Point, Texas
Encyclopedia
Point is a city in Rains County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 792 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau
estimate placed the population at 958.
Texas journalist
Bob Bruce (1934–2009), affiliated for nearly four decade
s with the Abilene Reporter-News
, was born on his grandmother's farm near Point but reared in other cities in Texas, New Mexico
, and Kansas
.
and Farm Roads 47 and 514 in northwestern Rains County, approximately eight miles northwest of Emory
and sixty miles east of Dallas
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), all of it land.
to Greenville
, the name submitted for a post office was initially Rice's Point, in honor of early area settler William Rice. When that was rejected, the name Point was accepted. By 1890, the community had an estimated population of fifty, a public school, and four churches. Ten men, led by newspaperman Isaac Newton Gresham, met in Point on August 28, 1902 and signed a charter to established the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America. The organization went national in 1905 and had a million members by 1908. In 1913, Point established the first independent school district in Rains County. The number of residents had risen to around 600 in 1914. The Great Depression
severely impacted the community, leading to a rapid decline in population and the number of businesses in Point. The paving of U.S. Highway 69
in the early 1940s bolstered the population to approximately 420, but that figure had again declined to 350 by the end of that decade. The MKT line was abandoned in the mid-1950s. In 1957, the Iron Bridge Dam was constructed on the Sabine River to form Lake Tawakoni
. When the lake reached its fullest extent in 1960, it was only four miles from Point. Point was incorporated as a city in 1966. Development along the shores of Lake Tawakoni eventually became a separate community, East Tawakoni
, which incorporated in 1967. Point's population was 419 in 1970 and slowly grew thanks to a combination of tourism and its role as a local agricultural trade center. The 1990 census reported 645 residents living in the city and 792 in 2000.
of 2000, there were 792 people, 300 households, and 221 families residing in the city. The population density
was 285.6 people per square mile (110.4/km²). There were 331 housing units at an average density of 119.4/sq mi (46.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.31% White, 1.39% African American, 1.77% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 1.14% from other races
, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.55% of the population.
There were 300 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples
living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,417, and the median income for a family was $30,341. Males had a median income of $26,389 versus $19,688 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,946. About 21.5% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 18.6% of those age 65 or over.
Rains County, Texas
*Alba*East Tawakoni*Emory*Point*Dougherty-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Rains County, Texas-External links:*...
, 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 792 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. 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...
estimate placed the population at 958.
Texas journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Bob Bruce (1934–2009), affiliated for nearly four decade
Decade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
s with the Abilene Reporter-News
Abilene Reporter-News
Abilene Reporter-News is a daily newspaper based in Abilene, Texas, USA. The newspaper started publishing three months after Abilene was founded by C.E. Gilbert, effective June 17, 1881. It is hence the oldest continuous business in the city....
, was born on his grandmother's farm near Point but reared in other cities in Texas, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
.
Geography
Point is located at 32°55′53"N 95°52′15"W (32.931512, -95.870957). It is situated at the junction of U.S. Highway 69U.S. Route 69
U.S. Route 69 is a north–south United States highway. When it was first created, it was only long, but it has since been expanded into a Minnesota to Texas cross-country route. The highway's southern terminus is in Port Arthur, Texas at an intersection with State Highway 87...
and Farm Roads 47 and 514 in northwestern Rains County, approximately eight miles northwest of Emory
Emory, Texas
Emory is a city in Rains County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,021 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rains County. Previously known as Springville, the city is named after Emory Rains who was a legislator from the area. Rains was the author of the Homestead Law of Texas...
and sixty miles east of Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
.
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 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), all of it land.
History
Settled around 1880 as a flag station on a section of the Missouri–Kansas–Texas (MKT) Railroad being built from MineolaMineola, Texas
Mineola is a city in Wood County, Texas, United States. It lies at the junction of U.S. highways 69 and 80, eighty miles east of Dallas in southwestern Wood County...
to Greenville
Greenville, Texas
Greenville is the county seat, and the largest city, of Hunt County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,557....
, the name submitted for a post office was initially Rice's Point, in honor of early area settler William Rice. When that was rejected, the name Point was accepted. By 1890, the community had an estimated population of fifty, a public school, and four churches. Ten men, led by newspaperman Isaac Newton Gresham, met in Point on August 28, 1902 and signed a charter to established the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of America. The organization went national in 1905 and had a million members by 1908. In 1913, Point established the first independent school district in Rains County. The number of residents had risen to around 600 in 1914. 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...
severely impacted the community, leading to a rapid decline in population and the number of businesses in Point. The paving of U.S. Highway 69
U.S. Route 69
U.S. Route 69 is a north–south United States highway. When it was first created, it was only long, but it has since been expanded into a Minnesota to Texas cross-country route. The highway's southern terminus is in Port Arthur, Texas at an intersection with State Highway 87...
in the early 1940s bolstered the population to approximately 420, but that figure had again declined to 350 by the end of that decade. The MKT line was abandoned in the mid-1950s. In 1957, the Iron Bridge Dam was constructed on the Sabine River to form Lake Tawakoni
Lake Tawakoni
Lake Tawakoni is a reservoir located approximately 53 miles east of Dallas, Texas, southeast of Greenville, Texas, and 21 miles northeast of Wills Point, Texas. It lies within three Texas counties, Hunt, Rains, and Van Zandt. It is used for water supply and recreation.The reservoir was...
. When the lake reached its fullest extent in 1960, it was only four miles from Point. Point was incorporated as a city in 1966. Development along the shores of Lake Tawakoni eventually became a separate community, East Tawakoni
East Tawakoni, Texas
East Tawakoni is a city in Rains County, Texas, United States. The population was 775 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 966.-Geography:...
, which incorporated in 1967. Point's population was 419 in 1970 and slowly grew thanks to a combination of tourism and its role as a local agricultural trade center. The 1990 census reported 645 residents living in the city and 792 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 792 people, 300 households, and 221 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 285.6 people per square mile (110.4/km²). There were 331 housing units at an average density of 119.4/sq mi (46.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.31% White, 1.39% African American, 1.77% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 1.14% 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 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.55% of the population.
There were 300 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% 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, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,417, and the median income for a family was $30,341. Males had a median income of $26,389 versus $19,688 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 $11,946. About 21.5% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 18.6% of those age 65 or over.