Gatesville, Texas
Encyclopedia
Gatesville is a city in and the county seat
of Coryell County
in Central Texas
, United States of America. The population was 15,591 at the 2000 census. The city has five of the eight prisons and state jails for women operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
, and one of the facilities, the Mountain View Unit
, has the state's death row
for women.
Gatesville is home to the Mitchell Collection that is said to be the largest spur
collection in the world and earned Gatesville the title "Spur Capital of Texas", as well as one of the last fully operational, full-time drive-in theater
s in Texas.
In 2000, The Gatesville Hornets won the Texas State 3A High School Football Championship.
Former President George W. Bush's Prairie Chapel Ranch
is less than 25 miles northeast of Gatesville in nearby McLennan County.
The Leon River runs past Gatesville and crosses under Main Street (U.S. 84) on the west end of town.
) manufactures trailers for commercial and military use, and Laerdal
manufactures plastic medical teaching supplies.
Gatesville is the home of several prisons operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
, including the Mountain View Unit
which houses the women's death row
. Gatesville is located on the northern edge of Fort Hood, and as such is also dependent on the military for a part of its economy (besides Fort Hood, a large military vehicle repair facility is located on the east side of town).
–Temple
–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
Gatesville is located at 31°26′12"N 97°44′7"W (31.436755, -97.735257).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8.7 square miles (22.5 km²), of which, 8.7 square miles (22.5 km²) of it is land and 0.11% is water.
of 2000, there were 15,591 people, 2,640 households, and 1,752 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,794.2 people per square mile (692.7/km²). There were 2,963 housing units at an average density of 341.0 per square mile (131.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 63.20% White, 27.00% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 8.49% from other races
, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.73% of the population.
There were 2,640 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% 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 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 11.7% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 53.9% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 63.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 59.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,534, and the median income for a family was $36,543. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $17,073 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,152. About 12.4% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.
Due to the establishment of Texas Department of Criminal Justice
, from 1980 to 2010 the population doubled. As of 2000 about 9,000 of the 15,591 residents were state prisoners.
general correctional facilities for women, which include five prisons and three state jails, Five of the units, including four prisons and one state jail, are in the City of Gatesville.
The Christina Crain Unit
prison (formerly Gatesville Unit),
the Hilltop Unit
prison,
the Dr. Lane Murray Unit
prison,
and the Linda Woodman Unit state jail are co-located amongst one another. In addition the Mountain View Unit
, a prison with the State of Texas female death row, is in Gatesville. One male prison, the Alfred D. Hughes Unit
, is in Gatesville.
Mountain View Unit opened in July 1975, Crain opened in August 1980, Hilltop opened in November 1981, and Hughes opened in January 1990. The Murray unit opened in November 1995, and the Woodman unit opened in June 1997.
Gatesville previously hosted the Gatesville State School
and the Mountain View State School
, juvenile correctional centers of the Texas Youth Council (TYC). The Mountain View State School closed in 1975, and the Gatesville State School closed in 1979. The buildings were transferred to the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC) and were used as prisons for adults.
operates the Gatesville Post Office.
operates public schools.
The Gatesville Public Library serves Gatesville.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Coryell County
Coryell County, Texas
Coryell County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 74,978. The county seat is Gatesville. Coryell County forms part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in Central Texas
Central Texas
Central Texas , is a region in the U.S. state of Texas. It is roughly bordered by San Marcos to Fredericksburg to Waco, and to Brenham, and includes the Austin–Round Rock, Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, Bryan-College Station, and Waco metropolitan areas...
, United States of America. The population was 15,591 at the 2000 census. The city has five of the eight prisons and state jails for women operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain...
, and one of the facilities, the Mountain View Unit
Mountain View Unit
Mountain View Unit is a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison housing female offenders in Gatesville, Texas. The unit, with about of land, is located north of central Gatesville on Farm to Market Road 215. The prison is located in a 45 minute driving distance from Waco...
, has the state's death row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
for women.
Gatesville is home to the Mitchell Collection that is said to be the largest spur
Spur
A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids and to back up the natural aids . The spur is used in every equestrian discipline...
collection in the world and earned Gatesville the title "Spur Capital of Texas", as well as one of the last fully operational, full-time drive-in theater
Drive-in theater
A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars.The screen can be as simple as a...
s in Texas.
In 2000, The Gatesville Hornets won the Texas State 3A High School Football Championship.
Former President George W. Bush's Prairie Chapel Ranch
Prairie Chapel Ranch
Prairie Chapel Ranch is a 1,583 acre ranch in unincorporated McLennan County, Texas, located seven miles northwest of Crawford. The property was acquired by President George W...
is less than 25 miles northeast of Gatesville in nearby McLennan County.
The Leon River runs past Gatesville and crosses under Main Street (U.S. 84) on the west end of town.
Economy
Two manufacturing companies are located in Gatesville: Kalyn Siebert (a division of Heil Trailer, which is owned by Dover CorporationDover Corporation
Dover Corporation is a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 manufacturer of specialized industrial products and equipment within six segments. Dover Corporation is based in Downers Grove, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. The company relocated its headquarters from New York in mid-2010.-History: can trace...
) manufactures trailers for commercial and military use, and Laerdal
Laerdal
Laerdal is a major manufacturer of medical equipment and medical training products based in Stavanger, Norway. Established in 1940 as a print shop, it soon began manufacturing popular rubber toys under the name Tomte Laerdal. Parallel to this was the manufacture of medical training models and...
manufactures plastic medical teaching supplies.
Gatesville is the home of several prisons operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain...
, including the Mountain View Unit
Mountain View Unit
Mountain View Unit is a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison housing female offenders in Gatesville, Texas. The unit, with about of land, is located north of central Gatesville on Farm to Market Road 215. The prison is located in a 45 minute driving distance from Waco...
which houses the women's death row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
. Gatesville is located on the northern edge of Fort Hood, and as such is also dependent on the military for a part of its economy (besides Fort Hood, a large military vehicle repair facility is located on the east side of town).
Geography
Gatesville is part of the KilleenKilleen, Texas
Killeen is a city in Bell County, Texas, The United States. The population was 86,911 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, Killeen had 119,510 people. In 2010 Killeen's population shot to 127,921...
–Temple
Temple, Texas
Temple is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. Located near the county seat of Belton, Temple lies in the region referred to as Central Texas. Located off Interstate 35, Temple is 65 miles north of Austin and 34 miles south of Waco. In the 2010 Census, Temple's population was 66,102, an...
–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area
Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood metropolitan area
The Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in Central Texas that covers three counties - Bell, Coryell, and Lampasas...
.
Gatesville is located at 31°26′12"N 97°44′7"W (31.436755, -97.735257).
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 8.7 square miles (22.5 km²), of which, 8.7 square miles (22.5 km²) of it is land and 0.11% is water.
History
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 15,591 people, 2,640 households, and 1,752 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 1,794.2 people per square mile (692.7/km²). There were 2,963 housing units at an average density of 341.0 per square mile (131.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 63.20% White, 27.00% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 8.49% 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 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.73% of the population.
There were 2,640 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% 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 33.6% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% 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 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 11.7% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 53.9% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 63.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 59.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,534, and the median income for a family was $36,543. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $17,073 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 $11,152. About 12.4% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.
Due to the establishment of Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain...
, from 1980 to 2010 the population doubled. As of 2000 about 9,000 of the 15,591 residents were state prisoners.
State representation
Of the eight Texas Department of Criminal JusticeTexas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain...
general correctional facilities for women, which include five prisons and three state jails, Five of the units, including four prisons and one state jail, are in the City of Gatesville.
The Christina Crain Unit
Christina Crain Unit
The Christina Melton Crain Unit is a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison for females in Gatesville, Texas. The prison is along Texas State Highway 36, north of central Gatesville. The unit, with about of space, is co-located with the Hilltop Unit, the Dr. Lane Murray Unit, and the Linda...
prison (formerly Gatesville Unit),
the Hilltop Unit
Hilltop Unit
The Hilltop Unit is a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison for women located in Gatesville, Texas. It is located on Business Texas State Highway 36, north of Downtown Gatesville. Hilltop sites on an approximately plot of land and is co-located with the Crain, Murray, and Woodman units...
prison,
the Dr. Lane Murray Unit
Dr. Lane Murray Unit
Dr. Lane Murray Unit is a women's prison of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice located in Gatesville, Texas. The prison is located on Texas State Highway 36, between Farm to Market Road 215 and Farm to Market Road 929...
prison,
and the Linda Woodman Unit state jail are co-located amongst one another. In addition the Mountain View Unit
Mountain View Unit
Mountain View Unit is a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison housing female offenders in Gatesville, Texas. The unit, with about of land, is located north of central Gatesville on Farm to Market Road 215. The prison is located in a 45 minute driving distance from Waco...
, a prison with the State of Texas female death row, is in Gatesville. One male prison, the Alfred D. Hughes Unit
Alfred D. Hughes Unit
Alfred D. Hughes Unit is a prison for men of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice located in Gatesville, Texas.The facility is located along Farm to Market Road 929, north of Texas Loop 36.-History:...
, is in Gatesville.
Mountain View Unit opened in July 1975, Crain opened in August 1980, Hilltop opened in November 1981, and Hughes opened in January 1990. The Murray unit opened in November 1995, and the Woodman unit opened in June 1997.
Gatesville previously hosted the Gatesville State School
Gatesville State School
The Gatesville State School for Boys was a juvenile corrections facility in Gatesville, Texas. The facility was converted into two prisons for adults, the Christina Crain Unit , and the Hilltop Unit.-History:...
and the Mountain View State School
Mountain View State School
The Mountain View State School was a juvenile rehabilitation facility operated by the Texas Youth Council in Gatesville, Texas. The building and land that once housed the school now house the Mountain View Unit, a Texas Department of Criminal Justice women's prison.-History:The Mountain View School...
, juvenile correctional centers of the Texas Youth Council (TYC). The Mountain View State School closed in 1975, and the Gatesville State School closed in 1979. The buildings were transferred to the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC) and were used as prisons for adults.
Federal representation
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Gatesville Post Office.
Education
The Gatesville Independent School DistrictGatesville Independent School District
Gatesville Independent School District is a public school district based in Gatesville, Texas .In addition to Gatesville, the district serves the town of South Mountain as well as rural areas in central Coryell County...
operates public schools.
The Gatesville Public Library serves Gatesville.
External links
- City of Gatesville - Official site.
- Gatesville Chamber of Commerce