Kermit, Texas
Encyclopedia
Kermit is a city in and the county seat
of Winkler County
, Texas, United States. The population was 5,708 at the 2010 census. The city was named for Kermit Roosevelt
after a visit by his father Theodore Roosevelt
to the county.
from Loving County to Pioneer Park in Kermit in 1966 as a symbol of the importance of the oil industry to the economy of Kermit and Winkler County. In the 1970s and 1980s the population of Kermit bounced between 8,500 and 6,912, and the number of businesses moved between 200 and 116. Improvements were made in city services, and more housing additions were built. The 1990 United States census set the population of Kermit at 6,875.
. The county attorney sought to prosecute the two nurses for misuse of official information, a felony that carries a possible $10,000 fine and a 10-year jail sentence. A grand jury indicted the two nurses.
The charges against one of the nurses were ultimately dismissed. The other nurse was acquitted at trial. Due to some of the circumstances of the prosecution and the underlying situation at the hospital, a special prosecutor with the Texas Attorney General
's office became involved after the criminal prosecution against the two nurses ended. Ultimately, indictments against four of the people involved in the retaliation against the nurses were issued. The physician who the nurses originally filed a formal complaint against was indicted on felony retaliation and misuse of official information charges. The sheriff and county attorney involved in the criminal investigation against the nurses were indicted on misuse of official information and official oppression charges. The hospital administrator was indicted on felony retaliation charges.
The sheriff was convicted at trial and was sentenced to 100 days in jail on each of four felony counts, fined $6,000 on four felony and two misdemeanor counts, and was sentenced to four years felony probation on two counts each of misuse of official information and retaliation. The rest of the men await trial later in 2011.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), all land.
was 2,288.3 per square mile (882.5/km²). There were 2,592 housing units at an average density of 1,038.0 per square mile (400.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.65% White, 2.05% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 22.52% from other races
, and 2.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 47.83% of the population.
There were 2,097 households of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.18.
Age distribution was 29.9% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The median household income
was $29,143, and the median family income was $31,690. Males had a median income of $29,596 versus $18,380 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,949. About 15.7% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.8% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
. Kermit Independent School District was established in 1928, in a consolidation of two area school districts. The district now contains three campuses: Kermit Elementary (grades K-5), Kermit Junior High
(grades 6-8), and Kermit High School
(grades 9-12).
Kermit is the home town of NBC
drama Heroes
character Meredith Gordon as seen in the season one episode "The Fix
".
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 Winkler County
Winkler County, Texas
Winkler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 7,173. Its county seat is Kermit. The county is named for Clinton M. Winkler, a Colonel in the Confederate Army....
, Texas, United States. The population was 5,708 at the 2010 census. The city was named for Kermit Roosevelt
Kermit Roosevelt
Kermit Roosevelt I MC was a son of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. He was an explorer on two continents with his father, a graduate of Harvard University, a soldier serving in two world wars, with both the British and U.S. Armies, a businessman, and a writer...
after a visit by his father Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
to the county.
History
Establishment
Kermit began as a supply center for the scattered ranches of the area. Kermit became the seat of Winkler County when the county was organized in 1910. The first public school and the post office opened the same year. The town's namesake, Kermit Roosevelt, once visited the T Bar Ranch in northern Winkler County to hunt antelope a few months before the town was named. In 1916 the county suffered a drought. Many homesteaders and ranchers were forced to leave. In 1924 only Ern Baird's family remained in the town. Only one student attended school in the county for five months of 1924. Only three houses and the courthouse were in use by 1926.Discovery of Oil
On July 16, 1926, however, oil was discovered in Hendrick oilfield, near Kermit, and the town experienced a boom. In 1927 a population of 1,000 was reported; by 1929 that number increased to 1,500. On March 4, 1929, the Texas-New Mexico Railway reached the town.The Great Depression and Incorporation
The Great Depression had little effect on the city throughout much of the 1930's, however, the population declined drastically in the early 1930s, but both population and business figures rose at the end of the 1930s, when 2,700 residents and 180 businesses were listed. On February 15, 1938, residents voted to incorporate. During the 1940s the oil boom caused real estate prices to double. Housing was scarce, and some people lived in tents. A bank was opened by 1945. The grade school had to be enlarged, and a hospital was built.The Oil Boom Days
In the 1950s the town continued to grow; housing additions were built. By 1960, the city had a population of 10,465 and 260 businesses, and additional growth estimated to be over 12,000 during the decade. Flooding became a problem because of the flat terrain, therefore new crown streets were constructed to solve the flooding problem, and more housing additions were built. The town moved the last working wooden derrick in the Permian BasinPermian Basin
The Permian Basin is a sedimentary basin largely contained in the western part of the U.S. state of Texas and the southeastern part of the state of New Mexico. It reaches from just south of Lubbock, Texas, to just south of Midland and Odessa, extending westward into the southeastern part of the...
from Loving County to Pioneer Park in Kermit in 1966 as a symbol of the importance of the oil industry to the economy of Kermit and Winkler County. In the 1970s and 1980s the population of Kermit bounced between 8,500 and 6,912, and the number of businesses moved between 200 and 116. Improvements were made in city services, and more housing additions were built. The 1990 United States census set the population of Kermit at 6,875.
Nursing controversy
In 2009, at Winkler County Memorial Hospital, two nurses were retaliated against for reporting a physican's inappropriate treatments. The story received national attention. The retaliation against the two nurses involved an investigation by the county sheriff into the nurses allegedly harassing the physician by filing complaints against him with the Texas Medical BoardTexas Medical Board
The Texas Medical Board is the state agency mandated to regulate the practice of medicine by M.D.'s and D.O.'s in Texas. It is located in Austin, Texas, and consists of 12 physician members and seven public members appointed for a six-year term by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate...
. The county attorney sought to prosecute the two nurses for misuse of official information, a felony that carries a possible $10,000 fine and a 10-year jail sentence. A grand jury indicted the two nurses.
The charges against one of the nurses were ultimately dismissed. The other nurse was acquitted at trial. Due to some of the circumstances of the prosecution and the underlying situation at the hospital, a special prosecutor with the Texas Attorney General
Texas Attorney General
The Texas Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Texas.The department has offices at the William P. Clements State Office Building at 300 West 15th Street in Austin.-History:...
's office became involved after the criminal prosecution against the two nurses ended. Ultimately, indictments against four of the people involved in the retaliation against the nurses were issued. The physician who the nurses originally filed a formal complaint against was indicted on felony retaliation and misuse of official information charges. The sheriff and county attorney involved in the criminal investigation against the nurses were indicted on misuse of official information and official oppression charges. The hospital administrator was indicted on felony retaliation charges.
The sheriff was convicted at trial and was sentenced to 100 days in jail on each of four felony counts, fined $6,000 on four felony and two misdemeanor counts, and was sentenced to four years felony probation on two counts each of misuse of official information and retaliation. The rest of the men await trial later in 2011.
Geography
Kermit is located at 31°51′21"N 103°5′39"W (31.855762, -103.094173). The city is located in a semi-arid region of the Permian BasinPermian Basin
The Permian Basin is a sedimentary basin largely contained in the western part of the U.S. state of Texas and the southeastern part of the state of New Mexico. It reaches from just south of Lubbock, Texas, to just south of Midland and Odessa, extending westward into the southeastern part of the...
.
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 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), all land.
Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 5,714 people, 2,097 households and 1,585 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation 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 2,288.3 per square mile (882.5/km²). There were 2,592 housing units at an average density of 1,038.0 per square mile (400.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.65% White, 2.05% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 22.52% 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 2.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 47.83% of the population.
There were 2,097 households of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.18.
Age distribution was 29.9% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
was $29,143, and the median family income was $31,690. Males had a median income of $29,596 versus $18,380 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 $12,949. About 15.7% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.8% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
The City of Kermit is served by the Kermit Independent School DistrictKermit Independent School District
Kermit Independent School District is a public school district located in Kermit, Texas that serves students in northeastern Winkler County and encompasses 398.09 square miles . The City of Kermit is located just under the southeast corner of New Mexico at the intersection of Texas State Highways...
. Kermit Independent School District was established in 1928, in a consolidation of two area school districts. The district now contains three campuses: Kermit Elementary (grades K-5), Kermit Junior High
Kermit Junior High School
Kermit Junior High School is the only public middle school in Kermit, Texas and is under the administration of Kermit Independent School District located in Winkler County. It is located at the corner of G.E. "Tommy" Thompson Boulevard and Southeast Avenue in Kermit, Texas. This year's motto is "E...
(grades 6-8), and Kermit High School
Kermit High School
Kermit High School is the only public high school in Kermit, Texas and is under the administration of Kermit Independent School District located in Winkler County. It is located at the corner of G.E. "Tommy" Thompson Boulevard and North Avenue D in Kermit, Texas. As of October 13, 2011 the school...
(grades 9-12).
Notable persons born or living in Kermit
- William FrankfatherWilliam FrankfatherWilliam Frankfather was an American film and television actor.Frankfather guest starred in many popular television series of the late 20th century including The A-Team, Hill Street Blues, Remington Steele, Murphy Brown, Picket Fences, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Melrose Place, Empty Nest, Wings...
- actor - Tryon D. LewisTryon D. LewisTryon D. Lewis is an attorney in Odessa, Texas, who is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 81 . He is also a former state court judge....
- Texas state representative; former district court judge - Jay ThomasJay ThomasJay Thomas is an American actor, comedian and radio talk show host.-Personal life:Thomas was born in Kermit, Texas. He was raised in his Italian American mother's Roman Catholic faith, although his father was Protestant....
- Emmy winning actor, raised in New Orleans - Jim "Razor" SharpJim "Razor" SharpJim Sharp is a retired professional bull rider native to West Texas. In 1988, the Texan became the first bull rider in the PRCA’s National Finals Rodeo history to ride each of his 10 bulls during the champion-crowning event. The record-breaking performance earned Sharp his first of two PRCA World...
- Two-time PRCA World Champion Bull Rider - John Weaver (political consultant)John Weaver (political consultant)John Weaver is an American political consultant best known for his work on the John McCain presidential campaigns of 2000 and 2008. In between, he worked for a time for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.-Biography:...
Kermit is the home town of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
drama Heroes
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
character Meredith Gordon as seen in the season one episode "The Fix
The Fix (Heroes)
"The Fix" is the thirteenth episode of the first season of the NBC science fiction drama series Heroes.-Plot:Niki is still in the county jail. A psychiatrist arrives to work on Niki's case, and diagnoses her with multiple personality disorder; Niki refuses her help. Meanwhile, D.L. is having...
".