Harker Heights, Texas
Encyclopedia
Harker Heights is a city in Bell County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 17,308 at the 2000 census
. This makes Harker Heights the 3rd largest city in Bell County, after Killeen and Temple. Incorporated in 1960, the city name is derived from the name of one of the two original landowners and founder, Harley Kern.
Harker Heights is part of the Killeen
–Temple
–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
base that was designated a permanent military facility in 1950. As the base grew, the nearby town of Killeen
also grew. Water Control and Improvement District No. 4 was established on land near the Killeen city limits and the military base in 1955, and included the land owned by Pinckney R. Cox and Harley Kern. These two men subdivided their land in 1957 and began selling lots. By 1960, between 600 and 700 of the lots had been developed and new residents supplied with water and other utility services. Following a petition for an incorporation election, the city was established on September 24, 1960 and Cox was elected mayor. Kern had died before the incorporation, and the Harker in Harker Heights was a concatenation of Harley Kern's name as a tribute to one of the original landowners.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 12.8 square miles (33.2 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 17,308 people, 6,200 households, and 4,712 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,356.4 people per square mile (523.7/km²). There were 6,823 housing units at an average density of 534.7 per square mile (206.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.89% White, 14.94% African American, 0.78% Native American, 3.58% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, 5.79% from other races
, and 3.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.44% of the population.
There were 6,200 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,947, and the median income for a family was $49,607. Males had a median income of $31,728 versus $26,404 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,061. About 7.4% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.
Bell County, Texas
Bell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. Bell County was founded in 1850. It is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2000, the county's population was 237,974; in 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau reported that its population had reached...
, 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 17,308 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...
. This makes Harker Heights the 3rd largest city in Bell County, after Killeen and Temple. Incorporated in 1960, the city name is derived from the name of one of the two original landowners and founder, Harley Kern.
Harker Heights is part of the Killeen
Killeen, 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...
.
History
Harker Heights is located near Fort Hood, a United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
base that was designated a permanent military facility in 1950. As the base grew, the nearby town of Killeen
Killeen, 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...
also grew. Water Control and Improvement District No. 4 was established on land near the Killeen city limits and the military base in 1955, and included the land owned by Pinckney R. Cox and Harley Kern. These two men subdivided their land in 1957 and began selling lots. By 1960, between 600 and 700 of the lots had been developed and new residents supplied with water and other utility services. Following a petition for an incorporation election, the city was established on September 24, 1960 and Cox was elected mayor. Kern had died before the incorporation, and the Harker in Harker Heights was a concatenation of Harley Kern's name as a tribute to one of the original landowners.
Geography
Harker Heights is located at 31°4′6"N 97°39′20"W (31.068459, -97.655524).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 12.8 square miles (33.2 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 17,308 people, 6,200 households, and 4,712 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 1,356.4 people per square mile (523.7/km²). There were 6,823 housing units at an average density of 534.7 per square mile (206.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.89% White, 14.94% African American, 0.78% Native American, 3.58% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, 5.79% 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 3.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.44% of the population.
There were 6,200 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% 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, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,947, and the median income for a family was $49,607. Males had a median income of $31,728 versus $26,404 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 $20,061. About 7.4% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable Residents
- Dominique ZeiglerDominique ZeiglerDominique Zeigler is an American football wide receiver he is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was initially signed by the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Baylor...
- Former San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
Wide Receiver, former star at Harker Heights High School in Harker Heights - DeJuan Fulghum - Currently signed as an undrafted free agent linebacker for the Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, former star at Harker Heights High School - Jennifer Love HewittJennifer Love HewittJennifer Love Hewitt is an American actress, producer, television director and former singer-songwriter. Hewitt began her acting career as a child by appearing in television commercials and the Disney Channel series Kids Incorporated...
- raised in Harker Heights