Wills Point, Texas
Encyclopedia
Wills Point is a city in Van Zandt County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 3,496 at the 2000 census.
The Majestic Movie theater was opened in 1926 by Karl C. LyBrand and was still family operated by Karl C. Lybrand III until its closure on October 4, 2010. It had been the oldest continuously operated movie theater in Texas run by a single family.
The Bruce & Human Drug Company, located on the corner of 4th Street and James, was built in 1879 and is the oldest family owned drug store in Texas.
Wills Point is also the final resting place for Trailblazer
, the first commercially operated monorail system in the United States.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 3,496 people, 1,306 households, and 889 families residing in the city. The population density
was 976.3 people per square mile (377.0/km²). There were 1,424 housing units at an average density of 397.7/sq mi (153.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.06% White, 13.07% African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 4.46% from other races
, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.93% of the population.
There were 1,306 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples
living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,591, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $28,598 versus $21,944 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,789. About 15.5% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.
. It is administered by Superintendent Joe Oliver. As of 2006, there are 5 schools, Wills Point Primary School (Pre-K, K,& 1st), E.O. Woods Intermediate School (2nd, 3rd,& 4th), Wills Point Middle School (5th & 6th), Wills Point Jr. High (7th & 8th), and Wills Point High School
(9th - 12th). The Wills Point High School Tigers football team won the 1A State Championship in 1965.
Van Zandt County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,140 people, 18,195 households, and 13,664 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile . There were 20,896 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 3,496 at the 2000 census.
History
Founded in 1873, Wills Point gets its name from an early American settler, William Wills, who had arrived in the area in about 1848. Wills eventually purchased a cabin from Adam Sullivan in 1852. The name 'point' may also derive from the shape of the original timberline near the cabin, though there have been unfounded arguments that the name relates to the area's elevation. The layout of the city was the work of engineer General Grenville M. Dodge of the California Construction Company. The downtown streets were laid with red bricks upon packed sand in the 1920s by locals and remain in use. Downtown Wills Point has many of its original buildings that are over a hundred years old including the Wills cabin, a drug store, a dry good store, and a law office. Governor George W. Bush officially named Wills Point as the Bluebird Capital of Texas in 1995.The Majestic Movie theater was opened in 1926 by Karl C. LyBrand and was still family operated by Karl C. Lybrand III until its closure on October 4, 2010. It had been the oldest continuously operated movie theater in Texas run by a single family.
The Bruce & Human Drug Company, located on the corner of 4th Street and James, was built in 1879 and is the oldest family owned drug store in Texas.
Wills Point is also the final resting place for Trailblazer
Trailblazer (monorail)
Trailblazer was a suspended monorail that operated at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas from 1956 to 1964. It was the first commercially operated monorail system in the United States.-History:...
, the first commercially operated monorail system in the United States.
Geography
Wills Point is located at 32°42′31"N 96°0′23"W (32.708622, -96.006512).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 3.6 square miles (9.3 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 3,496 people, 1,306 households, and 889 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 976.3 people per square mile (377.0/km²). There were 1,424 housing units at an average density of 397.7/sq mi (153.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.06% White, 13.07% African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 4.46% 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 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.93% of the population.
There were 1,306 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% 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, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,591, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $28,598 versus $21,944 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 $14,789. About 15.5% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Wills Point and the surrounding unincorporated areas are served by the Wills Point ISDWills Point Independent School District
Wills Point Independent School District is a school district based in Wills Point, Texas and covering all of the city of Wills Point as well as the communities of Hiram, Myrtle Springs, Scott, Elwood, Cobb, Frog, Elmo, and the surrounding unincorporated areas in both Van Zandt and Kaufman...
. It is administered by Superintendent Joe Oliver. As of 2006, there are 5 schools, Wills Point Primary School (Pre-K, K,& 1st), E.O. Woods Intermediate School (2nd, 3rd,& 4th), Wills Point Middle School (5th & 6th), Wills Point Jr. High (7th & 8th), and Wills Point High School
Wills Point High School
Wills Point High School is a 3A high school located in Wills Point, Texas . It is part of the Wills Point Independent School District located in northwestern Van Zandt County. Some students also attend from Kaufman County...
(9th - 12th). The Wills Point High School Tigers football team won the 1A State Championship in 1965.