Rockdale, Texas
Encyclopedia
Rockdale is a city in Milam County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 5,440 at the 2000 census.
Rockdale was the site of a large Alcoa
smelting operation, which could produce 1.67 million pounds of aluminum per day. The ALCOA plant was closed in late 2008 - early 2009.
Author George Sessions Perry
was born in Rockdale on May 5, 1910, and lived much of his life there. Mary Sue Whipp Hubbard
, the third wife of L. Ron Hubbard
, was a Rockdale native.
Dan Kubiak
, a native of Falls County
, was a member of the Texas House of Representatives
from 1969 to 1983 and again from 1991 until his death in 1998. He was a long-term Rockdale resident. Kubiak's younger brother, L. B. Kubiak
is a veterinarian
in Austin
and a Rockdale resident who from 1983 to 1991 held the same House seat as his brother.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 5,439 people, 2,077 households, and 1,420 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,735.8 people per square mile (670.9/km²). There were 2,379 housing units at an average density of 759.2 per square mile (293.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.69% White, 14.29% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 12.23% from other races
, and 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.93% of the population.
There were 2,077 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples
living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,612, and the median income for a family was $39,491. Males had a median income of $30,758 versus $20,692 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,618. About 13.2% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
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 5,440 at the 2000 census.
Rockdale was the site of a large Alcoa
Alcoa
Alcoa Inc. is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal. From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries...
smelting operation, which could produce 1.67 million pounds of aluminum per day. The ALCOA plant was closed in late 2008 - early 2009.
Author George Sessions Perry
George Sessions Perry
George Sessions Perry was an American novelist, World War II correspondent and one of the highest paid popular magazine contributors of his time. He is remembered best for his 1941 novel Hold Autumn in Your Hand, which won the National Book Award and the Texas Institute of Letters award in 1941...
was born in Rockdale on May 5, 1910, and lived much of his life there. Mary Sue Whipp Hubbard
Mary Sue Hubbard
Mary Sue Hubbard was the third wife of L. Ron Hubbard, from 1952 to his death in 1986, and was a leading figure in Scientology for much of her life...
, the third wife of L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
, was a Rockdale native.
Dan Kubiak
Dan Kubiak
Daniel James Kubiak was an educator and businessman from Rockdale, Texas, who served as a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1969 to 1983 and again from 1991 until his death in office...
, a native of Falls County
Falls County, Texas
Falls County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 18,576. In 2003, the population of the county was estimated to be 17,926. It is named for the waterfalls on the Brazos River, which can be found at the Falls On The Brazos Park, a campsite located only a few...
, was a member of the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
from 1969 to 1983 and again from 1991 until his death in 1998. He was a long-term Rockdale resident. Kubiak's younger brother, L. B. Kubiak
L. B. Kubiak
L. B. Kubiak is a veterinarian in Austin, Texas, who served as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives from District 13 from 1983 to 1991. He resides in Rockdale in Milam County...
is a veterinarian
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
in 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 a Rockdale resident who from 1983 to 1991 held the same House seat as his brother.
Geography
Rockdale is located at 30°39′17"N 97°0′27"W (30.654674, -97.007439).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 3.1 square miles (8 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 5,439 people, 2,077 households, and 1,420 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 1,735.8 people per square mile (670.9/km²). There were 2,379 housing units at an average density of 759.2 per square mile (293.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.69% White, 14.29% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 12.23% 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 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.93% of the population.
There were 2,077 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% 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, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,612, and the median income for a family was $39,491. Males had a median income of $30,758 versus $20,692 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 $17,618. About 13.2% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.