Menard, Texas
Encyclopedia
Menard is a city in and the county seat
of Menard County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 1,653 at the 2000 census.
at the junction of U.S. Highways 83
and 290
, approximately 140 miles northwest of Austin
and San Antonio
in central Menard County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land.
. By 1867, Menardville had a store, blacksmith shop, and a saloon. The community served as a trading post and overnight stop on north and west cattle trails. The old compound of a Spanish
mission that had been abandoned in the mid-18th century was used as a holding area for cattle on the way to market. A county government was organized in 1871 and a two-story courthouse was built one year later. Menardville had approximately 150 residents by the mid-1880s. The San Saba River flooded in 1899, causing considerable damage to the community.
In 1910 or 1911, while the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Company were making plans to lay a track through the community, company officials asked residents to rename their town Menard in order to facilitate the painting of signs. An economic boon followed the arrival of the first train in 1911. The 1920 census recorded 1,164 people living in Menard. For many years, he town served as the principal shipping point for Menard County. Although the community was impacted by the Great Depression
, both of its banks – the Menard National Bank and Bevans State Bank – remained open. Menard's population stood at 1,969 in 1930, 2,375 in 1940, and 2,685 in 1950. That figure began to decline during the 1950s and 1960s as road improvements made travel and shipping less dependent on rail service. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad discontinued its service to Menard in 1972, but donated the depot to the county for use as a history museum. The Menard County Historical Society began collecting artifacts in 1975 and dedicated the museum in 1978. By 1980, there were 1,697 people living in Menard. In 1990, the population fell slightly to 1,606 before rebounding to 1,653 in 2000.
of 2000, there were 1,653 people, 666 households, and 438 families residing in the city. The population density
was 803.5 people per square mile (309.8/km²). There were 851 housing units at an average density of 413.6 per square mile (159.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.94% White, 0.67% African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 11.98% from other races
, and 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.32% of the population.
There were 666 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,698, and the median income for a family was $27,125. Males had a median income of $21,094 versus $17,857 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,768. About 26.5% of families and 33.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.4% of those under age 18 and 28.2% of those age 65 or over.
.
Days, held in late June, the Jim Bowie Trail Ride in September, and the Silver Mine Classic Lamb Show in October.
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 Menard 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...
. The population was 1,653 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Menard is located at 30°55′10"N 99°47′4"W (30.919519, -99.784446). It is situated along the banks of the San Saba RiverSan Saba River
The San Saba River is a river in the U.S. state of Texas. It is an undeveloped and scenic waterway located on the northern boundary of the Edwards Plateau.-Course:...
at the junction of U.S. Highways 83
U.S. Route 83
U.S. Route 83 is one of the longest north–south U.S. Highways in the United States, at . Only four other north–south routes are longer: U.S. Routes 1, 41, 59 and 87. The highway's northern terminus is north of Westhope, North Dakota, at the Canadian border, where it continues as...
and 290
U.S. Route 290
U.S. Highway 290 is an east–west U.S. Highway located entirely within the State of Texas. Its current western terminus is at Interstate 10 milepost 477 , southeast of Junction, and its eastern terminus is at Interstate 610 on the northwest side of Houston.-Route Description:West of Austin, U.S...
, approximately 140 miles northwest of Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
and San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
in central Menard County.
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 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land.
History
The community was first known as Menardville when the site was laid out in 1858, after the formation of Menard County. Nearby Fort McKavett was deactivated in 1859, leaving the settlers with little protection from frequent Indian raids. The fort reopened after the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. By 1867, Menardville had a store, blacksmith shop, and a saloon. The community served as a trading post and overnight stop on north and west cattle trails. The old compound of a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
mission that had been abandoned in the mid-18th century was used as a holding area for cattle on the way to market. A county government was organized in 1871 and a two-story courthouse was built one year later. Menardville had approximately 150 residents by the mid-1880s. The San Saba River flooded in 1899, causing considerable damage to the community.
In 1910 or 1911, while the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Company were making plans to lay a track through the community, company officials asked residents to rename their town Menard in order to facilitate the painting of signs. An economic boon followed the arrival of the first train in 1911. The 1920 census recorded 1,164 people living in Menard. For many years, he town served as the principal shipping point for Menard County. Although the community was impacted by the Great Depression
Great Depression in the United States
The Great Depression began with the Wall Street Crash of October, 1929 and rapidly spread worldwide. The market crash marked the beginning of a decade of high unemployment, poverty, low profits, deflation, plunging farm incomes, and lost opportunities for economic growth and personal advancement...
, both of its banks – the Menard National Bank and Bevans State Bank – remained open. Menard's population stood at 1,969 in 1930, 2,375 in 1940, and 2,685 in 1950. That figure began to decline during the 1950s and 1960s as road improvements made travel and shipping less dependent on rail service. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad discontinued its service to Menard in 1972, but donated the depot to the county for use as a history museum. The Menard County Historical Society began collecting artifacts in 1975 and dedicated the museum in 1978. By 1980, there were 1,697 people living in Menard. In 1990, the population fell slightly to 1,606 before rebounding to 1,653 in 2000.
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 1,653 people, 666 households, and 438 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 803.5 people per square mile (309.8/km²). There were 851 housing units at an average density of 413.6 per square mile (159.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.94% White, 0.67% African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 11.98% 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 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.32% of the population.
There were 666 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% 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, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,698, and the median income for a family was $27,125. Males had a median income of $21,094 versus $17,857 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 $12,768. About 26.5% of families and 33.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.4% of those under age 18 and 28.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public education in the city of Menard is provided by the Menard Independent School DistrictMenard Independent School District
Menard Independent School District is a public school district based in Menard, Texas .In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.-Schools:*Menard High...
.
Attractions
Annual events in Menard include Jim BowieJim Bowie
James "Jim" Bowie , a 19th-century American pioneer, slave trader, land speculator, and soldier, played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution, culminating in his death at the Battle of the Alamo...
Days, held in late June, the Jim Bowie Trail Ride in September, and the Silver Mine Classic Lamb Show in October.