Elkhart, Texas
Encyclopedia
Elkhart is a town in Anderson County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 1,215 at the 2000 census. Elkhart is named for a friendly Native American
who assisted the early settlers of the town.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
, during which Cynthia Ann Parker
was abducted by the Comanche
Indians.
of 2000, there were 1,215 people, 473 households, and 321 families residing in the town. The population density
was 783.0 people per square mile (302.7/km²). There were 532 housing units at an average density of 342.8 per square mile (132.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.05% White, 8.15% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.82% from other races
, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.05% of the population.
There were 473 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% 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 2.97.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 77.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,927, and the median income for a family was $33,977. Males had a median income of $27,841 versus $21,705 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,809. About 12.9% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 32.5% of those age 65 or over.
Anderson County, Texas
Anderson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 55,109. Its county seat is Palestine. Anderson county was organized in 1846, and is named in honor of Kenneth L. Anderson who had been Vice President of the Republic of Texas.-Geography:According to the...
, 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 1,215 at the 2000 census. Elkhart is named for a friendly Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
who assisted the early settlers of the town.
Geography
Elkhart is located at 31°37′42"N 95°34′43"W (31.628429, -95.578588).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 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
History
The history of Elkhart is closely tied to nearby Fort Parker, the site of the famous Fort Parker massacreFort Parker massacre
The Fort Parker massacre was an event in May 1836 in which members of the pioneer Parker family were killed in a raid by Native Americans. In this raid, a 9-year old girl, Cynthia Ann Parker, was captured and spent most of the rest of her life with the Comanche, marrying a Chief, Peta Nocona, and...
, during which Cynthia Ann Parker
Cynthia Ann Parker
Cynthia Ann Parker, or Naduah , was an American woman of old colonial stock of Scots-Irish descent who was captured and kidnapped at the age of nine by a American Indian band which massacred her family and...
was abducted by the Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
Indians.
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 1,215 people, 473 households, and 321 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 783.0 people per square mile (302.7/km²). There were 532 housing units at an average density of 342.8 per square mile (132.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.05% White, 8.15% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.82% 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 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.05% of the population.
There were 473 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% 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, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% 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 2.97.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 77.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,927, and the median income for a family was $33,977. Males had a median income of $27,841 versus $21,705 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 $13,809. About 12.9% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 32.5% of those age 65 or over.