Archer City, Texas
Encyclopedia
Archer City is a city in Archer County
, Texas
, United States
. The city lies at the junction of State Highway 79 and State Highway 25. It is the county seat
of Archer County
. It is located 25 miles south of Wichita Falls, Texas
and is part of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 1,834 at the 2010 census.
The city is named for Branch Tanner Archer
, a commissioner for the Republic of Texas
.
Its most famous native son is the author Larry McMurtry
. Archer City and its Royal Theater are the basis for McMurty's fictional towns of "Thalia" and "Anarene
" in his novels, including The Last Picture Show. The films The Last Picture Show
(1971) and its sequel Texasville
(1990) were filmed in Archer City.
Archer City is also home to several other authors. Bill Crowley has published three books, his newest being a Christian devotional.
Archer City is also home to actress Angela Kinsey
. She portrays Angela in the comedy series The Office.
12 miles west-southwest of the city lies a 1.5-mile antenna, the Lake Kickapoo
Field Station, operated by the 20th Space Control Squadron
, and part of the Air Force Space Surveillance System
, used for observing objects passing over the United States. It is the primary anchor transmitter for the Space Command southern "fence" (or "Space Fence") network for monitoring the space defense system. It extends east-to-west across America at about the 33rd parallel north
. The antenna has no public access, restricted entry.
The current mayor of Archer City is David Levy.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), of which, 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04
of 2010, there were 1,834 people, 758 households, and 506 families residing in the city. The population density
was 837.3 people per square mile (322.9/km2). There were 869 housing units at an average density of 393.7 per square mile (151.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.56% White, 0.70% Native American, 0.81% from other races
, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.33% of the population.
There were 758 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,886, and the median income for a family was $36,563. Males had a median income of $29,524 versus $18,977 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,140. About 11.3% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 17.9% of those age 65 or over.
.
There is one school campus at Archer City. It encompasses the High School, Junior High, and Elementary grades. Grades 7-12 are all in the same building.
Archer County, Texas
Archer County is a county located in the US state of Texas, and was formed in 1858 from Fannin County. It is part of the Wichita Falls, Texas, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2005, the population estimate is 9,095, up from 8,854 in 2000. Its county seat is Archer City. Archer is named for...
, 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 city lies at the junction of State Highway 79 and State Highway 25. It is the county seat
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 Archer County
Archer County, Texas
Archer County is a county located in the US state of Texas, and was formed in 1858 from Fannin County. It is part of the Wichita Falls, Texas, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2005, the population estimate is 9,095, up from 8,854 in 2000. Its county seat is Archer City. Archer is named for...
. It is located 25 miles south of Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...
and is part of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area
Wichita Falls metropolitan area
The Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in North Texas that covers three counties - Archer, Clay, and Wichita. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 151,524 .-Counties:*Archer*Clay*Wichita-Places with 1,000 to 25,000 people:*Archer...
. The population was 1,834 at the 2010 census.
The city is named for Branch Tanner Archer
Branch Tanner Archer
Branch Tanner Archer was a Texan who served as Commissioner to the United States and Speaker of the House of the Republic of Texas House of Representatives and Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas.-Early life:...
, a commissioner for the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
.
Its most famous native son is the author Larry McMurtry
Larry McMurtry
Larry Jeff McMurtry is an American novelist, essayist, bookseller and screenwriter whose work is predominantly set in either the old West or in contemporary Texas...
. Archer City and its Royal Theater are the basis for McMurty's fictional towns of "Thalia" and "Anarene
Anarene, Texas
Anarene is a ghost town in Archer County, Texas, United States. Its name was used for the town portrayed in the film adaptation of Larry McMurtry's novel, The Last Picture Show.- History :...
" in his novels, including The Last Picture Show. The films The Last Picture Show
The Last Picture Show
The Last Picture Show is a 1971 American drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, adapted from a semi-autobiographical 1966 novel of the same name by Larry McMurtry....
(1971) and its sequel Texasville
Texasville
Texasville is a 1990 American drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich. It is a sequel to The Last Picture Show, and based on the novel Texasville by Larry McMurtry....
(1990) were filmed in Archer City.
Archer City is also home to several other authors. Bill Crowley has published three books, his newest being a Christian devotional.
Archer City is also home to actress Angela Kinsey
Angela Kinsey
Angela Kinsey is an American actress. She currently appears as the uptight accountant Angela Martin on the hit NBC television series The Office.-Personal life:...
. She portrays Angela in the comedy series The Office.
12 miles west-southwest of the city lies a 1.5-mile antenna, the Lake Kickapoo
Lake Kickapoo
Lake Kickapoo is a reservoir in Archer County, Texas. Created in 1947. It has a surface area of . Named after the Kickapoo tribe native to the area....
Field Station, operated by the 20th Space Control Squadron
20th Space Control Squadron
The United States Air Force's 20th Space Control Squadron is a space control unit located at Eglin AFB, Florida.-Mission:The mission of the 20th Space Control Squadron is to detect, track, identify, and report near earth and deep space objects in earth's orbit, and provide space object...
, and part of the Air Force Space Surveillance System
Air Force Space Surveillance System
The Air Force Space Surveillance System, colloquially known as the Space Fence, is a multistatic radar system that detects orbital objects passing over America...
, used for observing objects passing over the United States. It is the primary anchor transmitter for the Space Command southern "fence" (or "Space Fence") network for monitoring the space defense system. It extends east-to-west across America at about the 33rd parallel north
33rd parallel north
The 33rd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 33 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Africa, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America and the Atlantic Ocean....
. The antenna has no public access, restricted entry.
The current mayor of Archer City is David Levy.
Geography
Archer City is located at 33°35′39"N 98°37′35"W (33.594036, -98.626499).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 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), of which, 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04
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 2010, there were 1,834 people, 758 households, and 506 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 837.3 people per square mile (322.9/km2). There were 869 housing units at an average density of 393.7 per square mile (151.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.56% White, 0.70% Native American, 0.81% 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 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.33% of the population.
There were 758 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% 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, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,886, and the median income for a family was $36,563. Males had a median income of $29,524 versus $18,977 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 $19,140. About 11.3% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 17.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Archer City is served by the Archer City Independent School DistrictArcher City Independent School District
Archer City Independent School District is a public school district based in Archer City, Texas .Archer City serves much of Archer County, including the city of Archer City and most of the city of Scotland....
.
There is one school campus at Archer City. It encompasses the High School, Junior High, and Elementary grades. Grades 7-12 are all in the same building.