Cuney, Texas
Encyclopedia
Cuney is a town in Cherokee County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 145 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau
estimate placed the population at 147.
Cuney was the only "wet" town in Cherokee County, between the mid-1980s and 2009, then voters in Rusk came out in favor of beer/wine sales. Cuney is still the only town in the county selling liquor.
and FM 855
in northwestern Cherokee County, approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) northwest of Jacksonville
and 22 miles (35.4 km) northwest of Rusk
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
. The settlement was initially known as Andy, after Andrew "Andy" Bragg, one of the area's first black homeowners. He arrived in 1870. A community didn't develop until 1902, when the site became a flag stop on the Texas and New Orleans Railroad
. Around 1914, Palestine
cashier H.L. Price and several local investors formed a company and platted a town site. They named the town Cuney, after Price's son, Cuney Price – who in turn had been named for Norris Wright Cuney
, a prominent black politician and head of the state's Republican Party
. A post office was established in 1917 and a number of businesses were operating in the community by the early 1920s. With the paving of U.S. Highway 175 in 1929, most of the businesses moved a mile north of the railroad to take advantage of the increased traffic. The population was estimated at 100 in 1929, but declined to only 25 by the mid-1930s. A number of businesses closed after World War II
as agricultural prices decreased and residents moved to other cities with greater employment opportunities. Cuney had a population of 75 in the early 1950s. From that period, the community steadily grew, and Cuney was incorporated in November 1983. In the 1990 census, the town had 170 residents. That number had fallen to 145 by 2000.
of 2000, there were 145 people, 59 households, and 36 families residing in the town. The population density
was 88.6 people per square mile (34.1/km²). There were 78 housing units at an average density of 47.7 per square mile (18.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 11.03% White, 83.45% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.69% from other races
, and 3.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 59 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.8% were married couples
living together, 23.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 32.4% under the age of 18, 2.1% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $18,333, and the median income for a family was $17,500. Males had a median income of $18,438 versus $22,083 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $7,612. There were 35.0% of families and 37.1% of the population living below the poverty line, including 43.4% of under eighteens and 44.8% of those over 64.
Cherokee County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,659 people, 16,651 households, and 12,105 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile . There were 19,173 housing units at an average density of 18 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 145 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. 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...
estimate placed the population at 147.
Cuney was the only "wet" town in Cherokee County, between the mid-1980s and 2009, then voters in Rusk came out in favor of beer/wine sales. Cuney is still the only town in the county selling liquor.
Geography
Cuney is located at 32°2′3"N 95°25′4"W (32.034127, -95.417769). It is situated just west of the junction of U.S. Highway 175U.S. Route 175
U.S. Highway 175 is an east-west United States highway, its span completely within the state of Texas. It comes very close to meeting its "parent", US 75, but decommissioning and rerouting in downtown Dallas, Texas bring it a couple of miles short. Before the decommissioning of US 75 south of...
and FM 855
Farm to Market Road 855
Farm to Market Road 855, or FM 855, runs about from just east of Cuney, Texas north and east, to Mount Selman.-Route description:FM 855 has no local street names. Rural for the most part, the landscape along the road includes rolling hills of alternating open pastures and trees...
in northwestern Cherokee County, approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) northwest of Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Texas
Jacksonville is located in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,868 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Cherokee County and part of the larger Tyler-Jacksonville Combined Statistical...
and 22 miles (35.4 km) northwest of Rusk
Rusk, Texas
Rusk is a city in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,085 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cherokee County.-Geography:Rusk is located at ....
.
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 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
History
The site was first settled by freed slaves just after the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The settlement was initially known as Andy, after Andrew "Andy" Bragg, one of the area's first black homeowners. He arrived in 1870. A community didn't develop until 1902, when the site became a flag stop on the Texas and New Orleans Railroad
Texas and New Orleans Railroad
The Texas and New Orleans Railroad is a former railroad in Texas and Louisiana. At one point the company was the largest railroad in Texas, with of trackage in 1934, but by 1961 there were only remaining when it was merged with parent company Southern Pacific....
. Around 1914, Palestine
Palestine, Texas
Palestine is a city in Anderson County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 17,598, and 18,458 in the 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Anderson County and is situated in East Texas...
cashier H.L. Price and several local investors formed a company and platted a town site. They named the town Cuney, after Price's son, Cuney Price – who in turn had been named for Norris Wright Cuney
Norris Wright Cuney
Norris Wright Cuney, or simply Wright Cuney, was an American politician, union leader, and African American activist in Texas in the United States. He became active in Galveston politics serving as an alderman and a national Republican delegate...
, a prominent black politician and head of the state's Republican Party
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...
. A post office was established in 1917 and a number of businesses were operating in the community by the early 1920s. With the paving of U.S. Highway 175 in 1929, most of the businesses moved a mile north of the railroad to take advantage of the increased traffic. The population was estimated at 100 in 1929, but declined to only 25 by the mid-1930s. A number of businesses closed after 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...
as agricultural prices decreased and residents moved to other cities with greater employment opportunities. Cuney had a population of 75 in the early 1950s. From that period, the community steadily grew, and Cuney was incorporated in November 1983. In the 1990 census, the town had 170 residents. That number had fallen to 145 by 2000.
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 145 people, 59 households, and 36 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 88.6 people per square mile (34.1/km²). There were 78 housing units at an average density of 47.7 per square mile (18.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 11.03% White, 83.45% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.69% 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 3.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 59 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.8% 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, 23.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 32.4% under the age of 18, 2.1% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $18,333, and the median income for a family was $17,500. Males had a median income of $18,438 versus $22,083 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 $7,612. There were 35.0% of families and 37.1% of the population living below the poverty line, including 43.4% of under eighteens and 44.8% of those over 64.