% 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, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 14.1% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 138.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 148.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,880, and the median income for a family was $32,263. Males had a median income of $24,704 versus $18,167 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 $12,005. About 18.6% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.0% of those under age 18 and 23.8% of those age 65 or over.
Library
The city of Groesbeck has one public library, Maffett Memorial Library. The Maffett Memorial Public Library is located at 601 W. Yeagua St., also known as Hwy. 164.Education
The city of Groesbeck is served by the Groesbeck Independent School DistrictGroesbeck Independent School District
Groesbeck Independent School District is a public school district based in Groesbeck, Texas .In addition to Groesbeck, the district serves the towns of Kosse and Thornton...
,
which includes five different schools: Preschool, H.O.Whitehurst, Enge Washington, Groesbeck Middle School, and Groesbeck High School.
Residents of note
- Actor Joe Don BakerJoe Don BakerJoe Don Baker is an American film actor, perhaps best known for his roles as a Mafia hitman in Charley Varrick, deputy sheriff Thomas Jefferson Geronimo III in Final Justice, real-life Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser in Walking Tall, brute force with a badge detective Mitchell in Mitchell, James...
was born in Groesbeck in 1936. - National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player Rhett BomarRhett BomarRhett Matthew Bomar is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
was born in Groesbeck in 1985. - National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
players Kenneth SimsKenneth SimsKenneth Wayne Sims is a former American professional football player who was selected by the New England Patriots as the first overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft. A 6'5", 272 lbs. defensive end from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was a two-time All-American...
, Frankie SmithFrankie SmithFor the football player of the same name see Frankie Smith .Franklyn Leon "Frankie" Smith is an American funk musician and R&B/soul songwriter.-History:...
, and Lenoy JonesLenoy JonesLenoy Jones is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for seven seasons for the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Oilers, and Cleveland Browns.-Personal life:...
played for Groesbeck High School. - Groesbeck High School has an outstanding tennis program, having produced several state champions, and have sent players to Texas State Tennis Finals 24 consecutive years.