Aurora, Texas
Encyclopedia
Aurora is a city in Wise County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 853 at the 2000 census.
Aurora was also a town in Jefferson County
, Texas
, near the mouth of Taylor Bayou
on Sabine Lake
. The present-day city of Port Arthur
has occupied this site since about 1895, when Aurora became a ghost town
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.4 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 853 people, 312 households, and 245 families residing in the town. The population density
was 264.2 people per square mile (102.0/km²). There were 332 housing units at an average density of 102.8/sq mi (39.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.49% White, 0.23% African American, 1.99% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 1.52% from other races
, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.99% of the population.
There were 312 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,656, and the median income for a family was $36,731. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $22,361 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,876. About 12.0% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.
.
http://www.nisdtx.org
Wise County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,793 people, 17,178 households, and 13,467 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 19,242 housing units at an average density of 21 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 853 at the 2000 census.
Aurora was also a town in Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Texas
Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Texas, United States. As of 2000, the population was 252,051. Its county seat is Beaumont, and it is named for the former U.S...
, 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...
, near the mouth of Taylor Bayou
Taylor Bayou
-References:**USGS Hydrologic Unit Map - State of Texas...
on Sabine Lake
Sabine Lake
200px | thumb | Sabine lake as seen from outer space.Sabine Lake is a salt water estuary on the Texas-Louisiana border. The lake, some long and wide, is formed by the confluence of the Neches River and Sabine River. Through its tidal outlet long, Sabine Pass, Sabine Lake drains some of Texas...
. The present-day city of Port Arthur
Port Arthur, Texas
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
has occupied this site since about 1895, when Aurora became a ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
.
Geography
Aurora is located at 33°3′30"N 97°30′58"W (33.058295, -97.516220).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 town has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.4 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 853 people, 312 households, and 245 families residing in the town. 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 264.2 people per square mile (102.0/km²). There were 332 housing units at an average density of 102.8/sq mi (39.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.49% White, 0.23% African American, 1.99% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 1.52% 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 3.99% of the population.
There were 312 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% 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, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,656, and the median income for a family was $36,731. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $22,361 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 town was $14,876. About 12.0% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Town of Aurora is served by the Northwest Independent School DistrictNorthwest Independent School District
Northwest Independent School District is a public school district based in far north Fort Worth, Texas . It is named for its location in northwest Tarrant County, though it also serves portions of Denton County and Wise County....
.
- Seven Hills Elementary (K–5)
- Chisholm Trail Middle school (6–8)
- Northwest High School (9–12)
http://www.nisdtx.org
UFO incident
Aurora is best known for a purported UFO crash in April 1897, and the ongoing legend that the UFO's pilot is supposedly buried in the local cemetery. Although the town has embraced the legend to a point (the city's website mentions the legend, and even features an alien on the initial page), the cemetery association has refused all requests to exhume the alien's purported gravesite.Further reading
- Reed, S. G. (1941) A History of the Texas Railroads, St. Clair, Houston; rpt. (1981) Arno, New York
- WPA Federal Writers' Project (1939) Port Arthur, Anson Jones Press, Houston
- DNAlien, A novel by Jim West (2007).