Rising Star, Texas
Encyclopedia
Rising Star is a town in Eastland County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was recorded by the 2000 Census as 835.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 835 people, 345 households, and 212 families residing in the town. The population density
was 497.9 people per square mile (191.9/km²). There were 483 housing units at an average density of 288.0 per square mile (111.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.65% White, 0.24% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 2.87% from other races
, and 2.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.23% of the population.
There were 345 households out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples
living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $19,118, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $22,750 versus $15,625 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $11,636. About 19.4% of families and 24.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.7% of those under age 18 and 25.0% of those age 65 or over.
It was found that large amounts of land were available for purchase in the area, because the state of Texas kept allunappropriated and vacant land after joining the Union thirty years prior. This land belonged to the state, which sold it to finance the construction of the public school system and state universities. The state gave a portion of its land to railroad companies to sell. This encouraged and helped railroad lines to be developed throughout Texas. Because of this, almost all of the land in Eastland County was either 'school land' or 'railroad land.' Settlers could buy railroad land for $3.00 per acre and school land for as low as $1.00 per acre with no down payment and about 20-40 years to pay off the land. Most of these east Texas families pirchased land from the railroad companies.
Other families soon began to move into the area and purchase land. Some of the families that settled later were the Anderson, Irby, Roach, Cox, Hull, Leach, Haynes, Wynn, Mayfield, and Swindle families.
No mail routes existed initially in this newly-settled frontier, but by about 1880 the community became a stop on a mail route between Cisco and Brownwood. Prior to the establishment of this mail route, the families received mail from Sipe Springs. In 1881 the town sent a petition to the U.S. Government asking for a new post office in the area. The community leaders were required to suggest a name for the post office and decided upon the name 'Star,' which was then sent for approval to the Postal Service. The Postal Service sent word back that a post office under the name 'Star' was already located in Texas (in Mills County). The citizens called a meeting to select another name and, after many long hours of deliberation, Little Andy Agnew proposed that, "Since we are a rising young community, why don't we just call ourselves 'Rising Star.'" The name was agreed to and accepted by the Postal Service.
Eastland County, Texas
*Carbon*Cisco*Desdemona, a ghost town*Eastland*Gorman*Mangum*Olden*Ranger*Rising Star*Romney-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Eastland County, Texas*Santa Claus Bank Robbery-External links:** at the University of Texas*...
, 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 recorded by the 2000 Census as 835.
Geography
Rising Star is located at 32°5′47"N 98°57′58"W (32.096260, -98.966074).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 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
According to 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 835 people, 345 households, and 212 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 497.9 people per square mile (191.9/km²). There were 483 housing units at an average density of 288.0 per square mile (111.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.65% White, 0.24% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 2.87% 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 2.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.23% of the population.
There were 345 households out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% 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, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 24.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $19,118, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $22,750 versus $15,625 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 $11,636. About 19.4% of families and 24.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.7% of those under age 18 and 25.0% of those age 65 or over.
History
The first settlers arrived in the area that is now Rising Star on January 10th, 1875. The original seven families were the families of William "Allie" Wylie Smith, G. A., Andrew "Big Andy" Smith, Andrew "Little Andy" Agnew, William "Billy" Agnew, Fletcher Fields, and D. M. (Dave) McKinley. The seven families were all related to each other through the Agnew line.It was found that large amounts of land were available for purchase in the area, because the state of Texas kept allunappropriated and vacant land after joining the Union thirty years prior. This land belonged to the state, which sold it to finance the construction of the public school system and state universities. The state gave a portion of its land to railroad companies to sell. This encouraged and helped railroad lines to be developed throughout Texas. Because of this, almost all of the land in Eastland County was either 'school land' or 'railroad land.' Settlers could buy railroad land for $3.00 per acre and school land for as low as $1.00 per acre with no down payment and about 20-40 years to pay off the land. Most of these east Texas families pirchased land from the railroad companies.
Other families soon began to move into the area and purchase land. Some of the families that settled later were the Anderson, Irby, Roach, Cox, Hull, Leach, Haynes, Wynn, Mayfield, and Swindle families.
No mail routes existed initially in this newly-settled frontier, but by about 1880 the community became a stop on a mail route between Cisco and Brownwood. Prior to the establishment of this mail route, the families received mail from Sipe Springs. In 1881 the town sent a petition to the U.S. Government asking for a new post office in the area. The community leaders were required to suggest a name for the post office and decided upon the name 'Star,' which was then sent for approval to the Postal Service. The Postal Service sent word back that a post office under the name 'Star' was already located in Texas (in Mills County). The citizens called a meeting to select another name and, after many long hours of deliberation, Little Andy Agnew proposed that, "Since we are a rising young community, why don't we just call ourselves 'Rising Star.'" The name was agreed to and accepted by the Postal Service.