Seymour, Texas
Encyclopedia
Seymour is a city in and the county seat
of Baylor County
, Texas, United States. The population was 2,740 as of the 2010 Census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²), all of it land.
(104 people), and 3.80% from two or more races (56 people). Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.61% of the population (373 people).
There were 1,451 housing units, 249 of which were vacant.
(100 people), and 1.44% from two or more races (42 people). Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.45% of the population (304 people).
There were 1,273 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 83.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,662, and the median income for a family was $32,917. Males had a median income of $21,891 versus $19,292 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,062. About 15.6% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.8% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.
, who called the town Oregon City; it was originally located where the Western Trail crossed the Brazos River
, which flows just south of the townsite. A post office was established in 1879, at which time the town's name was changed to honor local cowboy
Seymour Munday, after whom nearby Munday
was also named.
Commerce, a newspaper, a hotel, and the county courthouse all followed soon after, as did violence between cowboys and settlers. The town experienced two distinct economic booms: the first, short-lived, with the construction of the Wichita Valley rail line in 1880, and the second due to the discovery of oil in 1906. The population grew from 500 in 1884 to almost 3800 in 1950; it remained at about that level for more than thirty years, but has declined since to 2,740 in the 2010 census. Agribusiness
, as well as some tourism from nearby Lake Kemp, has overtaken oil as the driving factor of the local economy. The Old Settlers Reunion and Rodeo has been held each July since 1896.
The town calls itself "the crossroads of North Texas" because it is located at the junction of five highways: U.S. highways 82, 277, 183 and 283, as well as State Highway 114.
The Reptiliomorpha
order Seymouriamorpha
and genus Seymouria
are named after this city. However, the last seymouriamorph became extinct by the end of Permian
.
On August 12, 1936, the temperature at Seymour reached 120 °F (48.9 °C), the highest temperature ever recorded in the state of Texas.
The Seymour Division of the sprawling 320,000 deeded acre (1400 km²) La Escalera Ranch
is located in Baylor County north of Seymour. The Seymour Division consists of 34,000 acres (120 km²) and was formally known as the Circle Bar Ranch when it was owned by the Claude Cowan Sr. Trust. The ranch was purchased in January 2005 by the Gerald Lyda
family and La Escalera Limited Partnership and is managed by partner Jo Lyda Granberg and her husband K. G. Granberg of Seymour. La Escalera Ranch extends over much of Pecos County
and portions of Reeves, Brewster, Archer and Baylor counties.
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 Baylor County
Baylor County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,093 people, 1,791 households, and 1,156 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were 2,820 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...
, Texas, United States. The population was 2,740 as of the 2010 Census.
Geography
Seymour is located at 33°35′30"N 99°15′39"W (33.591552, −99.260968).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 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²), all of it land.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,740 people, a decrease of 5.78% since 2000 (168 people). The racial makeup of the town was 91.28% White (2,501 people), 2.45% African American (67 people), 0.22% Native American (6 people), 0.11% Asian (3 people), 0.11% Pacific Islander (3 people), 4.11% from other racesRace (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...
(104 people), and 3.80% from two or more races (56 people). Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.61% of the population (373 people).
There were 1,451 housing units, 249 of which were vacant.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,908 people, 1,273 households, and 790 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,067.5 people per square mile (412.8/km²). There were 1,534 housing units at an average density of 563.1 per square mile (217.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.24% White (2,595 people), 4.57% African American (133 people), 0.48% Native American (14 people), 0.72% Asian (21 people), 0.10% Pacific Islander (3 people), 3.44% from other racesRace (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...
(100 people), and 1.44% from two or more races (42 people). Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.45% of the population (304 people).
There were 1,273 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 83.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,662, and the median income for a family was $32,917. Males had a median income of $21,891 versus $19,292 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,062. About 15.6% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.8% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.
History
Seymour was founded by settlers from OregonOregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, who called the town Oregon City; it was originally located where the Western Trail crossed the Brazos River
Brazos River
The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...
, which flows just south of the townsite. A post office was established in 1879, at which time the town's name was changed to honor local cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
Seymour Munday, after whom nearby Munday
Munday, Texas
Munday is a city in Knox County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,527 at the 2000 census. The 2010 U.S. Census Bureau placed the population at 1,300....
was also named.
Commerce, a newspaper, a hotel, and the county courthouse all followed soon after, as did violence between cowboys and settlers. The town experienced two distinct economic booms: the first, short-lived, with the construction of the Wichita Valley rail line in 1880, and the second due to the discovery of oil in 1906. The population grew from 500 in 1884 to almost 3800 in 1950; it remained at about that level for more than thirty years, but has declined since to 2,740 in the 2010 census. Agribusiness
Agribusiness
In agriculture, agribusiness is a generic term for the various businesses involved in food production, including farming and contract farming, seed supply, agrichemicals, farm machinery, wholesale and distribution, processing, marketing, and retail sales....
, as well as some tourism from nearby Lake Kemp, has overtaken oil as the driving factor of the local economy. The Old Settlers Reunion and Rodeo has been held each July since 1896.
The town calls itself "the crossroads of North Texas" because it is located at the junction of five highways: U.S. highways 82, 277, 183 and 283, as well as State Highway 114.
The Reptiliomorpha
Reptiliomorpha
Reptiliomorpha refers to an order or subclass of reptile-like amphibians, which gave rise to the amniotes in the Carboniferous. Under phylogenetic nomenclature, the Reptiliomorpha includes their amniote descendants though, even in phylogenetic nomenclature, the name is mostly used when referring to...
order Seymouriamorpha
Seymouriamorpha
Seymouriamorpha were a small but widespread group of reptiliomorphs. Many seymouriamorphs were terrestrial or semi-aquatic. However, aquatic larvae bearing external gills and grooves from the lateral line system has been found, making them unquestionably amphibians. The adults were terrestrial...
and genus Seymouria
Seymouria
Seymouria was a reptile-like labyrinthodont from the early Permian of North America and Europe . It was small, only 2 ft long...
are named after this city. However, the last seymouriamorph became extinct by the end of Permian
Permian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
.
On August 12, 1936, the temperature at Seymour reached 120 °F (48.9 °C), the highest temperature ever recorded in the state of Texas.
The Seymour Division of the sprawling 320,000 deeded acre (1400 km²) La Escalera Ranch
La Escalera Ranch
La Escalera Ranch consists of approximately 260,000 acre , located south of Fort Stockton, Texas. The ranch extends over portions of Pecos County, Brewster County, Archer County, and Baylor County, with the majority of the ranch lying in Pecos County.The 100-year old ranch was acquired by building...
is located in Baylor County north of Seymour. The Seymour Division consists of 34,000 acres (120 km²) and was formally known as the Circle Bar Ranch when it was owned by the Claude Cowan Sr. Trust. The ranch was purchased in January 2005 by the Gerald Lyda
Gerald Lyda
Gerald Lyda ) was an American cattle rancher, contractor and developer prominent in the state of Texas....
family and La Escalera Limited Partnership and is managed by partner Jo Lyda Granberg and her husband K. G. Granberg of Seymour. La Escalera Ranch extends over much of Pecos County
Pecos County, Texas
Pecos County is a county located in Texas which is named for the Pecos River. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 16,809. The county seat is Fort Stockton....
and portions of Reeves, Brewster, Archer and Baylor counties.
Honorary citizens
- H.A. Tillmann (Till) Hein, M.D., 1962 – Chairman of the Texas German Day Council and President of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists, lives in Dallas