Ponder, Texas
Encyclopedia
Ponder is a town in Denton County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 507 at the 2000 census. Local legend holds that Bonnie and Clyde
either robbed the Ponder State Bank, or attempted to rob it, only to discover it had gone broke the week before. However this is not listed in the Barrow Gang's activities. The robbery in question may have been committed by the less famous but more successful Eddie Bentz
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 507 people, 191 households, and 148 families residing in the town. The population density
was 159.7 people per square mile (61.8/km²). There were 205 housing units at an average density of 64.6 per square mile (25.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.08% White, 0.99% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 2.37% from other races
, and 1.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.52% of the population.
There were 191 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.2% were married couples
living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $54,107, and the median income for a family was $61,250. Males had a median income of $47,750 versus $29,545 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $23,922. About 1.4% of families and 0.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen or sixty-five or over.
The Ponder Lions also won the 2A state title in 2001 behind championship game MVP Lance Boxell. Boxell is currently the Head Coach at Krum, Ponder's rival.
Doug Boxell, who coached the Lions to the 2001, 2008, and 2009 state titles, is currently the Men's Head Coach at the University of the Ozarks. Ponder's current Head Coach is Jude Stanley, who was an assistant to Doug Boxell at Ponder.
Ponder baseball reached the playoffs in 2009 and 2010. In 2009 the baseball team went to state being under dogs the whole season, many people thought the team wouldn't make the playoffs after a 0-2 start to district play. Beating top 10 ranked opponents in every round of the playoffs. Ponder was never ranked in 2009.
In 2009 the team beat perennial power Brock in the Regional Finals in 2 extra inning hard fought games. Both games against Brock totaled in 23 innings.
The 2010 baseball team reached the area round before being eliminated by Gunter and their blue chip pitching prospect who signed a letter of intent to play for Nebraska earlier in the 2010 season.
The 2011 team will have a lot of young talent, pitching will be the backbone for them.
A Bond Election passed in 2007 paved the way for the Ponder Lions to start a football program.
Denton County, Texas
Denton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 432,976; in 2009 the estimated population had reached 628,300. Part of the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex, it is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. The county seat is Denton. The 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 507 at the 2000 census. Local legend holds that Bonnie and Clyde
Bonnie and Clyde
Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Chestnut Barrow were well-known outlaws, robbers, and criminals who traveled the Central United States with their gang during the Great Depression. Their exploits captured the attention of the American public during the "public enemy era" between 1931 and 1934...
either robbed the Ponder State Bank, or attempted to rob it, only to discover it had gone broke the week before. However this is not listed in the Barrow Gang's activities. The robbery in question may have been committed by the less famous but more successful Eddie Bentz
Eddie Bentz
Edward Wilhelm "Eddie" Bentz was an American bank robber and Depression-era outlaw. He was associated with several high-profile public enemies during his criminal career including Harvey Bailey, Albert Bates, George "Machine Gun" Kelly and Baby Face Nelson...
.
Geography
Ponder is located at 33°10′47"N 97°17′9"W (33.179741, -97.285805).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 town has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 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 507 people, 191 households, and 148 families residing in the town. 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 159.7 people per square mile (61.8/km²). There were 205 housing units at an average density of 64.6 per square mile (25.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.08% White, 0.99% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 2.37% 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 1.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.52% of the population.
There were 191 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.2% 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, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $54,107, and the median income for a family was $61,250. Males had a median income of $47,750 versus $29,545 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 town was $23,922. About 1.4% of families and 0.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen or sixty-five or over.
Sports
The Ponder High School Boys Varsity Basketball team is the three-time-defending (2008, 2009, 2010) 2A State Champion. Prior to their three-peat, it had been over 25 years since a Texas boy's basketball program had won three or more consecutive state championships. The 2009/2010 team was made up of Scott Gregg, Jarryd Shirley, Dalton Brown, Kaleb Broadstreet, Alex Huerta, David Robertson, Wade Ford, Jorden Young, Robert Davenport, Jake Stewart, and Sebastian Pitman. Many honors were bestowed upon this team, including Broadstreet as MVP of the State Championship game and Robertson as MVP of the District and All-State. Gregg was a dominant post player and three-time champion. Shirley, who suffered a major Achilles tear and reconstruction early on in the preseason, made it back (months ahead of schedule) to play multiple minutes in both the Regional and State championship games. Returning for the 2010/2011 season are Brown, Young, and Davenport.The Ponder Lions also won the 2A state title in 2001 behind championship game MVP Lance Boxell. Boxell is currently the Head Coach at Krum, Ponder's rival.
Doug Boxell, who coached the Lions to the 2001, 2008, and 2009 state titles, is currently the Men's Head Coach at the University of the Ozarks. Ponder's current Head Coach is Jude Stanley, who was an assistant to Doug Boxell at Ponder.
Ponder baseball reached the playoffs in 2009 and 2010. In 2009 the baseball team went to state being under dogs the whole season, many people thought the team wouldn't make the playoffs after a 0-2 start to district play. Beating top 10 ranked opponents in every round of the playoffs. Ponder was never ranked in 2009.
In 2009 the team beat perennial power Brock in the Regional Finals in 2 extra inning hard fought games. Both games against Brock totaled in 23 innings.
The 2010 baseball team reached the area round before being eliminated by Gunter and their blue chip pitching prospect who signed a letter of intent to play for Nebraska earlier in the 2010 season.
The 2011 team will have a lot of young talent, pitching will be the backbone for them.
A Bond Election passed in 2007 paved the way for the Ponder Lions to start a football program.