Silsbee, Texas
Encyclopedia
Silsbee is a city in Hardin County, Texas
, United States
. It is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 96 and State Highway 327. The population was 6,393 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Beaumont
–Port Arthur
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19.4 km²), all land.
, an investor from Boston, Massachusetts who helped provide funds for the railway.
The railroad was a project of John Henry Kirby
who would soon establish the Kirby Lumber Company in the city. This business would be the main employer and strength of the Silsbee economy from the city’s beginning.
of 2000, there were 6,393 people, 2,385 households, and 1,714 families residing in the city. The population density
was 849.0 people per square mile (327.8/km²). There were 2,662 housing units at an average density of 353.5 per square mile (136.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.85% White, 32.04% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races
, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.39% of the population.
There were 2,385 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples
living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,549, and the median income for a family was $40,784. Males had a median income of $35,351 versus $23,558 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,111. About 15.9% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.
, with a total of 5 schools — The John Henry Kirby Elementary School (Pre K-1), The Read-Turrentine Elementary School (2-3), The Laura Reeves Elementary (4-5), The Edwards-Johnson Memorial Silsbee Middle School (6-8), and Silsbee High School.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in November 2010 that the victim — who is known only as H.S. — had no right to refuse to applaud her attacker because as a cheerleader in uniform, she was an agent of the school. The Fifth Circuit dismissed her case as "frivolous" and sanctioned the girl, ordering her family to pay the school district's $45,000 legal fees. The Supreme Court declined to review the case. As of June, 2011, Change.org
and Ms. Magazine
were promoting a proposal by journalist Scott Rose calling for individuals to send the district superintendent one penny each, accompanied by notes protesting the district's decision if it did not waive its right to payment.
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...
. It is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 96 and State Highway 327. The population was 6,393 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Beaumont
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
–Port Arthur
Port Arthur, Texas
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area
The Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Area is defined by the United States Census Bureau as a three-county region in Southeast Texas, east of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The area is also known as the Golden Triangle...
.
Geography
Silsbee is located at 30°20′53"N 94°10′49"W (30.348095, -94.180220).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 7.5 square miles (19.4 km²), all land.
Historical development
Silsbee was first referred to as Mill Town when the site was first reached by the Gulf, Beaumont, and Kansas City Railway in 1894. The town was renamed in recognition of Nathaniel SilsbeeNathaniel Silsbee
Nathanial Silsbee was an American politician from Massachusetts.Silsbee was born in Salem, Massachusetts to Capt. Nathanial Silsbee and Sarah Beckett...
, an investor from Boston, Massachusetts who helped provide funds for the railway.
The railroad was a project of John Henry Kirby
John Henry Kirby
John Henry Kirby was a businessman whose ventures made him arguably the largest lumber manufacturer in Texas and the Southern United States. In addition to serving two terms in the Texas Legislature, he would also establish the Kirby Petroleum Company...
who would soon establish the Kirby Lumber Company in the city. This business would be the main employer and strength of the Silsbee economy from the city’s beginning.
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 6,393 people, 2,385 households, and 1,714 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 849.0 people per square mile (327.8/km²). There were 2,662 housing units at an average density of 353.5 per square mile (136.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.85% White, 32.04% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.84% 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 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.39% of the population.
There were 2,385 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% 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, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,549, and the median income for a family was $40,784. Males had a median income of $35,351 versus $23,558 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 $19,111. About 15.9% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.
Travel information
The City of Silsbee has at least 11 gasoline stations, 9 restaurants and takeout food stores, 2 motels, 2 RV parks and several stores. It is located near the intersection of Highway 327 and Business 96.Education
The City of Silsbee is served by the Silsbee Independent School DistrictSilsbee Independent School District
Silsbee Independent School District is a public school district based in Silsbee, Texas .In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.-Controversy:...
, with a total of 5 schools — The John Henry Kirby Elementary School (Pre K-1), The Read-Turrentine Elementary School (2-3), The Laura Reeves Elementary (4-5), The Edwards-Johnson Memorial Silsbee Middle School (6-8), and Silsbee High School.
Controversy
Silsbee High School and the school district have been criticized for expelling a cheerleader from the school's cheerleading squad because of her refusal to cheer for a basketball player who pled guilty to sexually assaulting her. The charges were dropped down to assault a year later and he was given probation.The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in November 2010 that the victim — who is known only as H.S. — had no right to refuse to applaud her attacker because as a cheerleader in uniform, she was an agent of the school. The Fifth Circuit dismissed her case as "frivolous" and sanctioned the girl, ordering her family to pay the school district's $45,000 legal fees. The Supreme Court declined to review the case. As of June, 2011, Change.org
Change.org
Change.org is an online platform for social change launched on February 7, 2007 by current CEO Ben Rattray and Mark Dimas, and certified as a B Corporation in January, 2011. Its stated mission is to "empower anyone, anywhere to start, join, and win campaigns for social change."...
and Ms. Magazine
Ms. magazine
Ms. is an American feminist magazine co-founded by American feminist and activist Gloria Steinem and founding editor Letty Cottin Pogrebin together with founding editors Patricia Carbine, Joanne Edgar, Nina Finkelstein, and Mary Peacock, that first appeared in 1971 as an insert in New York magazine...
were promoting a proposal by journalist Scott Rose calling for individuals to send the district superintendent one penny each, accompanied by notes protesting the district's decision if it did not waive its right to payment.
Notable people
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, Olympic weightlifter and World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
World Heavyweight Champion. - James HunterJames Hunter (American football)James Edward Hunter was an American football defensive back who played for the Detroit Lions in the National Football League. Hunter was the 10th player picked in the 1976 NFL Draft. He led the Lions in interceptions in 1976, 1977, and 1980. Hunter is 7th all-time for interceptions in Lions...
, football player - Len GarrettLen Garrett-Career:Garrett was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifteenth round of the 1971 NFL Draft. He played two seasons with the team before splitting the 1973 NFL season with the Packers and the New Orleans Saints...
, football player - Chloe JonesChloe JonesChloe Jones was an American pornographic actress.-Early life and career:...
, pornographic actress - Brandi McCainBrandi McCainBrandi McCain is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a guard in the Women's National Basketball Association for a single season in 2002...
, professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball AssociationWomen's National Basketball AssociationThe Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association... - Gail Gilchriest, screenwriter of My Dog SkipMy Dog SkipMy Dog Skip is a memoir by Willie Morris published by Random House in 1995."My Dog Skip" is the story about nine-year-old Willie Morris growing up in Yazoo City, Mississippi, a tale of a boy and his dog in a small, sleepy Southern town that teaches us about family, friendship, love, devotion and...