Hallettsville, Texas
Encyclopedia
Hallettsville is a city in Lavaca County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 2,345 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Lavaca County. The town is home to the Texas Championship Domino Hall of Fame and also hosts a dominoes
tournament every year in January. It also hosts its annual Kolache Fest and Fiddler's Frolic events every September and April.
Hallettsville is the birthplace of the late philanthropist
and businessman Adolph R. Hanslik
of Lubbock
, a Czech-American sometimes called the dean of Texas cotton
export
ers.
It is also the only place called Hallettsville in the world. Ripley's Believe It or Not once called it the city of thirteen.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,345 people, 1,019 households, and 627 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,051.0 people per square mile (406.0/km²). There were 1,223 housing units at an average density of 548.1 per square mile (211.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.10% White, 16.46% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 4.48% from other races
, and 1.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.17% of the population.
There were 1,019 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples
living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,089, and the median income for a family was $38,080. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $20,365 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,811. About 16.4% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.
. Sacred Heart Catholic School, a private Pre-K–12 campus, is also located in the city.
," the 1982 musical starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton.
Hallettsville is also the featured location in the 2009 horror film titled "Hallettsville", which stars Gary Busey
and Derek Lee Nixon
.
The town is mentioned in the Robert Earl Keen
song "Armadillo Jackel" as the place where they pay $2.50 for dead armadillos.
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 2,345 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
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 Lavaca County. The town is home to the Texas Championship Domino Hall of Fame and also hosts a dominoes
Dominoes
Dominoes generally refers to the collective gaming pieces making up a domino set or to the subcategory of tile games played with domino pieces. In the area of mathematical tilings and polyominoes, the word domino often refers to any rectangle formed from joining two congruent squares edge to edge...
tournament every year in January. It also hosts its annual Kolache Fest and Fiddler's Frolic events every September and April.
Hallettsville is the birthplace of the late philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and businessman Adolph R. Hanslik
Adolph R. Hanslik
Adolph Rudolph Hanslik was a Lubbock businessman and philanthropist known as the "dean of the West Texas cotton producers." Hanslik was among the first in the United States to export cotton to Bangladesh in Asia. "He knew the cotton industry better than anyone I've ever known. . ....
of Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
, a Czech-American sometimes called the dean of Texas cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
export
Export
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
ers.
It is also the only place called Hallettsville in the world. Ripley's Believe It or Not once called it the city of thirteen.
Geography
Hallettsville is located at 29°26′43"N 96°56′27"W (29.445398, -96.940734).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 2.2 square miles (5.7 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 2,345 people, 1,019 households, and 627 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 1,051.0 people per square mile (406.0/km²). There were 1,223 housing units at an average density of 548.1 per square mile (211.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.10% White, 16.46% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 4.48% 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 1.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.17% of the population.
There were 1,019 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% 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, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,089, and the median income for a family was $38,080. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $20,365 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 $14,811. About 16.4% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.
Public Library
The Friench Simpson Memorial Library has served the residents of Hallettsville as well as Lavaca County for over 70 years. The modern library houses over 20,000 volumes and is a major source of Local History and Genealogy research for the area. Public access computers with Internet connections are available for use at the library. For more information on the library visit the website at www.hallettsvillelibrary.org. http://hallettsvillelibrary.orgEducation
Public education in the city of Hallettsville is provided by the Hallettsville Independent School DistrictHallettsville Independent School District
Hallettsville Independent School District is a public school district based in Hallettsville, Texas .Located in Lavaca County, very small portions of the district extend into Colorado, Jackson, and Washington counties....
. Sacred Heart Catholic School, a private Pre-K–12 campus, is also located in the city.
Film References
Although the actual town involved in the real story of the "Chicken Ranch" is located a few miles north of Hallettsville on Highway 77, film makers chose the town's historic Lavaca County Courthouse square to serve as backdrop for the city scenes in "The Best Little Whorehouse in TexasThe Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (film)
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is a 1982 film adaptation of the musical of the same name released by Universal Pictures, which was co-written and directed by Colin Higgins...
," the 1982 musical starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton.
Hallettsville is also the featured location in the 2009 horror film titled "Hallettsville", which stars Gary Busey
Gary Busey
William Gary Busey , best known as Gary Busey, is an American film and stage actor and artist. He has appeared in a large variety of films, as well as making regular appearances on Gunsmoke, Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order, and Entourage...
and Derek Lee Nixon
Derek Lee Nixon
Derek Lee Nixon is an American actor. He grew up in Texas and gained much notoriety in 2002 starring in Mary-Kate and Ashley's, When in Rome as well as in several Hollywood films, including Hallettsville , The Lights , Outrage and The Jerk Theory Derek Lee Nixon (born April 13, 1983) is an...
.
The town is mentioned in the Robert Earl Keen
Robert Earl Keen
Robert Earl Keen, Junior is an American Texas Country singer-songwriter. He is popular with fans of traditional country music, folk music, college radio, and alt-country. Keen currently resides in Kerrville, Texas and maintains a ranch in Medina, Texas.-Early life:Growing up in Houston, Texas,...
song "Armadillo Jackel" as the place where they pay $2.50 for dead armadillos.