Hermleigh, Texas
Encyclopedia
Hermleigh is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Scurry County, Texas
, United States
. It lies on U.S. Route 84
, ninety-six miles southeast of Lubbock
. The population was 393 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 9.1 square miles (23.5 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 393 people, 151 households, and 104 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 43.4 people per square mile (16.7/km²). There were 183 housing units at an average density of 20.2/sq mi (7.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.08% White, 2.29% African American, 0.25% Asian, 5.34% from other races
, and 2.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.66% of the population.
There were 151 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.5% 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 2.60 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $26,111, and the median income for a family was $30,417. Males had a median income of $27,222 versus $21,000 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $11,843. About 13.1% of families and 23.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.7% of those under age 18 and 25.3% of those age 65 or over.
, potentially causing confusion between the two communities. The compromise of "Hermleigh" was settled upon, and the post office opened shortly thereafter. The Roscoe, Snyder and Pacific Railway built through the new community, and residents of Wheat began to relocate to Hermleigh.
In 1911 the Santa Fe Railroad reached the community, and Hermleigh developed into a shipping point and trading center for local ranchers and cotton farmers. A school opened to serve area students in 1913, and by the late 1910s the community had its own newspaper (the Hermleigh Herald). Hermleigh briefly changed its name in the late 1910s to Foch to honor the French field marshal and World War I
hero Ferdinand Foch
, but reverted back to the original name shortly thereafter and continued to flourish until the early 1930s, when the effects of the Great Depression
brought an end to Hermleigh's growth.
Though adversely effected by the Depression, Hermleigh remained stable throughout most of the twentieth century and by 1980 was home to over 700 residents. By 1990, however, the population had fallen dramatically to approximately 200 and some of the remaining businesses closed down. The community inexplicably rebounded during the 1990s, with the population reaching 393 by the 2000 Census.
Hermleigh is the hometown of former head coach of the Baylor Bears football
program, Grant Teaff
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Scurry County, 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...
. It lies on U.S. Route 84
U.S. Route 84
U.S. Route 84 is an east–west United States highway. It started as a short Georgia-Alabama route in the original 1926 scheme, but now extends all the way to Colorado. The highway's eastern terminus is a short distance east of Midway, Georgia, at an intersection with I-95. The road continues...
, ninety-six miles southeast 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...
. The population was 393 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Hermleigh is located at 32°38′5"N 100°45′34"W (32.634619, -100.759336).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 CDP has a total area of 9.1 square miles (23.5 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 393 people, 151 households, and 104 families residing in the CDP. 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 43.4 people per square mile (16.7/km²). There were 183 housing units at an average density of 20.2/sq mi (7.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.08% White, 2.29% African American, 0.25% Asian, 5.34% 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 2.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.66% of the population.
There were 151 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% 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, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.5% 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 2.60 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $26,111, and the median income for a family was $30,417. Males had a median income of $27,222 versus $21,000 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 CDP was $11,843. About 13.1% of families and 23.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.7% of those under age 18 and 25.3% of those age 65 or over.
History
Hermleigh's history begins in 1907 when a townsite was surveyed on land donated by two men named R. C. Herm and Harry W. Harlin near the small community of Wheat. Citizens chose to name their new community "Hermlin" (an amalgam of the surnames of the two landowners) but this name was rejected by postal officials as being too close to the nearby town of HamlinHamlin, Texas
Hamlin is a city in Fisher and Jones Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 2,248 at the 2000 census.The Jones County portion of Hamlin is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, potentially causing confusion between the two communities. The compromise of "Hermleigh" was settled upon, and the post office opened shortly thereafter. The Roscoe, Snyder and Pacific Railway built through the new community, and residents of Wheat began to relocate to Hermleigh.
In 1911 the Santa Fe Railroad reached the community, and Hermleigh developed into a shipping point and trading center for local ranchers and cotton farmers. A school opened to serve area students in 1913, and by the late 1910s the community had its own newspaper (the Hermleigh Herald). Hermleigh briefly changed its name in the late 1910s to Foch to honor the French field marshal and World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
hero Ferdinand Foch
Ferdinand Foch
Ferdinand Foch , GCB, OM, DSO was a French soldier, war hero, military theorist, and writer credited with possessing "the most original and subtle mind in the French army" in the early 20th century. He served as general in the French army during World War I and was made Marshal of France in its...
, but reverted back to the original name shortly thereafter and continued to flourish until the early 1930s, when the effects of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
brought an end to Hermleigh's growth.
Though adversely effected by the Depression, Hermleigh remained stable throughout most of the twentieth century and by 1980 was home to over 700 residents. By 1990, however, the population had fallen dramatically to approximately 200 and some of the remaining businesses closed down. The community inexplicably rebounded during the 1990s, with the population reaching 393 by the 2000 Census.
Hermleigh is the hometown of former head coach of the Baylor Bears football
Baylor Bears football
The Baylor Bears football team represents Baylor University in Division I FBS college football. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference. The team plays its home games at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas.-History:...
program, Grant Teaff
Grant Teaff
Grant Garland Teaff is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at McMurry University , Angelo State University , and Baylor University , compiling a career college football record of 170–151–8...
.