Kemp, Texas
Encyclopedia
Kemp is a city in Kaufman County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 1,133 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.75%) is water.
Kemp is on the northern part of Cedar Creek Lake. People who travel from the Dallas area visiting Cedar Creek Lake usually first pass through Kemp.
of 2000, there were 1,133 people, 448 households, and 301 families residing in the city. The population density
was 640.5 people per square mile (247.1/km²). There were 497 housing units at an average density of 281.0 per square mile (108.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.14% White, 8.65% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.06% from other races
, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.38% of the population.
There were 448 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples
living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 80.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,191, and the median income for a family was $42,083. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $25,417 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,012. About 10.4% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 20.1% of those age 65 or over.
The railroad attracted settlers to Kemp. Prospering with the surrounding cattle ranches and cotton farms, the community developed as a trade center for the lower part of the county. By the early twentieth century the population had reached 513, and the Methodist and Baptist congregations had established churches. Kemp also supported a local newspaper, the Kemp News. The paper was owned and edited by by Mike S. Boggess. In 1926 the town had a population of 1,200, sixty businesses, and two banks. By 1936 forty-six businesses operated in Kemp. The population declined from 1,000 to 816 between the end of World War IIqv and the mid-1960s. Businesses declined from forty-one to thirty-three. In 1965 Cedar Creek Reservoir was completed just south of the community. Kemp had a population of 1,184 and seventy-five businesses in 1990. Much of the land around town was still devoted to cattle production, and many residents commuted to jobs in the Dallas area. In 2000 the population was 1,133.
During the summer of 2011, the City received national attention due to its aging water utility system and complications resulting from the severe Texas drought of 2011.
The City operates the Kemp Police Department, a public works department including water and wastewater utilities, and the Kemp Municipal Court. The City employs a City Secretary, a small administrative staff, a Municipal Judge/Court Clerk, a Public Works Director, a small Public Works Staff, a Chief of Police, a Police Sargeant/K9 unit, and several full-time and reserve officers.
The City has chartered the Kemp Housing Authority. The Kemp Housing Authority operates two public housing apartment campuses, and is governed by a Board of Commissioners appointed by the Mayor. It employs an Executive Director, a clerical assistant and a small maintenance staff.
The City has chartered the Kemp Economic Development Corporation, a type 4B EDC. The EDC is funded by a $.005 sales tax for economic development purposes. The Kemp EDC has a Board of Directors appointed by the Kemp City Council.
The City is served by the Kemp Municipal Development District, which includes the City of Kemp and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The Kemp MDD was created by election in May, 2010 and began operations October 1, 2010. The District levies a $.0025 sales tax for economic and municipal development purposes. The Kemp City Council serves as the Kemp Municipal Development District Board of Directors.
and the Trinity Valley Community College
District.
Kaufman County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 71,313 people, 24,367 households, and 19,225 families residing in the county. The population density was 91/sq mi . There were 26,133 housing units at an average density of 33/sq mi...
, 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 1,133 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Kemp is located at 32°26′14"N 96°13′33"W (32.437285, -96.225730).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 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.75%) is water.
Kemp is on the northern part of Cedar Creek Lake. People who travel from the Dallas area visiting Cedar Creek Lake usually first pass through Kemp.
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 1,133 people, 448 households, and 301 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 640.5 people per square mile (247.1/km²). There were 497 housing units at an average density of 281.0 per square mile (108.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.14% White, 8.65% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.06% 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 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.38% of the population.
There were 448 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% 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, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 80.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,191, and the median income for a family was $42,083. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $25,417 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 town was $16,012. About 10.4% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 20.1% of those age 65 or over.
History
The community was named for Sara Kemp, mother of Levi Noble, the first postmaster, and was officially established when the post office opened in 1851. The original townsite was located on present day County Road 4023 two miles south of present day Texas State Highway 274. It grew slowly during its first thirty years. A Presbyterian congregation was organized in 1854, and the Kemp Academy of Learning began operation in 1867. After the Civil War an increasing number of settlers moved to the community. In 1870 Dr. A. J. Still, hoping to profit from this growth and the possible construction of a railroad through the area, bought land just north of the community (where the current City sits) and, after surveying, dividing the tract into lots, platted it, and persuaded the directors of the Southern Pacific Railroad to lay tracks across his property by offering the company a number of lots. Another early settler, Sam Parmalee, followed suit and offered the rail company right-of-way through his property. The mid-1880s witnessed the completion of the rail line through the community, the construction of a depot there, and the designation of Kemp as a terminus on the line.The railroad attracted settlers to Kemp. Prospering with the surrounding cattle ranches and cotton farms, the community developed as a trade center for the lower part of the county. By the early twentieth century the population had reached 513, and the Methodist and Baptist congregations had established churches. Kemp also supported a local newspaper, the Kemp News. The paper was owned and edited by by Mike S. Boggess. In 1926 the town had a population of 1,200, sixty businesses, and two banks. By 1936 forty-six businesses operated in Kemp. The population declined from 1,000 to 816 between the end of World War IIqv and the mid-1960s. Businesses declined from forty-one to thirty-three. In 1965 Cedar Creek Reservoir was completed just south of the community. Kemp had a population of 1,184 and seventy-five businesses in 1990. Much of the land around town was still devoted to cattle production, and many residents commuted to jobs in the Dallas area. In 2000 the population was 1,133.
During the summer of 2011, the City received national attention due to its aging water utility system and complications resulting from the severe Texas drought of 2011.
Government
The City of Kemp is a Type A General Law Municipality with a mayor-council form of government. The Mayor is the Chief Executive Officer of the City and oversees the day-to-day operations of the City government. The Mayor is elected at-large and serves a 2-year term. The City Council consists of 5 council members and the Mayor. Council members are elected at-large by place, and serve for 2 year terms. The Mayor is the presiding officer of the City Council. One council member is elected annually by the other members to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem in the absence of the Mayor.The City operates the Kemp Police Department, a public works department including water and wastewater utilities, and the Kemp Municipal Court. The City employs a City Secretary, a small administrative staff, a Municipal Judge/Court Clerk, a Public Works Director, a small Public Works Staff, a Chief of Police, a Police Sargeant/K9 unit, and several full-time and reserve officers.
The City has chartered the Kemp Housing Authority. The Kemp Housing Authority operates two public housing apartment campuses, and is governed by a Board of Commissioners appointed by the Mayor. It employs an Executive Director, a clerical assistant and a small maintenance staff.
The City has chartered the Kemp Economic Development Corporation, a type 4B EDC. The EDC is funded by a $.005 sales tax for economic development purposes. The Kemp EDC has a Board of Directors appointed by the Kemp City Council.
The City is served by the Kemp Municipal Development District, which includes the City of Kemp and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The Kemp MDD was created by election in May, 2010 and began operations October 1, 2010. The District levies a $.0025 sales tax for economic and municipal development purposes. The Kemp City Council serves as the Kemp Municipal Development District Board of Directors.
Education
The City of Kemp is served by the Kemp Independent School DistrictKemp Independent School District
Kemp Independent School District is a public school district based in Kemp, Texas .In addition to Kemp, the district serves southern Kaufman County and northwest Henderson County, including parts of Seven Points....
and the Trinity Valley Community College
Trinity Valley Community College
Trinity Valley Community College is a community college in the state of Texas.TVCC operates four campuses serving the Texas counties of Anderson, Henderson, and Kaufman, southeast of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex:...
District.