Lumberton, Texas
Encyclopedia
Lumberton is a city in Hardin County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 11,943 at the 2010 census. Lumberton is home of Village Creek State Park
. It is part of the Beaumont
–Port Arthur
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24.3 km²), all of it land.
The Eastex Freeway (comprising State Highways 69, 96, and US 287) runs north from Beaumont into Lumberton and splits into two separate highways to the West and the East in the South part of the town, both running North and South. The two highways run parallel through the city with Hwy. 96 in the Eastern portion of the city and HWY 69 and US 287 in the Western portion. The two highways house the majority of the commercial development on the city. Lumberton is considered a "bedroom" community, one of the fastest growing towns in Texas. It has many subdivisions, and a school district.
camps, the post office was established at Lumberton in 1909.
In 1914, the post office was relocated to the Fletcher site nearby which was a major sawmill until the mid-1920’s.
After the closure of the sawmill at Fletcher, the area would remain populated and would become part of the City of Lumberton when it was incorporated in 1973.
of 2000, there were 8,731 people, 3,198 households, and 2,542 families residing in the city. The population density
was 928.5 people per square mile (358.6/km²). There were 3,443 housing units at an average density of 366.2 per square mile (141.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city as of the 2000 census was 97.64% White, 0.05% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.87% from other races
, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.79% of the population. The population in June 2005 was estimated at 9,657. The estimated population for June 2007 is 10,550.
There were 3,198 households out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% were married couples
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% 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 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,700, and the median income for a family was $47,184. Males had a median income of $38,315 versus $26,217 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,640. About 5.5% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
In 2005, the estimated average value of a home in Lumberton was $111,700.
The crime index rate for Lumberton in 2006 was 154.6. This is well below the national average of 325.2.
Lumberton is a rapidly growing community, and is the largest city in Hardin County. Many of the newest and largest subdivisions that are considered by many as part of Lumberton are actually outside of the city limits and not included in the official city population totals. The estimated population total in June 2007 of Lumberton and the surrounding subdivisions is 25,000 people.
, which attracts tourists from all over the states of Texas and Louisiana. Canoeing, hiking, and bird watching are among the most popular activities in the park. Every April for the past 18 years the Village Creek Festival has been held in Lumberton. Arts, crafts, games, rides, and great food and music are always present at the three day festival. Also there is a city-wide parade held on the Saturday of the festival and the Miss Village Creek Pageant is also held. Movies are shown sporadically during the year on a giant inflatable screen at the Lumberton City Park located off of Village Creek Parkway.
Lumberton has a variety of options for children athletics with Little League Baseball and Softball, Pee Wee Football and Cheerleading, Little Dribblers Basketball (separate leagues for boys and girls), and even a youth soccer league.
.
In 2007, Lamar University
opened an extension, called Lamar University-Lumberton, to provide lower level college classes to the residents of Lumberton and Hardin County.
The athletic teams of Lumberton High School
are known as the Raiders and compete in District 22-4A. The high school had an enrollment of 1,081 in 2008. Lumberton ISD as a whole had an enrollment of approximately 3,800 students at the end of the 2007-2008 school year.
and Village Creek areas of Lumberton.
In 2005, Lumberton resident Mike Smith walked on to the LISD School Board at the age of 19. Smith became the youngest individual to be on a board of education in the state of Texas. In April 2007, Smith became the youngest man to testify in front of the Texas House of Representatives during the 2007 Legislative Session.
On September, 24 2005, Lumberton made national headlines after suffering a direct hit from Hurricane Rita
.
On September 13, 2008, Lumberton made national headlines again for having another direct hit from Hurricane Ike.
This movement passed and the city of Lumberton is now "dry."
However, this vote to prohibit was challenged in state court and the vote was nullified. Thus the status reverted to the same as before the election. The vote was overturned due to a couple of technical issues not relating to the actual vote, including not providing adequate legal notice of petition, as well as the county not having all pages of the petition properly stamped with the County Seal in the County Clerk's office. The original slice of Lumberton that started all of the controversy is now "wet" again.
In the end, the Hardin County Commissioners did not know their own precinct lines and alcohol sales should have never been allowed in Lumberton in the first place because Lumberton was in a dry precinct from the beginning. The county announced their mistake and Lumberton is now dry again once the gas stations remove the alcohol from their shelves.
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 11,943 at the 2010 census. Lumberton is home of Village Creek State Park
Village Creek State Park
Village Creek State Park is a state park located in the Piney Woods of eastern Texas in the Hardin County community of Lumberton. The heavily forested park opened in 1994...
. It is part of the Beaumont
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
–Port Arthur
Port Arthur, Texas
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area
The Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Area is defined by the United States Census Bureau as a three-county region in Southeast Texas, east of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The area is also known as the Golden Triangle...
.
Geography
Lumberton is located at 30°15′50"N 94°12′7"W (30.263896, -94.201918).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 9.4 square miles (24.3 km²), all of it land.
The Eastex Freeway (comprising State Highways 69, 96, and US 287) runs north from Beaumont into Lumberton and splits into two separate highways to the West and the East in the South part of the town, both running North and South. The two highways run parallel through the city with Hwy. 96 in the Eastern portion of the city and HWY 69 and US 287 in the Western portion. The two highways house the majority of the commercial development on the city. Lumberton is considered a "bedroom" community, one of the fastest growing towns in Texas. It has many subdivisions, and a school district.
Historical development
The town was established as a stop on the Gulf, Beaumont and Kansas City Railway that was built through the area in 1894. Serving the local sawmills and lumberLumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
camps, the post office was established at Lumberton in 1909.
In 1914, the post office was relocated to the Fletcher site nearby which was a major sawmill until the mid-1920’s.
After the closure of the sawmill at Fletcher, the area would remain populated and would become part of the City of Lumberton when it was incorporated in 1973.
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 8,731 people, 3,198 households, and 2,542 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 928.5 people per square mile (358.6/km²). There were 3,443 housing units at an average density of 366.2 per square mile (141.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city as of the 2000 census was 97.64% White, 0.05% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.87% 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 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.79% of the population. The population in June 2005 was estimated at 9,657. The estimated population for June 2007 is 10,550.
There were 3,198 households out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% 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, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% 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 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,700, and the median income for a family was $47,184. Males had a median income of $38,315 versus $26,217 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 $19,640. About 5.5% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
In 2005, the estimated average value of a home in Lumberton was $111,700.
The crime index rate for Lumberton in 2006 was 154.6. This is well below the national average of 325.2.
Lumberton is a rapidly growing community, and is the largest city in Hardin County. Many of the newest and largest subdivisions that are considered by many as part of Lumberton are actually outside of the city limits and not included in the official city population totals. The estimated population total in June 2007 of Lumberton and the surrounding subdivisions is 25,000 people.
Culture
Lumberton, Texas is the home of Village Creek State ParkVillage Creek State Park
Village Creek State Park is a state park located in the Piney Woods of eastern Texas in the Hardin County community of Lumberton. The heavily forested park opened in 1994...
, which attracts tourists from all over the states of Texas and Louisiana. Canoeing, hiking, and bird watching are among the most popular activities in the park. Every April for the past 18 years the Village Creek Festival has been held in Lumberton. Arts, crafts, games, rides, and great food and music are always present at the three day festival. Also there is a city-wide parade held on the Saturday of the festival and the Miss Village Creek Pageant is also held. Movies are shown sporadically during the year on a giant inflatable screen at the Lumberton City Park located off of Village Creek Parkway.
Lumberton has a variety of options for children athletics with Little League Baseball and Softball, Pee Wee Football and Cheerleading, Little Dribblers Basketball (separate leagues for boys and girls), and even a youth soccer league.
Education
Lumberton is served by the Lumberton Independent School DistrictLumberton Independent School District
Lumberton Independent School District is a public school district based in Lumberton, Texas .In addition to Lumberton, the district serves the city of Rose Hill Acres....
.
In 2007, Lamar University
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
opened an extension, called Lamar University-Lumberton, to provide lower level college classes to the residents of Lumberton and Hardin County.
The athletic teams of Lumberton High School
Lumberton High School
Lumberton High School is a high school in Lumberton, Texas. It is operated by the Lumberton Independent School District. -History:The Lumberton Independent School District was created in 1967 based on the old Chance-Loeb school district that had previously been the school for children in the area...
are known as the Raiders and compete in District 22-4A. The high school had an enrollment of 1,081 in 2008. Lumberton ISD as a whole had an enrollment of approximately 3,800 students at the end of the 2007-2008 school year.
Famous People from Lumberton
- Debra Jo FondrenDebra Jo FondrenDebra Jo Fondren is an American model and actress. She was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for the September 1977 issue and Playmate of the Year for 1978...
, the 1978 Playboy Playmate of the year. - Clay BuchholzClay BuchholzClay Daniel Buchholz pitches for the Boston Red Sox of major league baseball. On September 1, 2007, in just his second major league start, he recorded a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles, becoming the third MLB pitcher since 1900 to throw a no-hitter in his first or second start...
, pitcher for the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
Notable events
In October 1994, heavy rains (10-25 inches in 5 days) resulted in a severe flood over southeastern portions of Texas which damaged and destroyed homes across the region and resulted in 22 flood-related deaths. Lumberton suffered significant property damage, particularly in the Pine Island BayouPine Island Bayou
-References:**USGS Hydrologic Unit Map - State of Texas...
and Village Creek areas of Lumberton.
In 2005, Lumberton resident Mike Smith walked on to the LISD School Board at the age of 19. Smith became the youngest individual to be on a board of education in the state of Texas. In April 2007, Smith became the youngest man to testify in front of the Texas House of Representatives during the 2007 Legislative Session.
On September, 24 2005, Lumberton made national headlines after suffering a direct hit from Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita caused $11.3 billion in damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast in September 2005...
.
On September 13, 2008, Lumberton made national headlines again for having another direct hit from Hurricane Ike.
Alcohol sales
In May 2007, Precinct 3 of Lumberton voted to allow beer and wine and mixed drink sales in restaurants and gas stations. Shortly after alcohol was allowed within the city limits of Lumberton, there was a movement to place a measure on the ballot for a citywide vote that would prohibit the sale of alcohol throughout the city. This movement had faced legal questions about whether its required public notice was valid under Texas law. On August 13, 2007, the Commissioners' Court decided that the prohibition issue should be put on the ballot. The Commissioners' Court will also decide whether to put two other alcohol regulation issues on the ballot. If these two measures are put on the ballot then the city will have three alcohol propositions on the ballot in November. One to prohibit all alcohol and two to legalize specific types of alcohol.This movement passed and the city of Lumberton is now "dry."
However, this vote to prohibit was challenged in state court and the vote was nullified. Thus the status reverted to the same as before the election. The vote was overturned due to a couple of technical issues not relating to the actual vote, including not providing adequate legal notice of petition, as well as the county not having all pages of the petition properly stamped with the County Seal in the County Clerk's office. The original slice of Lumberton that started all of the controversy is now "wet" again.
In the end, the Hardin County Commissioners did not know their own precinct lines and alcohol sales should have never been allowed in Lumberton in the first place because Lumberton was in a dry precinct from the beginning. The county announced their mistake and Lumberton is now dry again once the gas stations remove the alcohol from their shelves.