Hitchcock, Texas
Encyclopedia
Hitchcock is a city in Galveston County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 6,386 at the 2000 census.
and Houston
in 1873 and around the turn of the 20th century became a vegetable shipping center. The settlement's economy crashed in the 1930s after insect plagues in the surrounding areas, and the area stayed impoverished until the establishment of both the Camp Wallace anti-aircraft training base and the Hitchcock Naval Air Station
at the beginning of World War II
. After the end of the war, the bases were used as discharge centers and some former soldiers settled in the area. Hitchcock was established in 1960 as the area's population boomed, topping out at nearly 7,000 by the end of the 1960s. Since 1984, Hitchcock is home to the Galveston County Fair & Rodeo. The Galveston County Fair & Rodeo began in 1938 and was held at facilities in Runge Park located in Arcadia, Texas. In the early 1980s, the County Fair had reached its limits of growth at Runge Park and plans began for a move to Jack Brooks Park located in Hitchcock, Texas. The move to Jack Brooks Park was completed in time for the 1984 Fair. Today, the town serves as a suburb of Galveston and houses workers from the Johnson Space Center.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 92 square miles (238.3 km²), of which, 66.5 square miles (172.2 km²) of it is land and 25.5 square miles (66 km²) of it (27.77%) is water.
of 2000, there were 6,386 people, 2,434 households, and 1,737 families residing in the city. The population density
was 96.1 people per square mile (37.1/km²). There were 2,754 housing units at an average density of 41.4 per square mile (16.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.96% White, 32.81% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.76% from other races
, and 2.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.73% of the population.
There were 2,434 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples
living together, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% 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 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,848, and the median income for a family was $35,013. Males had a median income of $31,098 versus $22,340 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,964. About 16.3% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.
Hitchcock Post Office is located at 8120 Texas State Highway 6.
.
Some of Hitchcock is served by the Santa Fe Independent School District
.
, is in Hitchcock http://www.diogh.org/SchoolPages/schoolpages-new/ourladyoflourdes-hitchcock.htm.
Galveston County, Texas
Galveston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 291,309. Its county seat is Galveston. League City is the largest city in Galveston County in terms of population; between...
, 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 6,386 at the 2000 census.
History
Hitchcock was created as a station of the railroad between GalvestonGalveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
and Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
in 1873 and around the turn of the 20th century became a vegetable shipping center. The settlement's economy crashed in the 1930s after insect plagues in the surrounding areas, and the area stayed impoverished until the establishment of both the Camp Wallace anti-aircraft training base and the Hitchcock Naval Air Station
Hitchcock Naval Air Station
Hitchcock Naval Air Station was a Naval Air Station built by the United States Navy during World War II to accommodate lighter-than-air aircraft, more commonly known as blimps. It was located in the small town of Hitchcock, Texas, about fifteen miles northwest of Galveston. Construction began in...
at the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the end of the war, the bases were used as discharge centers and some former soldiers settled in the area. Hitchcock was established in 1960 as the area's population boomed, topping out at nearly 7,000 by the end of the 1960s. Since 1984, Hitchcock is home to the Galveston County Fair & Rodeo. The Galveston County Fair & Rodeo began in 1938 and was held at facilities in Runge Park located in Arcadia, Texas. In the early 1980s, the County Fair had reached its limits of growth at Runge Park and plans began for a move to Jack Brooks Park located in Hitchcock, Texas. The move to Jack Brooks Park was completed in time for the 1984 Fair. Today, the town serves as a suburb of Galveston and houses workers from the Johnson Space Center.
Geography
Hitchcock is located at 29°20′19"N 95°0′39"W (29.338715, -95.010861).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 92 square miles (238.3 km²), of which, 66.5 square miles (172.2 km²) of it is land and 25.5 square miles (66 km²) of it (27.77%) is water.
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 6,386 people, 2,434 households, and 1,737 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 96.1 people per square mile (37.1/km²). There were 2,754 housing units at an average density of 41.4 per square mile (16.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.96% White, 32.81% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.76% 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 2.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.73% of the population.
There were 2,434 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% 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, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% 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 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,848, and the median income for a family was $35,013. Males had a median income of $31,098 versus $22,340 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 $14,964. About 16.3% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
Hitchcock Post Office is located at 8120 Texas State Highway 6.
Public schools
Most of the city of Hitchcock is served by the Hitchcock Independent School DistrictHitchcock Independent School District
Hitchcock Independent School District is a public school district based in Hitchcock, Texas . In addition to Hitchcock, the district serves parts of La Marque and Tiki Island....
.
Some of Hitchcock is served by the Santa Fe Independent School District
Santa Fe Independent School District
Santa Fe Independent School District is a public school district based in Santa Fe, Texas . In addition to Santa Fe, the district serves parts of League City, La Marque, Hitchcock, and Dickinson....
.
Private schools
Our Lady of Lourdes School, a Roman Catholic elementary school operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-HoustonRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston encompasses of ten counties in the southeastern area of Texas: Galveston; Harris; Austin; Brazoria; Fort Bend; Grimes; Montgomery; San Jacinto; Walker; and Waller.The chancery of the diocese is located in Downtown Houston. The Archdiocese's...
, is in Hitchcock http://www.diogh.org/SchoolPages/schoolpages-new/ourladyoflourdes-hitchcock.htm.
Notable residents
- Taurian FontenetteTaurian FontenetteTaurian J. Fontenette , also known as "Air Up There" and "Mr. 720", is a streetball player from Hitchcock, Texas. He is a former player on the AND1 Mixtape and Ball4Real Tours. Fontenette recently signed a contract to play for the Dallas Generals of the American Basketball Association. He is 6'2"...
(born 1983), famous streetballStreetballStreetball or street basketball is a variation of the sport of basketball, typically played on outdoor courts and featuring significantly less by way of formal structure and enforcement of the game's rules...
player whose nicknames include "The Air Up There" and "Mr. 720"
External links
- Historic Images from the Genevieve Miller Public Library, hosted by the Portal to Texas History