Asherton, Texas
Encyclopedia
Asherton is a city in Dimmit County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 1,342 at the 2000 census. U.S. Highway 83 runs through Asherton.
Rancher Asher Richardson built the town after he purchased a huge tract of land in a special state sale. His Asherton Land and Irrigation Company developed 48000 acres (194.2 km²). Richardson subsequently funded the Asherton and Gulf Railway Company. The Asher and Mary Isabelle Richardson House
(1910), perched on a hill in Asherton, is easily visible from U.S. Highway 83. It is named for a combination of the first names of Richardson and his wife, Mary Isabelle, or Belle. The structure is made of sandstone
and is designed in the Prairie school
of architecture by the late Alfred Giles
of San Antonio
. The house has remained in the family for
generations.
The Asherton and Gulf Railroad was originally based in Carrizo Springs
. From 1905-1909 the railroad was known as the Nueces Valley, Rio Grande and Mexico Railway Company.
In 1909, twelve miles (19 km) of track opened between Artesia Wells
and Light, Texas. By 1910, the last twenty miles (32 km) between Light and Asherton were completed.
Telephone service arrived in 1905, and essential buildings were constructed. In 1909, Asherton obtained a post office
. By 1915, the population reaches 1,000, with a bank, hotels, blacksmiths, three stores and a lumber yard. The town was incorporated
in 1925. It is one of the few Texas communities which still uses the city commission government
. In 1927, it became one of the largest producers of Bermuda onion
s in the United States. The population peaked in 1954 at 2,425.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,342 people, 428 households, and 341 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,609.6 people per square mile (624.3/km²). There were 535 housing units at an average density of 641.7 per square mile (248.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.56% White, 0.15% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 21.39% from other races
, and 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 94.78% of the population.
There were 428 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples
living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 3.62.
In the city the population was spread out with 35.2% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,417, and the median income for a family was $24,107. Males had a median income of $23,281 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $7,746. About 29.9% of families and 35.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.8% of those under age 18 and 41.8% of those age 65 or over.
.
Schools that serve Asherton include:
Prior to the fall of 1999, the Asherton Independent School District
served Asherton. AISD was forced to close because of concerns about taxation.
Dimmit County, Texas
Dimmit County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 10,248. It is named for Philip Dimmitt, a major figure in the Texas Revolution. The reason the county name differs is because the bill creating the county misspelled Dimmitt's name...
, 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 1,342 at the 2000 census. U.S. Highway 83 runs through Asherton.
Rancher Asher Richardson built the town after he purchased a huge tract of land in a special state sale. His Asherton Land and Irrigation Company developed 48000 acres (194.2 km²). Richardson subsequently funded the Asherton and Gulf Railway Company. The Asher and Mary Isabelle Richardson House
Asher and Mary Isabelle Richardson House
The 1911 Asher and Mary Isabelle Richardson House is located on U.S. Highway 83 in Asherton in the U.S. state of Texas. The southeast-facing home is also known as Bel-Asher, deriving the "Bel" from "Isabelle". It was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Dimmit County,...
(1910), perched on a hill in Asherton, is easily visible from U.S. Highway 83. It is named for a combination of the first names of Richardson and his wife, Mary Isabelle, or Belle. The structure is made of sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and is designed in the Prairie school
Prairie School
Prairie School was a late 19th and early 20th century architectural style, most common to the Midwestern United States.The works of the Prairie School architects are usually marked by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in horizontal bands,...
of architecture by the late Alfred Giles
of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. The house has remained in the family for
generations.
The Asherton and Gulf Railroad was originally based in Carrizo Springs
Carrizo Springs, Texas
Carrizo Springs is a city in and the county seat of Dimmit County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,655 at the 2000 census.The name of the town comes from the local springs, which were named by the Spanish for the cane grass that once grew around them. It is the oldest town in Dimmit...
. From 1905-1909 the railroad was known as the Nueces Valley, Rio Grande and Mexico Railway Company.
In 1909, twelve miles (19 km) of track opened between Artesia Wells
Artesia Wells, Texas
Artesia Wells is an unincorporated community in La Salle County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 35 in 2000....
and Light, Texas. By 1910, the last twenty miles (32 km) between Light and Asherton were completed.
Telephone service arrived in 1905, and essential buildings were constructed. In 1909, Asherton obtained 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...
. By 1915, the population reaches 1,000, with a bank, hotels, blacksmiths, three stores and a lumber yard. The town was incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
in 1925. It is one of the few Texas communities which still uses the city commission government
City commission government
City commission government is a form of municipal government which once was common in the United States, but many cities which were formerly governed by commission have since switched to the council-manager form of government...
. In 1927, it became one of the largest producers of Bermuda onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
s in the United States. The population peaked in 1954 at 2,425.
Geography
Asherton is located at 28°26′50"N 99°45′41"W (28.447159, -99.761504).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 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 1,342 people, 428 households, and 341 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 1,609.6 people per square mile (624.3/km²). There were 535 housing units at an average density of 641.7 per square mile (248.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.56% White, 0.15% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 21.39% 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 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 94.78% of the population.
There were 428 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% 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, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 3.62.
In the city the population was spread out with 35.2% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,417, and the median income for a family was $24,107. Males had a median income of $23,281 versus $17,500 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 $7,746. About 29.9% of families and 35.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.8% of those under age 18 and 41.8% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public education in Asherton is provided by the Carrizo Springs Consolidated Independent School DistrictCarrizo Springs Consolidated Independent School District
Carrizo Springs Consolidated Independent School District is a school district headquartered in Carrizo Springs, Texas .CSCISD serves all of Dimmit County, including the cities of Asherton, Big Wells, and Carrizo Springs...
.
Schools that serve Asherton include:
- Asherton Elementary School (PreK-6)
- Carrizo Springs Junior High School (7-8)
- Carrizo Springs High School (9-12)
Prior to the fall of 1999, the Asherton Independent School District
Asherton Independent School District
Asherton Independent School District was a public school district based in the community of Asherton, Texas .The district existed until 1999, when it was ordered consolidated with Carrizo Springs schools by the Texas Education Agency to form the Carrizo Springs Consolidated Independent School...
served Asherton. AISD was forced to close because of concerns about taxation.
Notable residents
- Drayton BoucherDrayton BoucherDrayton Rogers Boucher was a Louisiana state legislator from Springhill in northern Webster Parish, Louisiana, affiliated with the Long faction of state Democratic politics. Boucher represented Webster Parish for a single four-year term in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1936 to 1940...
(1908–1983), former member of both houses of the Louisiana State LegislatureLouisiana State LegislatureThe Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
, graduated from the since defunct Asherton High School. His family came to Asherton to grow onions.