Sterling City, Texas
Encyclopedia
Sterling City is a city in and the county seat
of Sterling County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 1,081 at the 2000 census, but had dropped to 982 by 2009.
On May 25, 1955, twenty-seven United States Air Force
personnel, known as the Abbot 27, perished in an airplane crash near Sterling City. The airmen were members of the 40th Bomb Squadron of the 6th Bombardment Wing at Walker Air Force Base
in Roswell
, New Mexico
. A monument in their honor was erected in 2007 at the Tom Green County Courthouse in San Angelo
.
of the town.
Land for Sterling City was donated in January of 1891 by R.C. Stewart, and was platted by H.B. Tarver in February. Before the year end, the town had its own newspaper
, a hotel
, a post office
and several other businesses. Next year, a school was built and Sterling City had 300 citizens in another four.
Sterling City began its reign as home to a portion of the Santa Fe Railroad in 1910, but the service was eventually abandoned. The depot is still available for visitors to see.
During World War II
, the population reportedly decreased, but by 1990 peaked nearly 1,100 residents, but since has dropped again to 982 by 2009.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.5 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,081 people, 393 households, and 297 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,105.9 people per square mile (425.9/km²). There were 467 housing units at an average density of 477.7 per square mile (184.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.05% White, 0.09% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 14.80% from other races
, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33.30% of the population.
There were 393 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,359, and the median income for a family was $38,958. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $18,654 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,955. About 14.3% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 19.3% of those age 65 or over.
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 Sterling County
Sterling County, Texas
Sterling County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 1,393. Its county seat is Sterling City. The county is named for W. S. Sterling, an early settler in the area. Sterling County is one of 30 prohibition, or entirely dry, counties in...
, 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 1,081 at the 2000 census, but had dropped to 982 by 2009.
On May 25, 1955, twenty-seven United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
personnel, known as the Abbot 27, perished in an airplane crash near Sterling City. The airmen were members of the 40th Bomb Squadron of the 6th Bombardment Wing at Walker Air Force Base
Walker Air Force Base
Walker Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force base located three miles south of the central business district of Roswell, a city in Chaves County, New Mexico, US...
in Roswell
Roswell, New Mexico
Roswell is a city in and the county seat of Chaves County in the southeastern quarter of the state of New Mexico, United States. The population was 48,366 at the 2010 census. It is a center for irrigation farming, dairying, ranching, manufacturing, distribution, and petroleum production. It is also...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. A monument in their honor was erected in 2007 at the Tom Green County Courthouse in San Angelo
San Angelo, Texas
San Angelo is a city in the state of Texas. Located in West Central Texas it is the county seat of Tom Green County. As of 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total population of 93,200...
.
History
Sterling City is where most people in the county live, since becoming the county seat in 1891. W.S. Sterling, Indian fighter and buffalo hunter, was the namesakeNamesake
Namesake is a term used to characterize a person, place, thing, quality, action, state, or idea that has the same, or a similar, name to another....
of the town.
Land for Sterling City was donated in January of 1891 by R.C. Stewart, and was platted by H.B. Tarver in February. Before the year end, the town had its own newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
, a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
and several other businesses. Next year, a school was built and Sterling City had 300 citizens in another four.
Sterling City began its reign as home to a portion of the Santa Fe Railroad in 1910, but the service was eventually abandoned. The depot is still available for visitors to see.
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 population reportedly decreased, but by 1990 peaked nearly 1,100 residents, but since has dropped again to 982 by 2009.
Geography
Sterling City is located at 31°50′21"N 100°59′9"W (31.839066, -100.985871).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 1.0 square miles (2.5 km²), all of it land.
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 1,081 people, 393 households, and 297 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 1,105.9 people per square mile (425.9/km²). There were 467 housing units at an average density of 477.7 per square mile (184.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.05% White, 0.09% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 14.80% 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 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33.30% of the population.
There were 393 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% 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, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,359, and the median income for a family was $38,958. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $18,654 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 $14,955. About 14.3% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 19.3% of those age 65 or over.