Jayton, Texas
Encyclopedia
Jayton is a city in and the county seat
of Kent County, Texas
, United States
. It is located in the northeastern portion of the county, and the population was 534 as of the 2010 Census.
From the community's inception, the local economy had originally been supported mainly by the cotton
industry, but the effects of the Dust Bowl
of the 1930s had a dire effect on production. The community's economy was stabilized by the discovery of oil
later that same decade, and while its population never exceeded 750 Jayton remained stable throughout the Great Depression
. In 1954, following a lengthy and heated court battle, the city wrested the title of county seat
from the declining nearby community of Clairemont
and in 1957 a courthouse was constructed. Jayton's population remained at around 600 from the 1950s through the 1980 Census before declining to 513 in 1990 and 441 in 2000, but a resurgence in the local oil industry led to a rebound and the 2010 Census
counted 534 residents.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 513 people, 209 households, and 144 families residing in the city. The population density
was 301.6 people per square mile (116.5/km²). There were 277 housing units at an average density of 162.9/sq mi (62.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.69% White, 0.19% African American, 0.39% Native American, 2.53% from other races
, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.92% of the population.
There were 209 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples
living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 26.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,396, and the median income for a family was $39,375. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,314. About 9.6% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.
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 Kent County, 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...
. It is located in the northeastern portion of the county, and the population was 534 as of the 2010 Census.
History
Jayton's history begins in the 1880s. Originally known as Jay Flat, it was established two miles northeast of its present location and named after a local ranching family. A post office was granted in 1886, and Daniel Jay served as the community's first postmaster. In 1907 the townsite was moved to its present location for improved proximity to rail service, and it was officially renamed Jayton later that same year. The community's first newspaper, the Jayton Herald, was established the following year and the city incorporated in February, 1910. By 1925, Jayton was home to 750 residents.From the community's inception, the local economy had originally been supported mainly by the cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
industry, but the effects of the Dust Bowl
Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl, or the Dirty Thirties, was a period of severe dust storms causing major ecological and agricultural damage to American and Canadian prairie lands from 1930 to 1936...
of the 1930s had a dire effect on production. The community's economy was stabilized by the discovery of oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
later that same decade, and while its population never exceeded 750 Jayton remained stable throughout 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...
. In 1954, following a lengthy and heated court battle, the city wrested the title of 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....
from the declining nearby community of Clairemont
Clairemont, Texas
Clairemont is a ghost town in and the former county seat of Kent County, Texas, United States. It is at the intersection of U.S. Highway 380 and State Highway 208, fourteen miles southwest of Jayton and forty-three miles east of Post in central Kent County...
and in 1957 a courthouse was constructed. Jayton's population remained at around 600 from the 1950s through the 1980 Census before declining to 513 in 1990 and 441 in 2000, but a resurgence in the local oil industry led to a rebound and 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...
counted 534 residents.
Geography
Jayton is located at 33°15′N 100°34′W (33.2493, -100.5748).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 1.7 square miles (4.4 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 513 people, 209 households, and 144 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 301.6 people per square mile (116.5/km²). There were 277 housing units at an average density of 162.9/sq mi (62.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.69% White, 0.19% African American, 0.39% Native American, 2.53% 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 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.92% of the population.
There were 209 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% 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, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 26.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,396, and the median income for a family was $39,375. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $21,875 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 $17,314. About 9.6% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.