Ore City, Texas
Encyclopedia
Ore City is a city in Upshur County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 1,144 at the 2010 census.
at the junction of U.S. Highway 259
and FM 450.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (5.9 km²), of which, 2.3 square miles (5.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.88%) is water.
. They immediately started a church - "The Murray League Methodist Episcopal Church, South" as well as a school, the Murray League Institute. After the Civil War
, rich iron ore deposits were discovered in the area and ore was mined sporadically from the 1860s through 1900.
Around 1910, a commercial company led by Colonel L.P. Featherstone was formed to mine ore in the area. He persuaded the Santa Fe line to finance a rail link with Port Bolivar
. Land for a new city was purchased and platted into streets and lots around 1911. The town was given the name Ore City and a post office was established soon after. By 1914, thirty miles of the line known as the Port Bolivar Iron Ore Railway had been built, connecting Ore City with Longview
. The newly-founded community had an estimated population of 400. Further construction on the railroad line was halted by the outbreak of World War I
. Colonel Featherstone's company went into bankruptcy and the rail line was abandoned in 1927. Ore City survived and by 1936, approximately 500 people lived in the community. During World War II
, the federal government built a steel plant 10 miles north of Ore City to mine the same ore that previously brought Colonel Featherstone to the area. The plant was completed just as the war ended and was sold to a Texas group as surplus property. They operated it as the Lone Star Steel Company
.
Ore City was incorporated in the early 1950s. At that time, the number of residents had fallen to 385. Growth resumed in the mid-1960s and by 1976, Ore City had a population of 900 with 34 businesses operating in the city. More than 1,000 people lived in the city by 2000. A July 1, 2008 United States Census Bureau
estimate placed the population at 1,168.
of 2000, there were 1,106 people, 403 households, and 295 families residing in the city. The population density
was 490.4 people per square mile (189.0/km²). There were 432 housing units at an average density of 191.5 per square mile (73.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.35% White, 6.60% African American, 1.54% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 3.44% from other races
, and 2.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.41% of the population.
There were 403 households out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples
living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,542, and the median income for a family was $37,750. Males had a median income of $28,250 versus $18,333 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,997. About 17.2% of families and 22.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.5% of those under age 18 and 18.0% of those age 65 or over.
Upshur County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,291 people, 13,290 households, and 10,033 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile . There were 14,930 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, 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 1,144 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Ore City is located at 32°48′3"N 94°43′3"W (32.800770, -94.717446). It is situated approximately 13 miles northeast of GilmerGilmer, Texas
Gilmer is also the name of a county in West Virginia.Gilmer is a town in and the county seat of Upshur County, Texas, United States. It is best known for being the birthplace of popular music singer Johnny Mathis. The population was 4,799 at the 2000 census...
at the junction of U.S. Highway 259
U.S. Route 259
U.S. Route 259 is a north–south spur of U.S. Route 59 that runs for 250 miles through rural areas of southeast Oklahoma and northeast Texas....
and FM 450.
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 2.3 square miles (5.9 km²), of which, 2.3 square miles (5.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.88%) is water.
History
Originally part of the William Murray League, the area was first settled in the early 1850s by a group from Haywood County, TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. They immediately started a church - "The Murray League Methodist Episcopal Church, South" as well as a school, the Murray League Institute. After the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, rich iron ore deposits were discovered in the area and ore was mined sporadically from the 1860s through 1900.
Around 1910, a commercial company led by Colonel L.P. Featherstone was formed to mine ore in the area. He persuaded the Santa Fe line to finance a rail link with Port Bolivar
Port Bolivar, Texas
Port Bolivar is an unincorporated area located in the Bolivar Peninsula census-designated place, in Galveston County, Texas, United States state of Texas within Galveston County and part of the metropolitan area., Port Bolivar had a population of 1,200...
. Land for a new city was purchased and platted into streets and lots around 1911. The town was given the name Ore City and a post office was established soon after. By 1914, thirty miles of the line known as the Port Bolivar Iron Ore Railway had been built, connecting Ore City with Longview
Longview, Texas
Longview is a city in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 80,455. Most of the city is located in Gregg County, of which it is the county seat; only a small part extends into the western part of neighboring Harrison County. It is...
. The newly-founded community had an estimated population of 400. Further construction on the railroad line was halted by the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Colonel Featherstone's company went into bankruptcy and the rail line was abandoned in 1927. Ore City survived and by 1936, approximately 500 people lived in the community. During 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...
, the federal government built a steel plant 10 miles north of Ore City to mine the same ore that previously brought Colonel Featherstone to the area. The plant was completed just as the war ended and was sold to a Texas group as surplus property. They operated it as the Lone Star Steel Company
Lone Star Steel Company
The Lone Star Steel Companywas a company based in Lone Star, Texas. It specialized in making tubular steel with outer diameters ranging from 16 inches to 1.415 inches.The founder and first president of the company was John W...
.
Ore City was incorporated in the early 1950s. At that time, the number of residents had fallen to 385. Growth resumed in the mid-1960s and by 1976, Ore City had a population of 900 with 34 businesses operating in the city. More than 1,000 people lived in the city by 2000. A July 1, 2008 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...
estimate placed the population at 1,168.
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 1,106 people, 403 households, and 295 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 490.4 people per square mile (189.0/km²). There were 432 housing units at an average density of 191.5 per square mile (73.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.35% White, 6.60% African American, 1.54% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 3.44% 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 2.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.41% of the population.
There were 403 households out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% 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, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,542, and the median income for a family was $37,750. Males had a median income of $28,250 versus $18,333 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 $15,997. About 17.2% of families and 22.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.5% of those under age 18 and 18.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives and residents
- Chad StanleyChad StanleyBenjamin Chadwick Stanley is an American football punter who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football at Stephen F...
- Former NFL punter - Walter S. McAfee - Mathematician, physicist who first calculated the speed of the moon
- Fred Chalvasky - Critically acclaimed musician and self proclaimed love guru