Commerce, Texas
Encyclopedia
Commerce is a city in Hunt County
, Texas
, United States
, located in rural East Texas
. The population was 7,669 at the 2000 census
, however recent growth and its proximity to Interstate 30
and the eastern Metroplex has put the population around 9750. The city is home to Texas A&M University-Commerce, and lies in the northeast corner of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
.
The 1924 Texas Republican
gubernatorial nominee, George C. Butte
, was reared on a farm near Commerce.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 6.5 square miles (16.8 km²), of which, 6.5 square miles (16.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.92%) is water. The area around Commerce is full of trees, rivers, and lakes.
of 2000, there were 7,669 people, 2,881 households, and 1,524 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,183.3 people per square mile (456.9/km²). There were 3,405 housing units at an average density of 525.4 per square mile (202.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.07% White, 20.78% African American, 0.42% Native American, 2.59% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 3.13% from other races
, and 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.65% of the population.
There were 2,881 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% were married couples
living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.02.
Age demographic is spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 28.2% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 14.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,065, and the median income for a family was $37,284. Males had a median income of $26,389 versus $19,565 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,444. About 13.8% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.4% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
Commerce is the birthplace of World War II
General Claire Chennault.
. CISD currently operates the following schools:
Elementary
AC Williams Elementary 3-5
Commerce Elementary Pre-K-2
Junior High
Commerce Middle School 6-8
High School
Commerce High School 9-12
CHS was once known for its Varsity Football Team, considered a perennial powerhouse in Texas in Conference 3A. The Tigers won AAA Conference Championships in 1999 and 2001.
It is also home to Texas A&M University-Commerce, a fully accredited university with an enrollment of around 10,000 students, 5,500 undergraduates, and roughly 4,500 graduate students.
Hunt County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 76,596 people, 28,742 households, and 20,521 families residing in the county. The population density was 91 people per square mile . There were 32,490 housing units at an average density of 39 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...
, located in rural East Texas
East Texas
East Texas is a distinct geographic and ecological area in the U.S. state of Texas.According to the Handbook of Texas, the East Texas area "may be separated from the rest of Texas roughly by a line extending from the Red River in north central Lamar County southwestward to east central Limestone...
. The population was 7,669 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, however recent growth and its proximity to Interstate 30
Interstate 30
Interstate 30 is an Interstate Highway in the southern United States. I-30 runs from Interstate 20 west of Fort Worth, Texas, northeast via Dallas, Texas, and Texarkana, Texas, to Interstate 40 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The route parallels U.S. Route 67 except for the portion west of...
and the eastern Metroplex has put the population around 9750. The city is home to Texas A&M University-Commerce, and lies in the northeast corner of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
The Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area, a title designated by the U.S. Census as of 2003, encompasses 12 counties within the U.S. state of Texas. The area is divided into two metropolitan divisions: Dallas–Plano–Irving and Fort Worth–Arlington. Residents of the area...
.
The 1924 Texas Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
gubernatorial nominee, George C. Butte
George C. Butte
George Charles Butte was a jurist, educator, and Republican politician from the U.S. state of Texas, who was his party's gubernatorial nominee in 1924 against the controversial Democrat Miriam Wallace "Ma" Ferguson, one of the first two women governors in the United States.U.S...
, was reared on a farm near Commerce.
Geography
Commerce is located at 33°14′42"N 95°54′0"W (33.244959, -95.899957).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 6.5 square miles (16.8 km²), of which, 6.5 square miles (16.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.92%) is water. The area around Commerce is full of trees, rivers, and lakes.
Climate
Commerce's climate is considered to be part of the humid subtropical region. The temperature varies greatly throughout the year. In the February of 2010, there was a record near 12 inch snow storm, and in the Winter of 2011, there were various snow storms that caused havoc on the residents. The summers are generally hot and humid with several days above 90 from June through August. The rainiest time of the year is from March to May, and the driest is from July to August. The hottest time of the year is from the end of July to the beginning of August, in which there are days above 100 degrees.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 7,669 people, 2,881 households, and 1,524 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 1,183.3 people per square mile (456.9/km²). There were 3,405 housing units at an average density of 525.4 per square mile (202.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.07% White, 20.78% African American, 0.42% Native American, 2.59% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 3.13% 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 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.65% of the population.
There were 2,881 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% 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, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.02.
Age demographic is spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 28.2% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 14.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,065, and the median income for a family was $37,284. Males had a median income of $26,389 versus $19,565 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 $14,444. About 13.8% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.4% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
Commerce is the birthplace of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
General Claire Chennault.
Education
The City of Commerce is served by the Commerce Independent School DistrictCommerce Independent School District
Commerce Independent School District is a public school district based in Commerce, Texas .In addition to Commerce, the district also serves the town of Neylandville...
. CISD currently operates the following schools:
Elementary
AC Williams Elementary 3-5
Commerce Elementary Pre-K-2
Junior High
Commerce Middle School 6-8
High School
Commerce High School 9-12
CHS was once known for its Varsity Football Team, considered a perennial powerhouse in Texas in Conference 3A. The Tigers won AAA Conference Championships in 1999 and 2001.
It is also home to Texas A&M University-Commerce, a fully accredited university with an enrollment of around 10,000 students, 5,500 undergraduates, and roughly 4,500 graduate students.
Economy
Due to being a rural college town with proximity to Dallas, Commerce has an economy that remained steady for years, but recently has boomed with new businesses opening and current ones being renovated. The downtown area is just miles from the University and is the hub for town festivities as well as college students. The downtown area boasts 3 Bars, one coffee shop, a miniature golf course, a frozen yogurt cafe, a fashion retailer, multiple small grill style restaurants and 4 banks.Popular culture references
- AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rockRock musicRock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
musicianMusicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, Ben KwellerBen KwellerBen Kweller is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.-Early life:Ben Kweller was born in San Francisco, CA in 1981. In 1982, his family relocated to Emory, Texas, where his father, Howard Kweller, became the town's first doctor. In 1986, the Kwellers moved to a much larger city,...
, a native of nearby Greenville, titled a song after Commerce.