Yorktown, Texas
Encyclopedia
Yorktown is a city in DeWitt County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 2,271 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,271 people, 864 households, and 584 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,318.1 people per square mile (509.8/km²). There were 1,048 housing units at an average density of 608.3 per square mile (235.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.83% White, 2.99% African American, 0.40% Native American, 15.32% from other races
, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37.60% of the population.
There were 864 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples
living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,507, and the median income for a family was $28,529. Males had a median income of $25,234 versus $17,031 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,041. About 18.4% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.5% of those under age 18 and 16.2% of those age 65 or over.
honor of Captain John York, a famous Indian fighter and was in command of a company of citizens who, under Ben Milam, defeated General Cos in 1835 at the battle of Bexar. For his military services, York received many acres of land in the Coleto Creek area. Captain York died in October, 1848, in a battle with Indians who had raided on the settlement of Yorktown. A historical marker designates York's grave only seven miles from town.
Charles Eckhardt, started a mercantile business in Indianola which at that time was a major Texas seaport. Eckhardt participated in the Texas War of Independence and may have met Captain York during military service. Charles Eckhardt contracted with John A. King, one of the pioneers of West Texas, to survey a road from Indianola through Yorktown to New Braunfels, later known as the Old Indianola Trail. From its inception in February, 1848, this road remained the chief thoroughfare for this part of the State to New Braunfels and San Antonio. This trail shortened the former route by twenty miles and established Yorktown as an important relay station for freighters, prairie schooners, trail drivers, and stage coaches bringing mail and passengers. The trail came through upper town near Dr. W. E. McAda's present Veterinary Clinic on North Riedel Street.
Early in 1848, after the founders had the proposed town surveyed, they offered 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) and the choice of a lot free to the first ten families to settle the townsite. Many German
, Bohemian
, and Polish
families came and soon changed this wilderness into one of the most prosperous sections of the entire state.
In May, 1848, Peter Metz and John Frank built the first house in the settlement of Yorktown for Charles Eckhardt. It was built of logs, twelve by twenty feet, with a back room and chimney. This house was later occupied by a brother, Caesar Eckhardt, who was the founder of C. Eckhardt and Sons Mercantile Company, known for half a century as the leading firm of its kind in western DeWitt County.
Unfortunately, neither of the founders lived to see the town develop beyond this point. In October 1848, in a battle with Marauding Indians, Captain York and his son-in-law, James Madison Bell, were killed. They were buried in a single hand-made coffin in the Yorktown Cemetery some seven miles (11 km) east of Yorktown. In 1852, on an inspection of some of his properties in Central America, Eckhardt contracted yellow fever and died at sea on his return trip. He is buried in New Orleans. The Eckhardts did not have any children while the Yorks had ten children.
The Catholics established a church in 1867 and the Lutherans in 1872. The huge oak tree on the lawn of the latter church is one of the oldest in the state.The town was incorporated in 1871. (Data collected from www.yorktowntx.com)
DeWitt County, Texas
DeWitt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 20,013. DeWitt County is named for Green DeWitt, who founded an early colony in Texas. The seat of the county is Cuero. It was founded in 1846.-Geography:...
, 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 2,271 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Yorktown is located at 28.983196°N 97.502415°W (28.983196, -97.502415).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 1.7 square miles (4.4 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 2,271 people, 864 households, and 584 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 1,318.1 people per square mile (509.8/km²). There were 1,048 housing units at an average density of 608.3 per square mile (235.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.83% White, 2.99% African American, 0.40% Native American, 15.32% 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 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37.60% of the population.
There were 864 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% 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, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,507, and the median income for a family was $28,529. Males had a median income of $25,234 versus $17,031 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 $12,041. About 18.4% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.5% of those under age 18 and 16.2% of those age 65 or over.
History
Founded by Captain John York and Charles Eckhardt and named inhonor of Captain John York, a famous Indian fighter and was in command of a company of citizens who, under Ben Milam, defeated General Cos in 1835 at the battle of Bexar. For his military services, York received many acres of land in the Coleto Creek area. Captain York died in October, 1848, in a battle with Indians who had raided on the settlement of Yorktown. A historical marker designates York's grave only seven miles from town.
Charles Eckhardt, started a mercantile business in Indianola which at that time was a major Texas seaport. Eckhardt participated in the Texas War of Independence and may have met Captain York during military service. Charles Eckhardt contracted with John A. King, one of the pioneers of West Texas, to survey a road from Indianola through Yorktown to New Braunfels, later known as the Old Indianola Trail. From its inception in February, 1848, this road remained the chief thoroughfare for this part of the State to New Braunfels and San Antonio. This trail shortened the former route by twenty miles and established Yorktown as an important relay station for freighters, prairie schooners, trail drivers, and stage coaches bringing mail and passengers. The trail came through upper town near Dr. W. E. McAda's present Veterinary Clinic on North Riedel Street.
Early in 1848, after the founders had the proposed town surveyed, they offered 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) and the choice of a lot free to the first ten families to settle the townsite. Many German
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
, Bohemian
Czech American
Czech Americans are citizens of the United States who were born in, or who descended from, the territory of the historic Czech lands, , or succession states, now known as the Czech Republic...
, and Polish
Polish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
families came and soon changed this wilderness into one of the most prosperous sections of the entire state.
In May, 1848, Peter Metz and John Frank built the first house in the settlement of Yorktown for Charles Eckhardt. It was built of logs, twelve by twenty feet, with a back room and chimney. This house was later occupied by a brother, Caesar Eckhardt, who was the founder of C. Eckhardt and Sons Mercantile Company, known for half a century as the leading firm of its kind in western DeWitt County.
Unfortunately, neither of the founders lived to see the town develop beyond this point. In October 1848, in a battle with Marauding Indians, Captain York and his son-in-law, James Madison Bell, were killed. They were buried in a single hand-made coffin in the Yorktown Cemetery some seven miles (11 km) east of Yorktown. In 1852, on an inspection of some of his properties in Central America, Eckhardt contracted yellow fever and died at sea on his return trip. He is buried in New Orleans. The Eckhardts did not have any children while the Yorks had ten children.
The Catholics established a church in 1867 and the Lutherans in 1872. The huge oak tree on the lawn of the latter church is one of the oldest in the state.The town was incorporated in 1871. (Data collected from www.yorktowntx.com)
Western Days
Celebrated on the third weekend of October, Western Days is a three day town celebration featuring a carnival, bar-b-q cook-off, horse shoe and washer tournament, quilt show, poker run, and street dancing. Western Days is held downtown at the city park. Numerous food booths and art and craft stands line the streets. Saturday morning begins with a large parade through town. Western days is one of the few festivals in the area that charges no admission to the park or dance.Notable natives
- Harlon BlockHarlon BlockHarlon Henry Block was a United States Marine during World War II. Born in Texas, Block joined the Marine Corps in November 1943 and subsequently saw action during the Battle of Bougainville and the Battle of Iwo Jima where he was killed in action...
, one of the soldiers pictured in Raising the Flag on Iwo JimaRaising the Flag on Iwo JimaRaising the Flag on Iwo Jima is a historic photograph taken on February 23, 1945, by Joe Rosenthal. It depicts five United States Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman raising the flag of the United States atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.The photograph was extremely... - Adam Weise, 24, One of the 11 men killed April 20, 2010 in the Deepwater Horizon explosion off of the Louisiana Coast.
External links
- Community website
- Schools website
- "Scenes of Yorktown, TX" Footage of daily life in Yorktown in 1940. From the Ray Jelinek Collection, Texas Archive of the Moving Image.