Hempstead, Texas
Encyclopedia
Hempstead is a city in Waller County, Texas
, United States
. The community, located at the junctions of U.S. Highway 290, Texas State Highway 6, and Texas State Highway 159
, is around fifty miles northwest of Downtown Houston
. The population was 4,691 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Waller County.
, which ran from Hempstead to Brenham
, enhanced the city upon its completion.
Hempstead is famous for its watermelon
crop, and until the 1940s the town was the top shipper of watermelons in the United States. Billy DiIorio was known as the Watermelon King and Angelina DiIorio was known as the Watermelon Queen. Both resided in Hempstead, Texas. The town holds an annual Watermelon Festival in July.
The town has grown in recent years because of its relative closeness to Houston
along U.S. Highway 290. The current economy is based on county government, shipping, and a large auto dealership which closed its doors in 2009.
One of the town's residents was Lillie E. Drennan, who in 1929 became the first woman to hold a commercial driver's license in Texas. She ran a regional hauling company called the Drennan Truck Line while maintaining an excellent driving record. Drennan received periodical attention in national newspapers and radio broadcasts. She later ran a liquor store and died penniless.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²), of which, 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.40%) is water.
of 2000, there were 4,691 people, 1,663 households, and 1,124 families residing in the city. The population density
was 943.8 people per square mile (364.4/km²). There were 1,848 housing units at an average density of 371.8 per square mile (143.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 39.86% White, 43.44% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 14.65% from other races
, and 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.77% of the population.
There were 1,663 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples
living together, 20.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,095, and the median income for a family was $29,744. Males had a median income of $26,673 versus $20,938 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,560. About 22.9% of families and 29.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.5% of those under age 18 and 25.5% of those age 65 or over.
The United States Postal Service
Hempstead Post Office is located at 901 12th Street.
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 community, located at the junctions of U.S. Highway 290, Texas State Highway 6, and Texas State Highway 159
Texas State Highway 159
State Highway 159 or SH 159 is a Texas state highway that runs from La Grange to Hempstead. The route was designated by 1933 along its current route.-Counties and junctions:...
, is around fifty miles northwest of Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
. The population was 4,691 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 Waller County.
History
On December 29, 1856 Dr. Richard Rodgers Peebles and James W. McDade organized the Hempstead Town Company to sell lots in the newly-established community of Hempstead, which was located at the projected terminus of Houston and Texas Central Railway. Peebles named Hempstead after Dr. G. S. B. Hempstead, Peebles's brother in law. Peebles and Mary Ann Groce Peebles, his wife, contributed 2000 acres (8.1 km²) of the estate of Jared E. Groce, Jr. for the community. On June 29, 1858 the Houston and Texas Central Railway was extended to Hempstead, causing the community to become a distribution center between the Gulf Coast and the interior of Texas. On November 10 of that year Hempstead incorporated. The Washington County RailroadWashington County Railroad
The Washington County Railroad is a shortline railroad operating in Vermont, forming part of the Vermont Rail System. The WACR began operating in 1980 over the old Montpelier and Barre Railroad in Washington County, which the state acquired to ensure the continuance of rail service, and ceased...
, which ran from Hempstead to Brenham
Brenham, Texas
Brenham is a city in east-central Texas in Washington County, Texas, United States, with a population of 16,147 according to the 2009 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
, enhanced the city upon its completion.
Hempstead is famous for its watermelon
Watermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
crop, and until the 1940s the town was the top shipper of watermelons in the United States. Billy DiIorio was known as the Watermelon King and Angelina DiIorio was known as the Watermelon Queen. Both resided in Hempstead, Texas. The town holds an annual Watermelon Festival in July.
The town has grown in recent years because of its relative closeness to Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
along U.S. Highway 290. The current economy is based on county government, shipping, and a large auto dealership which closed its doors in 2009.
One of the town's residents was Lillie E. Drennan, who in 1929 became the first woman to hold a commercial driver's license in Texas. She ran a regional hauling company called the Drennan Truck Line while maintaining an excellent driving record. Drennan received periodical attention in national newspapers and radio broadcasts. She later ran a liquor store and died penniless.
Geography
Hempstead is located at 30°5′29"N 96°4′53"W (30.091427, -96.081252).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 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²), of which, 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.40%) is water.
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 4,691 people, 1,663 households, and 1,124 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 943.8 people per square mile (364.4/km²). There were 1,848 housing units at an average density of 371.8 per square mile (143.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 39.86% White, 43.44% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 14.65% 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 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.77% of the population.
There were 1,663 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% 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, 20.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,095, and the median income for a family was $29,744. Males had a median income of $26,673 versus $20,938 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 $11,560. About 22.9% of families and 29.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.5% of those under age 18 and 25.5% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Until February 2009 the Lawrence Marshall car dealership was Hempstead's largest employer. The sudden closure of the dealership lead the city to reconsider capital projects such as sewer upgrades and park beautification.Government and infrastructure
Hempstead is the county seat of Waller County.The United States Postal Service
United 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...
Hempstead Post Office is located at 901 12th Street.