Livingston, Texas
Encyclopedia
Livingston is a town in Polk County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 5,433 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Polk County. Livingston was settled in 1835 as Springfield. Its name was changed to Livingston and became the county seat of Polk County in 1846.
The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation is just to the East of Livingston. The 2000 census
reported a resident population of 480 persons within the reservation.
Livingston has one hospital, the Memorial Medical Center at Livingston
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.8 km²), of which, 8.4 square miles (21.8 km²) of it is land and 0.12% is water. However, the town of Livingston is approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) east of Lake Livingston
, which is the largest drinking water reservoir in the state of Texas.
Elevation
: 148 ft
Major Highways:
of 2000, there were 5,433 people, 2,048 households, and 1,341 families residing in the town. The population density
was 649.9 inhabitants per square mile (250.9/km²). There were 2,358 housing units at an average density of 282.1 per square mile (108.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 70.38% White, 18.50% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 8.08% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. 13.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,048 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples
living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,424, and the median income for a family was $37,868. Males had a median income of $30,318 versus $21,774 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,214. About 18.2% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.
operates the Livingston Post Office.
The Livingston Municipal Airport
, operated by the City of Livingston, is located in West Livingston.
Nearby West Livingston has the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
(TDCJ) Allan B. Polunsky Unit, the location of the State of Texas death row
since 1999.
operates the Livingston Station at the Super Stop Food Mart.
The city's airport, Livingston Municipal Airport (LMA) is located to the southwest of the city. It serves mainly recreational flights but sometimes serves routes to larger airports in East Texas and West Louisiana.
.
Polk County College is being built in Livingston. It will offer a full two year college curriculum and some four year college courses.
High School Basketball:
Lake Livingston Home Page
, which airs on Animal Planet
. The host, Jeremy Wade
, was searching for alligator gar
.
Livingston, TX was the hometown of a patient in the show M*A*S*H
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 5,433 at the 2000 census. It is the 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....
of Polk County. Livingston was settled in 1835 as Springfield. Its name was changed to Livingston and became the county seat of Polk County in 1846.
The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation is just to the East of Livingston. The 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
reported a resident population of 480 persons within the reservation.
Livingston has one hospital, the Memorial Medical Center at Livingston
Geography
Livingston is located at 30°42′34"N 94°56′4"W (30.709518, -94.934443).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 town has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.8 km²), of which, 8.4 square miles (21.8 km²) of it is land and 0.12% is water. However, the town of Livingston is approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) east of Lake Livingston
Lake Livingston
Lake Livingston is a reservoir located in the East Texas Piney Woods. Lake Livingston was built, and is owned and operated, by the Trinity River Authority of Texas under contract with the City of Houston for water supply purposes. The lake is the largest lake constructed for water supply purposes...
, which is the largest drinking water reservoir in the state of Texas.
Elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
: 148 ft
Major Highways:
-
U.S. Highway 59 -
U.S. Highway 190 -
State Highway 146
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 5,433 people, 2,048 households, and 1,341 families residing in the town. 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 649.9 inhabitants per square mile (250.9/km²). There were 2,358 housing units at an average density of 282.1 per square mile (108.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 70.38% White, 18.50% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 8.08% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. 13.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,048 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% 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, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,424, and the median income for a family was $37,868. Males had a median income of $30,318 versus $21,774 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 $17,214. About 18.2% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 17.4% 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...
operates the Livingston Post Office.
The Livingston Municipal Airport
Livingston Municipal Airport (Texas)
Livingston Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located five nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Livingston, a city in Polk County, Texas, United States...
, operated by the City of Livingston, is located in West Livingston.
Nearby West Livingston has the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain...
(TDCJ) Allan B. Polunsky Unit, the location of the State of Texas death row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
since 1999.
Transportation
Greyhound LinesGreyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
operates the Livingston Station at the Super Stop Food Mart.
The city's airport, Livingston Municipal Airport (LMA) is located to the southwest of the city. It serves mainly recreational flights but sometimes serves routes to larger airports in East Texas and West Louisiana.
Education
The City of Livingston is served by the Livingston Independent School DistrictLivingston Independent School District
Livingston Independent School District is a public school district based in Livingston, Texas . LISD celebrated its 100th year anniversary on April 26, 2008....
.
Polk County College is being built in Livingston. It will offer a full two year college curriculum and some four year college courses.
Notable people
Notable people from Livingston include:- Capt. (later Brig. Gen.) Samuel M. WhitsideSamuel WhitsideBrigadier General Samuel M. Whitside was a United States Cavalry officer who served from 1858 to 1902. He commanded at every level from platoon to department for 32 of his 43 years in service, including Army posts such a Camp Huachuca, Jefferson Barracks, and Fort Sam Houston, the Departments of...
: commanded Camp Livingston in the late 1860s during the reconstruction period. - Paul Carr: NFL and University of HoustonUniversity of HoustonThe University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
DB and LB. Moved to Livingston as the elementary school physical education coach. - Colita: principal chief of the Coushatta Indians after Long King in the early 19th century; Colita's Village preceded the development of Livingston.
- Senator Clem Fain, Jr: Texas state senator, Honorary Chief of and Texas agent for the Alabama-Coushatta Indians
- Percy ForemanPercy ForemanPercy Eugene Foreman was a criminal defense attorney from Houston, Texas. Foreman was born near Bold Springs, Texas, and moved to Livingston, Texas when he was six years old. He was the son of William P. Foreman, a former sheriff of Polk County, Texas...
: notable criminal defense attorney - Annette Gordon-ReedAnnette Gordon-ReedAnnette Gordon-Reed is an American historian and law professor noted for changing scholarship on Thomas Jefferson. Gordon-Reed was educated at Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School. She is Professor of Law and History at Harvard, and the Carol K. Pforzheimer Professor at the Radcliffe...
, law and history professor, winner of the 2009 Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for History and 2010 MacArthur Fellow - Margo JonesMargo JonesMargo Jones was an influential American stage director and producer best known for launching the American regional theater movement and for introducing the theater-in-the-round concept in Dallas, Texas. In 1947, she established the first regional professional company when she opened Theatre ’47 in...
: American stage director who launched the careers of Tennessee WilliamsTennessee WilliamsThomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
and Ray WalstonRay WalstonRay Walston was an American stage, television and film actor best known as the title character on the 1960s situation comedy My Favorite Martian. In addition, he is also remembered for his roles as Luther Billis in South Pacific , Mr. Applegate in Damn Yankees , J.J...
, and directed Williams' The Glass MenagerieThe Glass MenagerieThe Glass Menagerie is a four-character memory play by Tennessee Williams. Williams worked on various drafts of the play prior to writing a version of it as a screenplay for MGM, to whom Williams was contracted...
on BroadwayBroadway theatreBroadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City... - Long King: principal chief of the Coushatta Indians; preceded Colita
- Sally MayesSally Mayes-Biography:Born in Livingston, Texas, Mayes began her career as a rock and jazz singer in Houston. She made her Broadway debut in April 1989 as Winona Shook in Cy Coleman's Welcome to the Club. For her performance she won a Theatre World Award. This was followed by her appearance in the original...
: Award-winning Broadway actress and singer. Livingston named a street in her honor. - Mark MoseleyMark MoseleyMark DeWayne Moseley is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League who played for the Philadelphia Eagles , the Houston Oilers , the Washington Redskins , and the Cleveland Browns . He won the Most Valuable Player Award during the strike-shortened 1982 season...
: Super Bowl XVIISuper Bowl XVIISuper Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season...
and the 1982 National Football League Most Valuable Player Award as a placekickerPlacekickerPlacekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points... - Andrew Boyce: Livingston athlete and humanitarian.
- Jesse "OX" Emerson: 2nd Team All District-Varsity Football Linemen (2006). Drummer in local bands; Lakeside Legends and Sounds of a Solemn Mind (SOASM).
- Lt. James N. Parker, Jr.: Co-pilot of Crew #9 in the Doolittle RaidDoolittle RaidThe Doolittle Raid, on 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese Home Islands during World War II. By demonstrating that Japan itself was vulnerable to American air attack, it provided a vital morale boost and opportunity for U.S. retaliation after the...
(aka Thirty Seconds Over TokyoThirty Seconds over TokyoThirty Seconds Over Tokyo is a 1944 MGM war film. It is based on the true story of America's first retaliatory air strike against Japan four months after the December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The movie was directed by Mervyn LeRoy and produced by Sam Zimbalist. The screenplay by...
), awarded the Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United States)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The... - Gene PhillipsGene Phillips (basketball)Gene Phillips is a former professional basketball player.-Biography:Phillips was born Donald Eugene Phillips on October 25, 1948 in Livingston, Texas. He attended Jones High School in Houston, Texas.-Career:...
: professional basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player - Captain (Ike) Isaac Newton Turner: Captain in the Civil War with Hood's Brigade
- Brad WomackThe Bachelor (Season 11)The Bachelor 11 is the 11th season of ABC reality television series The Bachelor. The season premiere aired on September 24, 2007. The show features the bachelor, Stephen Bradley Womack, courting 25 women...
: star of ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's The Bachelor "Season 11 and Season 15"
Media
- KCTL Television
- KETX Television
- KETX Radio (1440 KETX (AM)KETX (AM)KETX is a radio station broadcasting an oldies format. Licensed to Livingston, Texas, USA. The station is currently owned by Peggy Sue Marsh....
and 92.3 KETX-FMKETX-FMKETX-FM is a radio station broadcasting a classic hits format. Licensed to Livingston, Texas, USA, the station serves the Lufkin-Nacogdoches area. The station is currently owned by Telcom Supply, Inc, a division of Livingston Telephone, Inc. and features programing from AP Radio and Jones Radio...
) - KDOL Radio (96.1 KDOL-FM)
- Polk County Enterprise (newspaper)
- East Texas News (online version of the "Polk County Enterprise")
Sports Championships
High School Football:- Livingston Dunbar (1A-PVIL) state champions 1953
- Livingston Dunbar (1A-PVIL) state champions 1954
- Livingston Dunbar (1A-PVIL) state champions 1958
- Livingston Dunbar (1A-PVIL) state runner Up 1959
High School Basketball:
- Livingston High (All schools in one division) 1939
- Livingston Dunbar (1A-PVIL) Runner Up 1952
Tourism
- Lake Livingston Recreational Area
Lake Livingston Home Page
- Lake LivingstonLake LivingstonLake Livingston is a reservoir located in the East Texas Piney Woods. Lake Livingston was built, and is owned and operated, by the Trinity River Authority of Texas under contract with the City of Houston for water supply purposes. The lake is the largest lake constructed for water supply purposes...
- FishingFishingFishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
- Water Sports
- DamDamA dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
- Crappiethon
- Fishing
- Lake LivingstonLake LivingstonLake Livingston is a reservoir located in the East Texas Piney Woods. Lake Livingston was built, and is owned and operated, by the Trinity River Authority of Texas under contract with the City of Houston for water supply purposes. The lake is the largest lake constructed for water supply purposes...
State ParkState parkState parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational... - Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation
- Annual Pow-WowPow-wowA pow-wow is a gathering of North America's Native people. The word derives from the Narragansett word powwaw, meaning "spiritual leader". A modern pow-wow is a specific type of event where both Native American and non-Native American people meet to dance, sing, socialize, and honor American...
- Annual Pow-Wow
- Trade Days
- Light of SaratogaLight of SaratogaThe "Light of Saratoga" is a legend located in the Big Thicket of Southeast Texas. This legend of a mysterious light is also known as the "Ghost Road" of Saratoga, the "Saratoga Light", and "Bragg Road Ghost Light" by local residents...
- 391 Historical Markers
- Polk County MuseumMuseumA museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
- Swartout: Former River FerryFerryA ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
Town, now a ghost townGhost townA ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters... - Trinity Neches Livestock showLivestock showA livestock show is an event where livestock are exhibited and judged on certain phenotypical breed traits as specified by their respective breed standard. Species of livestock that may be shown include pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, llamas and alpacas. Poultry such as chickens, geese, ducks,...
and RodeoRodeoRodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
(founded in 1945) - Polk County FireworksFireworksFireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
on Lake Livingston - Annual Jingle Bell Fun Run and Walk
- 5k DamDamA dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
Run
Entertainment References
Lake Livingston was featured on the third episode of the first season of the television show, River MonstersRiver Monsters
River Monsters is a documentary television series that airs on Animal Planet, hosted by Jeremy Wade and produced by Icon Films of Bristol, UK. The first season aired from 5 April to 17 May 2009. A second season began airing on 25 April 2010...
, which airs on Animal Planet
Animal Planet
Animal Planet is an American cable tv specialty channel that launched on October 1, 1996. It is distributed by Discovery Communications. A high-definition simulcast of the channel launched on September 1, 2007.-History:...
. The host, Jeremy Wade
Jeremy Wade
Jeremy John Wade is a British biologist, television presenter, extreme angler and writer specializing in travel and natural history. He is best known for his television series River Monsters, produced by Icon Films...
, was searching for alligator gar
Alligator gar
The Alligator Gar , Atractosteus spatula, is a primitive ray-finned fish. Unlike other Gars, the mature Alligator Gar possesses a dual row of large teeth in the upper jaw. Its name derives from the alligator-like appearance of these teeth along with the fish's elongated snout...
.
Livingston, TX was the hometown of a patient in the show M*A*S*H